Posted on 05/19/2008 8:42:56 PM PDT by XR7
A Twin Cities charter school is making changes after accusations that it endorsed Islamic studies at taxpayer expense.
Since 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS investigated TIZA Academy in Inver Grove Heights on Wednesday, the school's attorney has said several changes would be made.
The most noticeable -- an American flag now flies over the school for the first time since the academy was founded in 2003.
The attorney told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that it was a difficult day for staff and parents, as people from across the country inundated the school with threats and messages of hate after hearing what substitute Amanda Getz, of Bloomington, said she observed at the school.
TIZA Executive Director Azad Zaman insisted the school follows state and federal laws.
"Frankly I actually don't know how to work that flagpole. For five years it has sat empty," he said Wednesday.
Minnesota state law requires all public schools to fly the American flag while school is in session. Even though TIZA Academy raised the flag on Thursday, its lawyers insisted the flag law didn’t apply to charter schools.
"At the end of the day, 'Islamic studies' was written on the board and from my knowledge, you're not allowed to have any religious studies during school and they said they were studying the Koran," Getz said.
She said her issue is not with Muslims, but rather with what she felt was the presence of religion at the taxpayer-supported school.
"TIZA does not endorse any religion," Zaman told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on Wednesday. "We're required under the federal guidelines to allow students to pray when they wish to do so. And as Muslim students, they're allowed to pray around 1:30 p.m., so we allow them to do that."
TIZA Academy is sponsored by Islamic Relief USA, based in California.
Zaman said the ‘Islamic studies’ offered after school, is a program students can choose to participate in.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS contacted a parent who has two children at TIZA Academy. The parent said her children were excelling in science and mathematics and have never been forced to participate in Islamic practices.
"We want to make good American citizens," Zaman said.
The State Board of Education said there is ambiguity concerning what is required of charter schools regarding flying the American flag and the legislature must clarify those grey areas.
The American Civil Liberties Union is looking into the situation but cannot act unless and until someone files an official complaint.
Hey FReepers! What are we waitin' for?
.
HERE's the rest of the story...
Story & Video here:
The faculty, the children and all of their families should be packed onto a military transport and flown straight to the middle east.
Fantastic. Taxpayer-supported terrorist training bootcamp for kiddies. Truly evil.
If you can't figure out how to "work" a flagpole, you shouldn't be running a school.
That's a crappy excuse. Besides, if you're too dumb to get a flag up a pole then how are you qualified to teach students anything other than Islam?!?
religion and state do /should not mix. Thank you.
Doesn’t know how to work a flagpole, but does know how to work the system...
LOL!
You're just too sensible.
Many Muslims hate our way of life and are systematically trying to change it.
a. If they percieve they have the advantage, they will act violently every time.
b. They lie like rugs
c. A threat of violence (not legal action) is the only message they understand.
d. As soon as they can they will expand their numbers and exact violent revenge.
"Frankly I actually don't know how to work that flagpole. For five years it has sat empty," he said Wednesday.
Working a flagpole is about as difficult as working a fork. Does someone feed poor azad?
BTTT!
True to established custom, any complaint or objection regarding one of liberalism’s favored groups is said to be an expression of “hate.”
We want to make good American citizens bow down before us to better facilitate the chopping off of their heads” Zaman said.
There, fixed that for you.
bkamrkforlater. thanks. was just looking at another thread about this...
Send treats to the troops...
Great because you did it!
www.AnySoldier.com
Yep, government sanctioned. Wonder if the guvmint would sanction a Christian charter school. Oh silly me. What was I thinking.
100%!
We shouldn’t feel so smug when we observe what’s taking place in Europe.
They’re just waiting for the brief flurry of media attention to die down. It will, and then they’ll go back to business as usual.
That's a crappy excuse. Besides, if you're too dumb to get a flag up a pole
then how are you qualified to teach students anything other than Islam?!?
But it is enough to teach Islam, which is the point, so well tolerated, is it not?
Exactly. I've been making that comment for a couple of years. We've have the same things going on over here.
http://kstp.com/article/stories/S449649.shtml?cat=1
News crew attacked during report at TiZA charter school
Top Ten Biggest Lies:
10. The check is in the mail.
9. I’ll respect you in the morning.
8. I’m from the government. I’m here to help you.
7. It’s only a cold sore.
6. I never inhaled.
5. I never watch television except for PBS.
4. But we can still be good friends.
3. Don’t worry, he’s never bitten anyone.
2. I’ve never done anything like this before
1. Frankly I actually don’t know how to work that flagpole.
Muslim issue aside, what is the point of these charter schools? So many of them have been shut down for financial mismanagement, fraud, etc.
It seems that the Dpt. of Ed. cannot monitor them properly. They need to clean this mess up.
Thanks for the perspective.
Awesome video:
The same kind of terrorists who support Obama did this:
http://www.frugalsites.net/911/attack/
Never apologize for them.
Never appease them.
Never forget.
Awesome video:
The same kind of terrorists who support Obama did this:
http://www.frugalsites.net/911/attack/
Never apologize for them.
Never appease them.
Never forget.
Awesome video:
The same kind of terrorists who support Obama did this:
http://www.frugalsites.net/911/attack/
Never apologize for them.
Never appease them.
Never forget.
posting seems dicey today...
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