Press

NYC Public Schools Close to Observe Muslim Holiday for First Time

09/24/2015

Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña said the city has to understand and respect everyone’s religion.

City schools boss Carmen Fariña joined elected officials and Muslim leaders Thursday to mark the first time public schools were closed for the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha.

City officials changed the school calendar in March to recognize the holiday, observed by 1 million Muslims across the city.

In her speech at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Fariña said the day presented a ‘teachable moment,” before adding, “that being a multicultural city is understanding and respecting everyone else’s religion.”

BY Ben Chapman, Lisa L. Colangelo