The practice of Islam in public schools
Public schools in the United States can often appear hostile to Muslims. However, legally this should not be the case. The First Amendment prohibits public schools, like other government institutions, from discriminating on the basis of religion and supporting or suppressing any particular religious belief. This means that students in public schools have religious rights in public schools.
One of the most common queries about religious rights in public schools involves the acquisition of a space to pray. If the school makes rooms available for groups of students to meet during lunch, then they must also make a room available to Muslim students who request a room to pray Dhuhr. But if the school does not allow other groups of students to use the rooms, it is also not necessary for the students to pray in a separate room. If Asr falls during the school day, school boards may, but are not required to, allow students to pray outside of class. If this affects you or your child, contact your local school district for their policy on the matter.
If students want to leave school to go to a mosque to pray Jummah on Fridays, the schools cannot discriminate against them for this. The school must consider that recess a religious holiday and an excused absence. The student must be allowed to make up any missed tests or assignments, but it is their responsibility to ensure that this happens. This same policy applies to days off for other religious holidays, such as Eids. Students should also be excused from strenuous physical activity during Ramadan, although schools sometimes require a doctor’s note.
Nor can Muslim students be forced to participate in activities that conflict with their religious beliefs. For example, some Muslims feel that it is circumventing the oath of allegiance or reverence in a school-sponsored martial arts program. In that circumstance, the student must participate and cannot be punished for doing so.
Mandatory religious clothing such as hijab or long pants should also be allowed. Students may wear these types of clothing at all times and cannot be forced to remove them. However, schools may reasonably restrict the activities in which students may participate if it puts themselves or others in danger. For example, students in baggy clothing may not be allowed to take classes in carpentry or metalworking, as there is a chance that their clothing will get caught in machinery.
Of course, students also have the right to be free from harassment by other students and to be treated equally by the faculty. If other students are harassing Muslim students, it should be reported to the school administrators. If they don’t take the proper steps to prevent it from happening in the future, contact a civil rights group like CAIR, MPAC, or ACLU. Contact these same groups, or a private attorney, if you are also having trouble enforcing your other rights.
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