Someone must have called her office complaining and you know our most honorable wants to please everybody or at least appear to.
The latest concern involved Muslim holidays and school absences. Evidently some parent complained that their child was prevented from getting a perfect attendance award because of being absent from school on certain religious holidays. Well this is America and we recognize EVERYBODY'S right to a freedom of religion.
There was concern that if we go down the path maybe we should make sure that we should make sure that we excused only organized (whatever that means) religions. Then there was some joking concerns about some students might engage in a conversion du jour to maximize days off from the school calender.
Well, the easy political decision was made. The absences will be excused. They should be. But let's be clear what this exactly means.
State and federal laws mandate all students are supposed to go 180 days. A lot of state and federal monies are tied to daily head count. I believe they are pro-rated. Also this decision to excuse these absences out of hand denies these children days of education they are entitled to. What is/was the right decision? Heck, I don't know what the right decision. I am just a poor , disabled poet.
These holidays and their excused absences are also opportunities to share and learn from one another. Through understanding comes tolerance.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they have to worry about "made-up" religions or holidays. I've never seen that happen. It's silly that there was any real concern over that.
WHAT YOU SAY IS VERY TRUE. It was all about whether or not a person of the Muslim religion can get a perfect attendance award.
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