Here?s a simple solution to the controversy in Baltimore County public schools about which religious holidays to officially recognize: Eliminate them all.
The question comes up because the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee wants to add at least one Islamic holiday to the 2008-09 school year in Baltimore County. Members say schools have closed for two Jewish holidays since 1997. And of course, winter breaks and spring vacations coincide with Christmas and Easter.
School board President Donald Arnold has said closure for the two Jewish holidays is a practical matter, based on court decisions allowing official holidays when absences by enough students and personnel would affect operations.
However, he doesn?t have data to prove it. Neither does the AAADC.
Besides, school vacations are a practical matter, not a religious one. It must be like the highest of all high holy days in Garrett County ? opening of deer season ? when government closes schools and just about everything else, right?
Wrong. That?s the point. Killing deer no longer is a widespread formal mode of worship. The schools shut down because on the first day of deer season most the students, parents and any other ambulatory residents are going to be gone anyway. It?s only wise to acknowledge that reality and declare a holiday.
It?s the same for Easter and Christmas.
Eggs, bunnies, mistletoe and pine have absolutely nothing to do with Christianity. Even the most fundamental among believers confess the dates of those holidays are false, based on missionaries? inability to wean our ancestors from their pagan ways.
And what about pagans, if there are any? Or atheists? Should they get holidays off?
A report by the calendar committee is due this month. The board must keep this process wide open to alleviate any concerns about Baltimore County schools venturing into the treacherous territory of state-sanctioned religion.
As Founding Father James Madison wrote in Federalist 10, “As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed.”
But just because we hold diverse religious opinions does not mean the state must recognize them with a public school holiday. It?s neither practical nor consistent with the Constitution?s guarantee of freedom of religion.
Unless the school system wants to grapple with accommodating every interest group, the best way to end the controversy is to get rid of all holidays. That?s fair, right?
