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An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified Therese McCoag as principal of Fairview School. She is retired, has no current affiliation with Fairview School and had nothing to do with the implementation of this policy.
A Canadian school has sparked outrage after it designated 'No Food' zones at certain times inside its cafeteria in order to be inclusive to Muslim children who are fasting for Ramadan.
Lunch areas at Fairview School in Calgary have been named 'food free' to support students undertaking the religious fast, according to an email sent by administrators.
The email informed parents that the cafeteria was a 'No Food Space' during the first half of lunch for younger pupils in grades 4 to 6.
Children in grades 7 to 9 would be banned from eating food inside their lunch room for the full hour-long break, according to the email.
It's unclear where the non-fasting students would be able to eat as an alternative. As of 2024, Fairview School has 911 students enrolled, up to the ninth grade.
Ramadan started on February 17, and will end on March 18. Practicing Muslims do not eat food or drink water during sunlight hours for the month, and celebrate the end with the festival of Eid.
Calgary's education board snapped back at the criticism online, and confusingly put out a statement saying that the school had made 'no changes to these designated lunch areas,' despite acknowledging the email with the new restrictions was sent out.
The email, dated February 18, stated: 'To support students who may be fasting, we will be providing designated No Food Spaces during lunch.
'On days of bad weather, the learning commons will be a no-food space for all students. Thank you for your continued partnership in fostering an inclusive and caring school community.'
The changes in the viral email drew backlash online with many questioning why fasting students were in the lunchroom at all.
'Literally no Muslims care if you eat in front of them while we fast,' one X user wrote about the zones.
'The true common sense solution would have been for the fasting students to avoid the cafeteria area,' another user said.
'Why would a fasting child have a need to go to the lunchroom? Wouldn't they be the ones avoiding it and occupying other areas of the school?' One user questioned.
Another said: 'The entire point of a religious fast, no matter the religion, is for it to be difficult, and that includes being around food and people who eat food. This is an absolute joke.'
In Islam, children are expected to begin fasting during Ramadan when they hit puberty, around the age of 13 or 14. However, children as young as age 9 in fourth grade at Fairview School were expected to participate in the 'No Food' zoning.
In response to the outrage, the Calgary Board of Education posted a statement on Instagram.
Calgary's population is 45 percent Christian, according to census records. Calgary Board of Education noted that it had 10,704 non-Canadian students registered to join its schools in the academic year ending 2024.
'During special cultural and religious observances, schools are able to make accommodations to support students, both in and out of classroom activities. This could include accommodations when students are fasting during Ramadan,' it stated.
'Depending on the number and size of the school population engaging in fasting, this is done in different ways. This may include designating distinct spaces as non-food areas.'
A Canadian school has sparked outrage after it designated 'No Food' zones at certain times inside its cafeteria in order to be inclusive to Muslim children who are fasting for Ramadan.
Lunch areas at Fairview School in Calgary have been named 'food free' to support students undertaking the religious fast, according to an email sent by administrators.
The email informed parents that the cafeteria was a 'No Food Space' during the first half of lunch for younger pupils in grades 4 to 6.
Children in grades 7 to 9 would be banned from eating food inside their lunch room for the full hour-long break, according to the email.
It's unclear where the non-fasting students would be able to eat as an alternative. As of 2024, Fairview School has 911 students enrolled, up to the ninth grade.
Ramadan started on February 17, and will end on March 18. Practicing Muslims do not eat food or drink water during sunlight hours for the month, and celebrate the end with the festival of Eid.
Calgary's education board snapped back at the criticism online, and confusingly put out a statement saying that the school had made 'no changes to these designated lunch areas,' despite acknowledging the email with the new restrictions was sent out.
The email, dated February 18, stated: 'To support students who may be fasting, we will be providing designated No Food Spaces during lunch.
'On days of bad weather, the learning commons will be a no-food space for all students. Thank you for your continued partnership in fostering an inclusive and caring school community.'
The changes in the viral email drew backlash online with many questioning why fasting students were in the lunchroom at all.
'Literally no Muslims care if you eat in front of them while we fast,' one X user wrote about the zones.
'The true common sense solution would have been for the fasting students to avoid the cafeteria area,' another user said.
'Why would a fasting child have a need to go to the lunchroom? Wouldn't they be the ones avoiding it and occupying other areas of the school?' One user questioned.
Another said: 'The entire point of a religious fast, no matter the religion, is for it to be difficult, and that includes being around food and people who eat food. This is an absolute joke.'
In Islam, children are expected to begin fasting during Ramadan when they hit puberty, around the age of 13 or 14. However, children as young as age 9 in fourth grade at Fairview School were expected to participate in the 'No Food' zoning.
In response to the outrage, the Calgary Board of Education posted a statement on Instagram.
Calgary's population is 45 percent Christian, according to census records. Calgary Board of Education noted that it had 10,704 non-Canadian students registered to join its schools in the academic year ending 2024.
'During special cultural and religious observances, schools are able to make accommodations to support students, both in and out of classroom activities. This could include accommodations when students are fasting during Ramadan,' it stated.
'Depending on the number and size of the school population engaging in fasting, this is done in different ways. This may include designating distinct spaces as non-food areas.'
