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N.C. students can take 2 days off for holy days

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Comments (18)

Friday, August 13, 2010

(Updated 8:56 am)

By
Associated Press

RALEIGH (AP) — A new North Carolina law requires public schools and colleges to give students at least two days off to observe their religion's holy days.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported today that the law is meant to ease the minds of parents who want their children to observe holidays not recognized by school systems. Democratic state Rep. Rick Glazier says parents grow frustrated when school officials aren't willing to accommodate them.

The law doesn't specify qualifying holy days. Glazier says parents and students should notify school officials in advance.

A UNC-Chapel Hill official says that might be a problem, especially during final exams. Associate provost Ron Strauss says the calendar is filled with holy days for the various faiths.

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ProudAtheist

August 13, 2010 - 8:05 am EDT

And what about children who don't believe in the invisible sky-daddy? Hmm? No matter. We atheists tend to be far more educated, anyway. (And for all you atheist kids out there, if you want to skip school like all your little deluded friends, just pretend you're a Jew. They have holy days almost bi-weekly.)

CherylP25

August 13, 2010 - 8:46 am EDT

You atheists certainly seem to be more arrogant, I'll give you that. Unlike those of us who are humbled by the awesome power of God.

ProudAtheist

August 13, 2010 - 9:19 am EDT

After two thousand years of being tortured, drowned, maimed, beaten, and burned at the stake by Xtians for any sort of dissent from the flock, we have every right to be. As for humbled by an "awesome power", I don't know what on earth you are talking about. Want to know what's awesome? Education is awesome. As for this "god" of yours, I regret to inform you that not only is he imaginary, but he is also completely useless if he were to exist in the first place. He can create an entire universe in six days, but not regrow a wounded veteran's blown-off legs? Or leave out a commandment on "Thou shalt not rape children", while wasting THE FIRST THREE on his own narcissistic needs? Please. Power comes from knowledge, and applying what you have learned towards the betterment of mankind; it is not found in following some schizophrenic bronze-age nomad's book of fairy tales written at a time when the sun went around the earth and giant sea monsters were still considered to be a legitimate vacation hazard.

commonsense45

August 13, 2010 - 8:48 am EDT

I think this is reasonable as long as the parents ensure that their children make up the missed work. Remember the teachers are accountable for learning and the test score. If your child misses school please make sure that they make up the work or spend some time after school with the teacher to catch up to their peers.

tdavis212

August 13, 2010 - 9:57 am EDT

ProudAthiest: I do not consider myself an Athiest but that was well spoken. If I decide to become one I'll be sure to look you up.

kimstric

August 13, 2010 - 10:40 am EDT

I respect your freedom to abstain from religious practices, but please be respectful. Whether or not others have always respected your beliefs, please be the better man or woman and refrain from lashing out at others in return.

nickolinka

August 13, 2010 - 11:51 am EDT

i'm sure proudatheist has respectful plenty of times in the past when people assume he/she believes in their god, their holidays, their ways, their thoughts. just because religion is a social norm in this country does not mean everyone should assume. i do not feel their initial comment was not respectful. after being called arrogant (confused with educated) they explained theirself better. at least that's how i read into it.

Gymnaseum

August 13, 2010 - 2:10 pm EDT

I have taught for twenty years, and although I am an agnostic and tend toward atheist or non-theist philosophy, I am very happy to have my students take time off to reflect in the tradition and depth of their faiths. Not all who are without a belief in god are arrogant or hateful. What I would hate is a world where everyone believed the same thing. There is much beauty and nurture and truth in almost all religions. Please don't let the more vocal and angry color your opinion about all non-theists.

ravencottage

August 13, 2010 - 3:04 pm EDT

This is an accomodation to muslims. Watch for foot baths and prayer rooms next.

Gymnaseum

August 13, 2010 - 4:05 pm EDT

I assume many Muslim youth already wash their feet during school. I don't know if they need ask for special baths. The single noon-ish hour prayer is, I suspect, done privately before or after lunch periods, for those who have reached the age of puberty as well as teachers. Since they have been doing this, too, I guess they can and will continue sans prayer rooms. Teachers have had the option of personal days taken, but it's been harder for students.

I certainly hope Christian and Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu students and teachers (along with those others of the panoply of faiths) have taken their own moments of meditation and prayer throughout the day when they can.

nickolinka

August 13, 2010 - 4:28 pm EDT

raven: who taught you such hate?

ravencottage

August 13, 2010 - 5:55 pm EDT

Hate? If despising islam is hate I guess you are right. No more perfect form of evil has ever been conceived by the mind of man than islam and its monkey god.

nickolinka

August 13, 2010 - 7:14 pm EDT

raven: why is your god more mighty than others? why do you let the rhetoric of past administrations and right wing media make you think all who follow islam are bad? i've met quite a few christians in my day, i don't think they are all bad.

ravencottage

August 13, 2010 - 7:35 pm EDT

Sounds like you have been spending too much time inside a big black trash can liner. Let me tell you this...look around...this is the USA and islam is the antithesis of individual freedom, of a representative republic and everything else this country stands for as embodied in our founding documents. You can pretend otherwise and spout this religion of peace crap but as a member of a group persecuted worldwide by muslims I have made it my business to learn and I know better.

nickolinka

August 13, 2010 - 9:41 pm EDT

big black trash can liner? not sure what that is a reference to. either way, don't find your argument very valid. again, to dumb it down a bit. not all christians are good people. not all muslims are good people. there are good christians and there are good muslims.

ravencottage

August 14, 2010 - 7:40 am EDT

Even bad Christians aren't out to destroy Western Civilization like 100% of muslims are trying to do.

nickolinka

August 14, 2010 - 11:09 am EDT

100%? any facts to back that up?

ravencottage

August 14, 2010 - 1:35 pm EDT

Maybe 100% is an exaggeration... 99% then. The other 1% is still living in tents and sleeping with camels. Each and every day news from around the world proves my point. You simply cannot pretend otherwise.