NEW JERSEY, U.S., September 9, 2007: Cliffside Park schools this year will be the first in Bergen county to close for a Muslim holiday–a reflection of demographic shifts that are forcing North Jersey educators to rethink the school calendar. The district joins a handful statewide–including Paterson and Prospect Park–that now close for some Islamic celebrations. “School calendars reflect their communities and they are not just Judeo-Christian anymore,” said Rich Vespucci of the state Department of Education. “In a state like New Jersey, which is a gateway into the United States, it’s not unusual to see changes in the calendar.” Districts generally don’t close school entirely unless a substantial number of students or staff are likely to be absent. The state now recognizes 77 holidays celebrated by six different religions–from the Sikh New Year to Buddha’s birthday–in its list of excused absences for public school students. Students who are observing a holiday may take off without penalty.
The Passaic district has, in the past, closed for the Hindu holiday of Diwali, also known as Deepavali, or the festival of lights. The day was given at the request of the city’s Indian community, which is about 7 percent of the population, said Holster, the Superintendent. “We try to work with them but sometimes it’s difficult [to plan the calendar] since it depends on when the moon comes up,” Holster said. In the end, the state’s tradition of local control allows for flexibility. “You see these decisions being made locally,” said Mike Yaple of the New Jersey School Boards Association. “There’s no one-size fits all.” The State Board of Education has adopted this list of Hindu holidays for which students can claim an excused absence for the 2007-2008 school year: September 7: Ganesha Chaturthi; September 30: Dussera; October 20-23: Deepavali; January 14: Makara Sankranti; March 4: Holi; March 6: Maha Shivaratri; March 19: Chandramana Yugardi; March 27 Rama Navami; March 30: Chandramana Yugardi; April 6-14: Rama Navami; April 14: Souramana Yugada.