Starting next fall, the Waterbury school district will recognize two Muslim holidays.
Often, when Eid Al-Fitr or Eid Al-Adha falls on a school day in the United States, Muslim families have to make a choice. "A lot of kids have to make the choice between religion and going to school on that day," said Amr Abu-al-rub, an imam at the United Muslim Mosque in Waterbury. "It's a tough choice to make, especially for kids."
It's a choice made tougher if a field trip, classroom party, or major test is scheduled on the holiday.
Six months ago, Waterbury's Muslim community launched a petition campaign to recognize the holidays on the Waterbury school calendar, so teachers and administrators would refrain from scheduling big events on those days.
They collected over 300 signatures, and Thursday night the Waterbury board of education unanimously agreed to officially recognize the two holidays. As part of that recognition, Dr. Kathleen Ouellette, superintendent of Waterbury schools will issue a sensitivity memo to teachers and administrators.
"It's just asking the district leaders and teachers, when possible, to schedule major tests and assessments around the Muslim's high observance holidays," Ouelette said. Muslim students are excused from school on those days. The holidays will not appear on the school calendar.
Amr Abu-al-rub said Thursday night's vote was a victory for the Muslim children who attend Waterbury public schools. " It makes them feel that they are included inside the community, that they can manage between being American and Muslim at the same time," said Abu-al-rub.
Waterbury joins New London as the only two school districts in the state to recognize the holidays.
