NYC Schools Chancellor in Ramadan Prayer About Face

Newsmac.com ^ | Friday Nov. 16, 2001; 9:37 a.m. EST | Carl Limbacher

[Sabertooth]

After a flood of complaints about the decision by New York City's public school Chancellor Harold Levy to set aside special classrooms where Muslim students could pray during Ramadan, the plan has been abruptly dropped.

"The Schools Chancellor is making an about-face from yesterday's announcement that Muslim students could go to a special area on school grounds and pray for Ramadan," reported WABC Radio in New York, which broke the Muslim-prayer-in-schools story last month.

Civil rights lawyers as well as many in the general public were outraged at the double standard that blatantly violated the Supreme Court's ruling banning school prayer and they let their displeasure be known in calls to Levy's office.

The Catholic League, on the other hand, actually praised the decision, but noted the double standard in a press release Thursday.

"It is only fitting that the New York City public schools extend to Jews and Christians the same respect for their religious traditions and observances that they now extend to Muslims," Catholic League President William Donohue said.

"This is what diversity really means—giving equal recognition to the diverse cultural and religious heritages that constitute the American mosaic. We expect our plea for parity will be granted."

Rather than granting parity, however, Schools Chancellor Levy abandoned the school prayer plan entirely.

"Students of all religious faiths can always pray but it cannot disrupt class and it cannot be offered in the form of a special prayer room," Levy's office said.

[bettina0]

Levy doesn't have an advanced degree in education. He doesn't have a degree in education at all.

[MeekOneGOP]

After a flood of complaints about the decision by New York City's public school Chancellor Harold Levy to set aside special classrooms where Muslim students could pray during Ramadan, the plan has been abruptly dropped.

Whatcha wanna bet hitler clintoon made the FIRST call to set this up???? ;-)

[MeekOneGOP]

Whatcha wanna bet hitler clintoon made the FIRST call to set this up???? ;-)

Huh? Can you believe a thread on NEW YORK & my post #62 is the first on referencing "clinton", "clintoon", "bill", "hitler", or "hillary"????? What's the deal??? Ramadan got FReepers out of touch with their minds???? LMAO! ;-)

[lancer]

The fact that Levy would even consider this in the wake of 9/11 is proof that he is unfit to hold his office.

He should be made to wear a burqa for the rest of the school year!

[whoever]

Another example of "academentia".

[Mitzi]

Our new mayor might agree with you! I don't know if this was posted already today. Today's NY Post has an article that says:

-snip-

Mayor-elect Mike Bloomberg declined to appear in public with Schools Chancellor Harold Levy yesterday following a private chat between the two - fueling speculation he wants to replace Levy with his own schools boss.

-end-

BLOOMY DROPS HAROLD A HINT

[liliana]

OOOOPSIES. my husband was both a school administrator and a professor. lol.

[Michael2001]

"After a flood of complaints about the decision by New York City's public school Chancellor Harold Levy to set aside special classrooms where Muslim students could pray during Ramadan, the plan has been abruptly dropped."

Good news, and congratulations to all those who let their displeasure be known.

[mrustow]

Last year, Harold Levy let Muslims pray throughout Ramadan in their own public school prayer rooms, with no outcry from civil libertarians. Guess the war changed things.