Something here doesn't seem right to me. If a Christian wants to pray in school they raise hell about it.
NYC OK's Prayer in School -- for Muslims
That anti-religion bastion of political correctness, the New York City public school system, has quietly sanctioned prayer in schools -- but only of you're a Muslim who wants to worship during Ramadan.
In a talk radio exclusive, New York's WABC Radio has been airing reports on the school system's special program for Muslims for weeks.
Late Wednesday, Schools Chancellor Harold Levy finally confirmed that the religious double standard indeed exists. "Christian parents would probably love to have a place where their children could pray during school hours," WABC newsman George Weber said Thursday. "They don't... But the Muslim kids are getting their very own prayer room in New York City public schools."
"The New York City public school system is going to accommodate Muslim students allowing them space for prayer" during the five week Muslim holy season of Ramadan, reported Weber's partner, Babita Hariani.
"In a statement, though, school's Chancellor Harold Levy adds the prayer 'cannot interfere with classes or infringe on other students'", she explained.
That's not exactly what the Chancellor's office told the New York Post, which reported Thursday that Levy spokeswoman Margie Feinberg told them Muslim students will be allowed to cut classes in order to pray and then reschedule them later.
Here's the link to the NY Post story, the above was taken from anther message site:
nypost.com
SCHOOLS OK RAMADAN PRAYERS
By CARL CAMPANILE
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November 15, 2001 -- Muslim students will be permitted to pray in school during the holy period of Ramadan - with restrictions, Schools Chancellor Harold Levy's office said.
The prayers can't disrupt classes or impinge on the rights of other students, said Levy spokeswoman Margie Feinberg.
Ramadan, which begins at sundown tomorrow, lasts five weeks.
The faithful must pray at noon, as well as later in the day, preferably in a group. They also fast.
"Students want to pray for the religious holiday. We want to accommodate them," Feinberg said, adding that students can ask to have their schedules altered to avoid missing classes.
Feinberg stressed that while school officials can set aside an area for Muslim students to pray, other students cannot be barred from the same area.
The U.S. Supreme Court prohibits officially sponsored prayer in public schools.
School superintendents have contacted the Board of Education's legal department on how to proceed, particularly in light of the World Trade Center disaster and concerns about discrimination against Muslim students. |
