New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio appeared on WNYC's "Brian Lehrer Show" on Monday indicating that the city is moving to close schools for two Muslim holidays and the Lunar New Year.
The holidays that would be official holidays in the NYC public school system are Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha which are Muslim holy days, as well as for the Lunar New Year typically recognized by Asian communities. Ron Kim, New York State Assembly Member, indicated in a different interview on the show that there were higher rates of absent students surrounding these holidays.
A spokesman for the Indian community asked that the Hindu festival Diwali be included as a future holiday despite indications that de Blasio has not taken a position on if the holiday would be officially recognized in public schools.
Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg opposed these changes, suggesting that kids should not miss more school.
Read more here via NY Daily News
