America’s public schools are, by definition, secular institutions. The establishment clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution dictates that they can neither honor nor denigrate any religious tradition or community. But at the same time, our schools must respond to the needs of their culturally diverse students, including those of religious students and their families. In order to meet the needs of religious students, New York City’s public schools have closed for major Christian and Jewish holidays since at the least 1950s. And in recent years, a growing number of educators, activists, elected officials, parents, and students have pushed the DOE to recognize major Muslim holidays. Mayor Bloomberg opposed this effort, but Mayor De Blasio has supported it. In a conversation with students at DeWitt Clinton High School, two Muslim community leaders and educators will offer different views of the ongoing debate over Muslim holidays and the New York City public schools. The speakers will be:
Faiza Ali is a community organizer, civil rights activist, and die- hard Mets fan. She is a graduate of the New York City public schools, and received her BA from Pace University. She is currently the Advocacy and Civic Engagement Coordinator at the Arab American Association of New York, and a member of the steering committee of the Coalition for Muslim School Holidays. Faiza was recognized in 2009 as one of 100 young American Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow, was a 2011 recipient of the Dr. Betty Shabazz Compass Award, and was honored by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke in 2012 for her extraordinary civic service.
Hussein Rashid is an academic and a social activist, who believes his faith demands that he leave the world a better place for the next generation. He is a graduate of the New York City public schools, and received his BA from Columbia University and his PhD from Harvard University. He is currently a faculty member at Hofstra University, and Associate Editor of Religion Dispatches. Hussein contributes to both mainstream and social media, as convener of the islamicate blog and a widely published essayist. His academic research focuses on the representation and self-representation of American Muslims, including discussions of music, the arts, and visual culture.
The conversation will be moderated by Henry Goldschmidt, the Director of Education Programs at the Interfaith Center of New York. A graduate of the New York City public schools, and the parent of current and future public school students, Dr. Goldschmidt works to develop religious diversity education programs for a range of audiences, including secondary school teachers and students.
