The Muslim Times has the best collection of articles to refute Islamophobia
Source: Huffington Post
By Carol Kuruvilla
The parents claim the school was “proselytizing” by teaching about the world’s second-largest religion.
Two New Jersey parents who complained about how Islam was being taught in their children’s schools are now upset after being called out as Islamophobes.
Libby Hilsenrath and Nancy Gayer, both parents of seventh grade sons at Chatham Middle School, have sought out the help of a conservative law firm after apparently being “pilloried by their community,” according to a press release.
The Thomas More Law Center, a Michigan-based group whose mission is to “preserve America’s Judeo-Christian heritage,” claimed that Hilsenrath and Gayer have been subjected to “personal attacks” because of the parents’ campaign to stop so-called “Islamic indoctrination” at Chatham schools.
“They were defamed as ‘bigots’ and ‘Islamophobes’, ‘hateful’, ‘ignorant’, ‘xenophobes’, ‘intolerant’, ‘racist’, ‘closed minded’, ‘sad and ignorant’ in social media, and the list goes on,” the statement reads.
Gayer and Hilsenrath brought up their concerns at a board of education meeting on February 6. Their objections centered around a world cultures and geography class, particularly a section on the Middle East and North Africa region.
“It’s just not fair that within this unit of study the Chatham school district taught one religion to the exclusion of all others, and for the community to be so unkind and unwelcoming towards us, just for having raised legitimate questions as concerned parents,” Gayer is quoted as saying on the press release.
The parents claimed that although this region of the world has historical ties to Christianity and Judaism, the lesson focused too closely on teaching the tenets and principles of Islam. They said students watched videos, were shown a PowerPoint presentation, and tested about Islam’s principles, and claimed that all of this amounted to “proselytizing.”
In particular, the parents brought up an animated video that they claim was used to teach children about the five pillars of Islam. The Thomas More Law Center called the video was “subtle propaganda.”
Kaaba the very first house of God, according to the Holy Quran. This is where the Muslims go for pilgrimage or Hajj
Categories: Islamophobia, The Muslim Times
I would like to see the syllabus of that particular class in order to determine if equal attention; videos, power point presentations, attention to tenets and principles etc, was given to the other major religions of the world within specific regions. If so, the parents haven’t a legitimate complaint. However, if the same attention to detail that Islam was given was not given to all the others, then, yes, they do have a legitimate complaint and an argument could be made for proselytizing in the classroom. I’m fairly certain that one of the first things that the Thomas More Law Center asked for (or will ask for) is that syllabus.
The reason different religions should be taught in class is that so children grow up in a more accepting and understanding society. Children who are taught about all the religions will have the knowledge to not be offensive to each other. That is why, I think it’s a great idea. However, the religions that are to be taught their syllabus should be approved by reliable sources from each relgious group to make sure the right teachings are being taught. Here, I hope these parents and all other parents understand that all religions including Islam (if taught its true teachings) only preach love and peace.
Learning about world religion is a good idea. It gives them opportunity to learn about others faith and belief.but it is only possible when the teacher is unbiased and respectful of everyone while teaching.