News >> Browse Articles >> K-12 News
Muslim Students Face School Challenges During Fasting Month
By KATHERINE LEAL UNMUTH / The Dallas Morning News
Susan Almasri, 17, faces an endurance test each time she steps into the cafeteria at The Academy of Irving ISD this month.
Students enjoying their lunch break surround Susan. But she can’t eat or drink a thing during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
“When I explain that I’m fasting, some of my friends are like, ‘I want to go on a diet, too,’ ” said Susan, dressed in jeans paired with a traditional headscarf, or hijab.
She misses coffee the most.
For an increasing number of Muslim public school students in the Dallas area, fasting while surrounded by non-Muslim students can prove to be an extra challenge. Muslims believe that through the self-discipline of fasting, they will grow closer to God. They eat before sunrise, fast all day and break fast again after sunset.
Public schools are gradually making accommodations in response to parent requests.
Some schools allow students to spend their lunch hour in the library or in an office to avoid the temptation of food or the stress of feeling different from other kids. Children are not required to fast until they reach puberty, but many start trying out half days at first.
Susan’s younger siblings go to the library during lunch, as she once did.
“When you’re younger, you don’t know how to explain it to people,” she said.
Other schools excuse students from recess or other physical activity if they appear to be drained.
Aamer Husain, 17, a student at Plano West Senior High School, said his gym teacher told him he could sit out strenuous activities.
Still, getting through the day can be tough.
“My last two class periods I get really worn out,” he said. “I struggle to concentrate.”
By comparison, several private religious schools dismiss students early during Ramadan.
Religious liberties scholar Charles Haynes of the Freedom Forum said schools should be responsive to families’ requests. But they need to shy away from endorsing religion.
“Schools should be sensitive to the fact that it will perhaps be challenging for students to do work and be alert,” he said. “They can be careful during that time not to overload the schedule with too many tests. They can’t disrupt the education system for this one group, but it’s one thing they can take into account.”
The Richardson school district has a religious practices committee made up of local leaders of different faiths who focus on the issue. Students who wish to say their daily prayers are allowed to find an out-of-the-way place to do so. Students may be excused to attend religious services.
Upon request, they may take off Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that ends Ramadan. The committee also advises principals to take into account the potential for high absence rates on such holidays.
Nehal Elramly’s 10-year-old daughter, Yasmeen, is fasting for the first time at her Plano school. Ms. Elramly believes schools should be more open to educating other children about the observance.
“Just so the other kids can understand what they’re doing,” she said. “I think a lot of teachers are fearful of where that line is they can or cannot cross”
A reference to Ramadan, along with other religious holidays, is included in the state’s social studies standards in sixth grade. Though Susan said Ramadan is not addressed in the classroom, her non-Muslim friends are curious. Some are trying out fasting. They see it as a physical challenge.
To her, it has a much deeper significance.
“You’re never more thankful than when you get that first bite of food,” she said. “You remember how not everyone is as lucky as we are here in America.”
© 2008 YellowBrix, Inc.
johnslat
about 1 month ago
1644 comments
"The changing of our way of life I was speaking of is when an entire elementary school has to stop celebrating a holiday that is a tradition for decades because someone who does not agree complains."
I'm not sure what holiday you're referring to, Christmas, perhaps? Since there is a separation of church and state in the USA (another thing I'm very proud of, having lived for many years in societies where there is no such separation), celebrating a holiday that's really a holy day would violate that Constitutional mandate.
And just how are Muslims responsible for our "losing our own traditions?" I don't see how we can lose them unless we do so ourselves.
The Supreme Court has ruled that public schools must be "neutral" about religion. "By “neutrality” the Supreme Court does not mean hostility to religion. Nor does it mean ignoring religion. Neutrality means protecting the religious-liberty rights of all students while simultaneously rejecting school endorsement or promotion of religion.
In 1995, 24 major religious and educational organizations defined religious liberty in public schools this way:
Public schools may not inculcate nor inhibit religion. They must be places where religion and religious conviction are treated with fairness and respect.
Public schools uphold the First Amendment when they protect the religious-liberty rights of students of all faiths or none. Schools demonstrate fairness when they ensure that the curriculum includes study about religion as an important part of a complete education."
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/rel_liberty/publicschools/faqs....
Personally, I've never known of any Muslim students in a public school who was allowed to be home-schooled for a month, and I'm very surprised to hear that any public school system would allow that. Could you let me know where that happened? I'd like to get in touch with the administrators there.
tbg
about 1 month ago
8 comments
You are so misinformed if you think that would not be allowed by the public school system. I personally know of students that have done just that. I treasure our countrys great qualities. And yes religious freedom is one I would defend. The changing of our way of life I was speaking of is when an entire elementary school has to stop celebrating a holiday that is a tradition for decades because someone who does not agree complains. In cases like that we are gradually giving in to the point of losing our own traditions and a large part of our own culture. I
johnslat
about 1 month ago
1644 comments
Home school them for a month? Umm, I don't think that would be allowed by any public school.
Actually, I'm proud that I live in a country that has freedom of religion and tries to accommodate students of different faiths. You wrote "No american (sic) could go to another country where the cultures were so different and be treated with such tolerance." Maybe so, and that all the more reason I'm proud that we do. After all. I think most would agree that tolerance is a good quality.
They're not "trying to change our way of life"; how could they do that? It is a "wonderful land" we live in, and this article shows just how wonderful it truly is.
tbg
about 1 month ago
8 comments
Why don't the parents just home school them for the period of time if this is such a problem?I'm personally tired of the expectation that the rest of society should feel the need to always make exceptions for a few who chose to be different. We have a great country that was founded on certain principles and litle by little we are losing our own identity. We need to say the Pledge of Allegience, sing the Star Spangled Banner, teach proper American history and quit making excuses for the truly wonderful land that we live in. If any foreign born person came here for a better life they should feel thankful to be able to participate in those same principles that we hold so dear. They should not constantly try to change our way of life to serve their purpose. No american could go to another country where the cultures were so different and be treated with such tolerance.
peglee6
about 1 month ago
2 comments
I'm glad this topic is being addressed. As educators, we should not pity any student for their belief system. Too often the "Majority" thinks their way is the "RIGHT" way. Well, It's not! So don't pity those that are different, embrace their diversity! Make the differences a good thing, because not so long ago your differences were looked at as different. Is that not why we are a country made up of immigrants...for the freedom FROM religion; to believe as we choose...not as the "Majority" chooses.
johnslat
about 1 month ago
1644 comments
Yup, I think Christmas has pretty much lost its intended meaning for lots of people, too.
Human nature, I suppose.
anna176
about 1 month ago
2 comments
johnslat, your observations in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan remind me a bit of our celebration of Christmas here in the U.S., which seems to be missing it's point to a growing extent. Overeating and overindulging in alcoholic beverages at parties, stores everywhere open ever earlier and close ever later until the times meet somewhere in the wee hours, and in general taking a sacred event to it's secular extreme.
Speaking as a preschool teacher who works in a place where inclusion is the policy, and where we often fall short, I think that it is important to have an environment that incorporates a little of what each child sees in his or her own home. Although we aren't supposed to give one religion more attention than others, the christmas decorations always end up coming out. I take the opportunity to ask some of the Jewish and Muslim families what sort of "holiday" decorations they have out at that time of year. Those children benefit not only from the familiarity of these objects, but by seeing their friends of different faiths becoming familiar with them too.
teach_by_example
about 1 month ago
84 comments
I worked in a Catholic school and Muslim children were allowed to come in the library during this time. I welcomed the company, I learned many new things about Islam this way.
sanmccarron
2 months ago
1078 comments
ivanskimkd, those are constructive suggestions. Thank you.
ivanskimkd
2 months ago
10 comments
The first thing that we are teachers need to do is to acknowledge that the fasting during the month of Ramadan is a choice students make for themselves. Rather than showing them pity, just a simple word of understanding would be enough for most of these children. To hear that someone is recognizing what they are doing without feeling bad for them is what they wait for.
To address sanmccarron's case with a child fainting, I would like to say that in the religion, if one is sick or becomes sick, that individual is excused from fasting. Islam does not put greater burden on a person than that person can handle. Endangering one's health is not part of the deal :) so if any teacher notices similar cases, they should probably talk to the parents and let them know what is going on. This is my opinion as to what can be done for the Muslim students in the US during Ramadan.
johnslat
2 months ago
1644 comments
Dear ivanskimkd
I await your suggestions (I don't think you've made any to date.)
ivanskimkd
2 months ago
10 comments
This has never been about me or what I like. You had asked me the question, and for this reason I responded. My original point was that the way Ramadan might be observed in other countries is not relevant to what Muslim children go through here in the States and how can we as their teachers help them cope with it.
johnslat
2 months ago
1644 comments
Dear ivanskimkd,
I suspect that you may not like the fact that Ramadan in Saudi Arabia is observed by some in the way that was described. It is, however, a fact, and not liking it will not, unfortunately, change that.
ivanskimkd
2 months ago
10 comments
Johnslat, I myself am a Muslim who has gone though the same struggles that Muslims students go through everywhere, so I am talking from personal experience rather than just observing.
Cindyx3
2 months ago
114 comments
I knew a muslim boy and I would give him a pass to the library during Ramadan so he wouldn't have to stay in the cafeteria. He'd thank me everyday and go on his way.