Campaign: Designate Diwali an Official Coppell ISD Holiday
Sign to Support : https://www.change.org/p/coppell-isd-board-of-trustees-and-superintendent-designate-diwali-an-official-coppell-isd-holiday
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Esteemed Coppell ISD Board Members and Superintendent,
We’re writing to you to respectfully request that Diwali, an important holiday for Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs, be designated an official holiday for Coppell ISD students.
Asian students account for 43.88% of total students in Coppell ISD — South Asian, Indian, and Hindu making up a large majority. When Diwali comes around each year, often times on a weekday, too many students are faced with a difficult decision — observe this religious holiday and risk missing important school work and activities, or forego their observance altogether because the curricular cost is simply too much. While schools are not required to close on a particular religious holiday, there is a matter of administrative convenience given a large number of students that would likely be absent on Diwali.
Even if a child wishes to observe the holiday, their families, known to emphasize education as a top priority, hesitate. At best, too many families squeeze in a rushed celebration — fit in between the end of after-school activities, homework, studying, and bedtime.
Diwali is a time for renewal and reminds celebrants about the inherent goodness of life. People clean, renovate, and decorate their homes and offices ahead of the holiday, which traditionally is five days. On the main day, the day of Diwali, people light diyas (earthen lamps) inside and outside their homes and participate in family or community puja (rituals). After the puja, fireworks follow, and friends and family often gather, hold feasts, and an exchange of gifts. Diwali also marks a time for charity, as well as a major shopping period in nations where it is celebrated.
Aside from the well-being of CISD students and families, there are several other factors that we believe Board Members and the Superintendent should consider:
1. A number of school districts across the US have adopted Diwali as an official school holiday. The number of students who would benefit from Diwali being an official school holiday in Coppell ISD is actually significantly greater than in many of the districts listed below.
New York:
East Meadow School District
East Williston Union Free School District
Half Hollow Hills Central School District
Herricks Union Free School District
Hicksville Union Free School District
Syosset Central School District
New Jersey:
Glen Rock Public Schools
West Windsor-Plainsboro School District
Piscataway School District
South Brunswick District
Passaic City School District
Others:
Unionville-Chadds Ford School District, Pennsylvania
Howard County District, Maryland
Harvard Public Schools, Massachusetts
2. Teaching about Diwali is part of the Texas State’s Curriculum Standard (for §113.18. Social Studies, Grade 6, Beginning with School Year 2011-2012, at 19B).
3. The Diwali Mela (fair) in Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas boasts an attendance of 50,000 people every year with Dallas Mayor and other officials in attendance. In 2009, San Antonio became the first U.S. city to sponsor an official Diwali celebration including a fireworks display.
4. In 2016, Diwali was commemorated for the first time at the United Nations in NYC. The White House has been celebrating Diwali for nearly a decade — a tradition that was started by fellow Texan, President George W. Bush and continued by President Obama.
5. The United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a first-ever Diwali postage stamp on October 5, 2016. It’s since become one of the best-selling stamps in the history of USPS.
6. Diwali is celebrated around the world, particularly in countries with significant populations of four cultures: Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs. These include Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, Bhutan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Mauritius, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean nations. Diwali is also celebrated in the Netherlands, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States.
Diwali is a well-known and widely celebrated holiday. We respectfully request that the Coppell ISD Board take the lead in embracing and recognizing the culture of a large number of its students. We strongly believe that such a designation by Coppell ISD will go a long way in demonstrating the commitment of our educators to the well-being of our diverse students and families.
We thank you in advance for your due consideration.
Sincerely,
Students and Parents of Coppell ISD
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Sign to Support : https://www.change.org/p/coppell-isd-board-of-trustees-and-superintendent-designate-diwali-an-official-coppell-isd-holiday
