Thread: Parents object to Muslim presentation at school

AP Texas News



May 31, 2008, 11:41AM
Parents object to Muslim presentation at school


© 2008 The Associated Press


FRIENDSWOOD, Texas — Parents of some junior high students are upset they weren't notified about a school presentation on Islamic culture, an omission that violated school district policy.

The parents' letter-writing campaign stems from a May 22 presentation at Friendswood Junior High, where two Muslim women gave a 30-minute presentation about Islamic life as part of a yearlong study of respect, tolerance and culture, The Galveston County Daily News reported Saturday.

The guest speakers discussed Muslim culture, including topics such as food, religion, dress, beliefs and famous Muslims.

School district spokeswoman Karolyn Gephart said principal Robin Lowe had "best intentions," but Gephart acknowledged not informing parents beforehand was a mistake.

District policy states parents are to be informed about the purpose and content of presentations so that they can keep their children out if they think the material might be offensive or inappropriate.
Still, Gephart said, "If you pulled a book about Islam from the library, you would find the same stuff in the book. There was no proselytizing."

Kim Leago, whose son is in the eighth grade, said she's still upset he was exposed to the "inappropriate" presentation.

"We can't say 'One nation under God' in school, so I definitely don't think (the presentation) was the right choice," she said. "I'm not a prejudiced person ... but Muslims, from what I know of the faith, don't want to be incorporated with Americans. Look at what's going on in the world right now, with the war and with 9/11."

The exact number of parents who objected or wrote letters wasn't known.

Dr. Ahmed Ahmed, a member of the board of directors for the Galveston Islamic Center, said there's a common misperception that Muslims are somehow un-American. The few Muslims who have tainted the faith as terrorists have helped spread the myth that Islam is violent and extremist.

"Muslims in the U.S. are Americans, not intruders," he said. "They are not invaders; they are not outsiders. We are all Americans, and we are all working toward a better America."

Friendswood is a town of about 35,000 between Houston and Galveston on the Gulf Coast.
Priority: Normal

This is BS , we have seperation of church and state and they think they can bring their culture and shove it on our children ....



http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5811368.html

Go after the Principle, the Board of education (All) ... fire them... you are the tax payers and not only is this against school policy, it violates your rights as a parent and as a citizen... how bout the school gets busy teaching math and science seeing how we have dumbed down our children.

As a tax payer I am P.O. in a major way... my taxes are being diverted to support this under no child left behind... (Excuse me)

we are paying for this indirectly as well... that is, it is time taken away from teachers to actually teach... whodathunkit.

Slam these people and slam them hard... matter of fact sue the school and the school district blind

Dr. Ahmed Ahmed, a member of the board of directors for the Galveston Islamic Center, said there's a common misperception that Muslims are somehow un-American. The few Muslims who have tainted the faith as terrorists have helped spread the myth that Islam is violent and extremist.




This is not an issue of a so called few who have "tainted the faith". This is an issue about the faith itself which rejects all other faiths and laws, dictating that the entire world practice only Islam and be ruled by Islamic law.

They can put whatever spin they want to try to put on it, but that it is the factual basis of Islam and the faith is not going to change.....ever.

Also, I find it horrendous that, within the school system in this country, where we can no longer mention God, celebrate or teach about Christian holdiays even in the context of multi-cultural understanding, and even foods objectionable to Muslims have been removed from cafeterias, that the Muslims were permitted to to have an "educational presentation" concerning Islam.

It was just wrong, plain and simple, and someone needs to pay some consequences for allowing it.

Why can't we then have a presentation on the myths people might have about Mormonism or Catholicism or Buddism etc. What does religon have to do with learning the three R's. In history you learn that the Moors invaded Spain etc. but why have the particulars of the relifion itself investigated. If they can 't learn about the particluars of Christianity, then why is learning about the Muslin Faith important or necessary? The problem with learning about their culture is that their religion IS their cultrure. BAD IDEA

Originally Posted by agrneydgrl

Why can't we then have a presentation on the myths people might have about Mormonism or Catholicism or Buddism etc. What does religon have to do with learning the three R's. In history you learn that the Moors invaded Spain etc. but why have the particulars of the relifion itself investigated. If they can 't learn about the particluars of Christianity, then why is learning about the Muslin Faith important or necessary? The problem with learning about their culture is that their religion IS their cultrure. BAD IDEA

Hey, how about a presentation on Atheism!

Originally Posted by AirborneSapper7

Go after the Principle, the Board of education (All) ... fire them... you are the tax payers and not only is this against school policy, it violates your rights as a parent and as a citizen... how bout the school gets busy teaching math and science seeing how we have dumbed down our children.

As a tax payer I am P.O. in a major way... my taxes are being diverted to support this under no child left behind... (Excuse me)

we are paying for this indirectly as well... that is, it is time taken away from teachers to actually teach... whodathunkit.

Slam these people and slam them hard... matter of fact sue the school and the school district blind

I agree. I would be furious!

Sounds like proselytizing to me!