Text of Boston City Council Resolution On Boston Public Schools Accommodating Muslim Students In School System

Editor's Note: The Boston City Council unanimously approved a resolution on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 encouraging Boston public schools to encourage and support Muslim students in the school system. The text is below. Below that are images of the three pages of the resolution..^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.OFFERED BY COUNCILORS TANIA FERNANDES ANDERSON AND.RUTHZEE LOUIJEUNE.CITY OF BOSTON.IN CITY COUNCIL.RESOLUTION TO ENSURE THAT.BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS EFFECTIVELY.ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ITS MUSLIM.STUDENTS.WHEREAS, The Boston Public Schools is tasked with educating all of the students in their.charge and therefore, must create a safe and secure haven for its pupils as well as.offer them a rigorous education; and.WHEREAS, Followers of the Islamic faith make up the second biggest religious group of.students who attend our schools, and they are in need of support and services.from culturally competent educators who are aware of how to honor their.identities, allowing them to flourish at school; and.WHEREAS, In an article by Felicia Gans, published in the May 4th, 2021 edition of the Boston.Globe, 61 percent of BPS students and students of surrounding suburbs say that.they have been bullied in school, and 14 percent of our Muslim youth don't feel.comfortable telling their peers at school that they are Muslim; and.WHEREAS, In the same study referenced in this article, 40 percent said they have heard of a.Muslim student being physically harassed at school, and 17 percent of the.students surveyed said that they themselves have had their hijab pulled and tugged.on; and.WHEREAS, Students have the right to request reasonable accommodation for religious.expression in public schools, such as designated spaces that can be utilized for.prayer, as long as said prayers are not disruptive to their peers, but they are often.too intimidated to ask, despite public schools being required to provide students.an opportunity to practice their religion without favoring one religion over.another; and.WHEREAS, There is currently a dearth of places and times within our schools where Muslim.students can take the breaks they need to pray, as practicing Muslims must pray at.times that correspond to school hours, amplifying the spiritual necessity of the.58.creation of such spaces that will allow for their spiritual practices; and.WHEREAS, Religious involvement plays an important role in mental health, especially among.marginalized ethnic communities by promoting culture and identity in a largely.white-Christian-dominated society; and.WHEREAS, The generic dietary options that are made available to our BPS students are often.not options that a practicing Muslim can partake in which creates conditions in.which Muslim students must abstain from said food options, or bring food from.home; and.WHEREAS, Thirty-three percent of Muslim students in the Boston area report that they have.altered their appearance, behavior and name to disguise their Muslim identity in.the face of persistent harassment and discrimination; and.WHEREAS, Practicing Muslims often have uniform needs that may conflict with certain.requirements for classes as Muslims often cover their bodies as a part of their.faith, and this needs to be allowed and honored in various contexts, such as gym.classes; and.WHEREAS, There are several Muslim holidays throughout the school year that are not.recognized as city holidays and hence, the students do not get days off, and.religious exemptions for absences must be instituted with a reasonable amount of.time given for students to make up all assignments given during those days, and.specific provisions must be made for the fasting that occurs during Ramadan,.when followers of the faith do complete fasts of both food and drink for a month;.and.WHEREAS, More attention must be paid to the specific bathroom needs of our Muslim.students, including the proper provision of clean water and soap that will allow.them to purify themselves in the proper manner after every utilization of.bathroom facilities, sufficient privacy needs, and the ability of our pupils to recite.duas, among other matters; and.WHEREAS, Boston Public School policy has as a stated goal of building a safe and supportive.environment, and recognizes and respects the diverse population of its pupils in.their schools and out in the community; and.WHEREAS, Schools play an important role in teaching students about race and ethnicity,.formally and informally, and a student's own identity is heavily influenced by a.school's climate, proving the profound importance of progressive education in the.creation of confident and strong willed youth; and.WHEREAS, A positive school climate is one in which students feel safe, respected, and.59.supported, furthermore, a positive school climate increases student engagement,.improves student outcomes, and improves student mental health; and.WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of our City's school system to educate all of our youth, to.keep them safe, to encourage the flowering of their full identities, and to.recognize what makes them who they are, including the honoring of their.religious practices; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT.RESOLVED: That the Boston City Council go on record in full support to ensure that the.Boston Public Schools efficiently address the needs of its Muslim Students by.recognizing the diverse and significant challenges faced by Muslim students in.the Boston Public Schools (BPS), urging BPS to proactively address these issues.of instances of bullying, harassment, and the lack of accommodation for.religious practices, and to ensure culturally competent educators who can support.the flourishing of Muslim students in a safe and inclusive environment; BE IT.FURTHER.RESOLVED: That the Boston City Council support the creation of designated spaces for.prayer, accommodation for dietary restrictions, acknowledgment of Muslim.holidays, and attention to specific bathroom needs and to create a positive school.climate to foster student well-being and academic success. Ultimately, the.Boston City Council acknowledges and strongly support efforts to meet the.unique needs of Muslim students within the Boston Public Schools..Filed on March 6, 2024.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.Boston City Council resolution on accommodating Muslim students in the Boston Public Schools, adopted unanimously on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Source: Agenda Packet of the Boston City Council for meeting of Wednesday, March 6, 2024..New to NewBostonPost? Discover the difference with content that goes beyond the typical Massachusetts news outlets. Stay informed with news and commentary rooted in conservative values—for just $1 a week. Cancel anytime. Don’t wait—join now and see what you’ve been missing!

Text of Boston City Council Resolution On Boston Public Schools Accommodating Muslim Students In School System

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