Schools in Baltimore County will not have any Muslim holidays during the school year. This has upset the many Muslim families in the area because obviously Christian holidays like Christmas are still given off.

WBAL reports:

"ADC Baltimore has worked hard for the past 17 months to get the superintendent and the board of education to recognize the Islamic holidays equal to other religious holidays they have recognized. Our efforts have failed with the superintendent. However our resolve and belief did not."

According to reports, district officials said closing schools on Muslim holidays would set a precedent the system would have to follow for any number of other religious and ethnic groups.

It's true that holidays like Christmas have lost much of their religious nature, at least for many Americans, but the effect of the policy is the same: Christians are privileged over Muslims. One of the constitutional tests of a law is whether it has the effect of promoting one religion over others. That's what this one arguably does and, therefore, it may be difficult to defend.

Read More:

• Separation of Church and State 101
• Church and State News
• Religion in Public Schools
• Secularism 101