Depending on who you are, Friday, June 6, either marks a long awaited celebration or a frustrating choice no student should have to make.
For many Muslim students at Fuquay-Varina High School, this year’s last day of school falls on Eid al-Adha, a major Islamic holiday. Instead of being able to enjoy this religious day with family, many Muslim students are left having to choose between their faith and school traditions like Senior Day.
Eid al-Adha is one of two major holidays in Islam. It’s a day that’s meant to be spent praying, reflecting and spending time with loved ones. The day starts with a morning prayer led at the mosque, followed by meals, charity and family time. It’s a day Muslims take off completely, whether it’s from work or school. So why are FVHS seniors expected to show up for one of the biggest school days of the year? It’s like having Senior Day scheduled on Christmas or Easter but this would never happen because those are two widely understood and respected holidays.
“Friday is going to be a stressful day because I am going to try to balance out Eid events like the morning prayer and senior day events,” said senior Jumanah Bendra.
This situation isn’t new. Muslim holidays are rarely ever recognized by school calendars and if they are, they are marked as “teacher workdays,” making Muslim students feel like their holiday isn’t worth recognizing or not important enough to name.
As students, our whole lives we have been taught inclusion, respect and equity, so giving students the opportunity to celebrate their religious holidays without penalty isn’t special treatment. It’s the bare minimum.
It might be too late to change the calendars this year, but in the future, schools should make a real effort to recognize all major religious holidays, including Eid. No student should have to choose between their faith and their future. Respecting all students means making space for all of us, not just some.
