Baltimore Co. Schools Consider Closing On 2 Muslim Holidays

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Baltimore County is considering adding Muslim holidays to the school calendar.

There's no mistaking that Friday was the last day of school in Baltimore County, but when it resumes in the fall, future calendars may show school closed for Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, WJZ's Alex DeMetrick reports.

Current school calendars only show Christian and Jewish holidays.

Supporters have been lobbying the school board for years to "have the opportunity to be able to celebrate together as a family without having their children penalized by missing classroom instruction or missing tests and quizzes," says Dr. Zainab Chaudry.

It will take seven out of twelve school board member votes to make the change.

But while high absenteeism is the rationale for closings on Christian and Jewish holidays, the county has found none during Muslim holidays.

Based on new mosques and their attendance, however, some estimates now put the county's Muslim population at 10 percent.

"We know the population of county residents who are Muslim has grown tremendously in the last several years," Chaudry says.

As a work around, all students will have the Muslim holiday of Eid off in September, but teachers will have a training day.

Supporters say two holidays on the school calendar offers more than just two days off. It could also be a learning opportunity for others.

"This is really an opportunity for our neighbors and those of other faith or no faith to learn more about Muslims and Islam and how we celebrate our holidays," according to Chaudry.

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