Ramadan added to school's holidays

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October 3, 2007

Ramadan added to school's holidays
Dozens of parents showed up at an Oak Lawn school board meeting Tuesday night to say that while they're happy to have a student body of varying religions, they want to keep celebrating traditional American holidays and customs.

According to the ChicagoTribune.com, parents told the Ridgeland district school board, which was looking at its policies concerning religious teachings and observances, that doesn't mean they aren't open to observing other religions' holidays.

At issue is whether Christian holidays, such as Christmas, should be celebrated now that Muslim children make up about 30 percent of the district’s pupils.

After meeting for 2 1/2 hours in a closed session, board members decided to keep the district's Christmas and Halloween parties and add a Ramadan celebration.

The debate, which has raged in the community for weeks, was sparked by a parent who asked that stars and moons be displayed in schools in honor of Ramadan.

She was denied and told that schools couldn't partake in religious celebrations.

The Oak Lawn school superintendent said the issue was about fairness.

“This thing has gotten so big that the board needs to know the legalities of the separation of church and state and its policies about teaching religion in school," he said before the meeting.

"If you look at our policy, you either teach about all religions in school or remain neutral.” He went on to say that, "According to our policy, we are to maintain a climate of neutrality within the classroom. We cannot give preference to one religion over another.”

One resident argued that long-standing traditions are under attack.

"For a number of years now I’ve seen something change every year because it goes against Muslim beliefs," "traditions that have been beloved by children in America for centuries are now being taken away little by little because the Muslims want the school day, menu and social traditions tailored to their needs.”

Northwestern University professor emeritus Bernard Beck said such problems are common in areas of demographic shifts. ?

"When you get changes in society or in the population, it creates new situations," he said.

"What people are used to and take for granted suddenly comes into question.”

He said religious tolerance in America is constantly being renegotiated and that, "America has been trying to get along on the basis of a bargain, saying, 'We're all basically the same.' but more recently, the message is, 'We're not all the same. Not all religions have the same message.'"