(MAINE)STUDENTS WANT OUT OF MUSLIM CULTURE CLASS !!

MaineToday.Com ^ | Wednesday, March 26, 2003 | DARLA L. PICKETT

[fight_truth_decay]

MADISON — Some students at Madison Area Memorial High School are objecting to studying the Arab and Muslim culture and religion while the United States is at war with Iraq.

About three dozen students have signed a petition that calls for seniors to be given the option to take alternative assignments in the senior English class project, according to 18-year-old senior Richard Poulin, who circulated the petition.

"There are students who don't feel comfortable with this right now with the events that are taking place in Iraq," Poulin said. "I and others have family and friends over there right now fighting."

Poulin says his cousin, Ryan Holt, is in the 3rd Marine Brigade headed toward Baghdad and a friend, Craig Ladd, is in the army in Iraq.

"I'm angry right now that, with everything going on, they are going to force students to learn about this if they don't agree with it at this time. I know they are not all bad people, but I'm upset with things like Muslims throwing candy in the street on Sept. 11, 2001, celebrating because 3,000 Americans had just died."

Poulin said religion issues also factored into his decision to circulate the petition.

"I'm a Christian," Poulin said. "How come we can't sit down and study why we worship what we do, but we can sit down and study what another country does?"

Poulin and anyone else who refuses to take the class will get a zero and forfeit points toward graduation this spring, he said. Most are not willing to take that chance, Poulin said.

Carrie J. Foss, a 17-year-old senior, said she signed the petition because she has a cousin who is fighting in the war.

"I'm mad, angry and sad," Foss said. "I don't want to study about them now. Maybe later when it's all cooled down, but not right now."

School Administrative District 59 Superintendent Anthony Krapf said the school board and teachers must follow educational guidelines.

"It's up to us to follow the adopted curriculum," Krapf said. "As a public school we must prepare students to go out into different types of culture — because our job is to help the students, these young adults, to fit in and understand other cultures."

Krapf said he does not know all the details of the petition yet, but said there are some situations, such as in health class when teachers talk about human sexuality, in which students are allowed to opt out.

"I guess we would need to talk about this," Krapf said.

Poulin, who has a high grade-point average, a steady job outside school, and has been accepted at Beal College to study criminal justice, said he is willing to "take on an equal work load and reading material" to study another culture.

Krapf said the study of the Arab and Muslim culture and religion has been a class at the high school since the new curriculum was adopted several years ago.

"It is rotated from class to class," Krapf said. "This class has not had it, other senior classes had."

Poulin said one teacher tore up his first petition because he typed it in a computer laboratory at school. He said he does not know who to give the new, completed petition to because he fears no one will accept it.

"I wouldn't say I'm taking a chance, it's more like a moral stand," Poulin said.

Krapf, meanwhile, worries that students do not see the bottom line.

"I know (students) are trying to express themselves, but they are not looking to the future," Krapf said. "We have to be careful they make decisions that don't close doors for them. During high school, it's important to keep as many doors open as possible."

Darla L. Pickett — 474-9534, Ext. 343

dpickett@centralmaine.com

[fight_truth_decay]

Staff photo by DAVID LEAMING

Madison Area High School's Richard Poulin holds a student petition to have an alternative to a course on Aran and Muslim religion and culture.

[TXBubba]

Guess I don't get it. Studying the culture shouldn't really be a problem right now. Maybe the kids will learn why they are in such a mess to begin with. Of course, if the teacher is anti-American then I can certainly understand.

[battlegearboat]

I thoroughly enjoyed studing Texas History in one of Houston's high schools.

Come to think about it, we studied Texas History at St. Vincent De Paul grade school too.

[metesky]

How are the kids in a mess?

[Illbay]

I do think it ought to be their choice. This is really not the kind of thing that ought to be taught at the high school level, though. It is more the kind of thing one should have available in college.

[metesky]

What's your point?

[knarf]

"School Administrative District 59 Superintendent Anthony Krapf said the school board and teachers must follow educational guidelines." "It's up to us to follow the adopted curriculum," Krapf said. "As a public school we must prepare students to go out into different types of culture — because our job is to help the students, these young adults, to fit in and understand other cultures."

Oh, how I wish I was a stoont again with what I know now as an adult!!!

I'm going to try to find a way of getting FreeRepublic to the student body ... these kids? need to know they are a majority.

[goodieD]

"because our job is to help the students, these young adults, to fit in and understand other cultures"

NO, that is NOT your job.. your job is to teach them FACTS.. and if you want facts.. every single terrorist action in the last 20 years have been carried out by Muslims.

[The South Texan]

That's the problem. The teacher is probably teaching them that Islam is the greatest relgion on earth. Brainwashing 101. Just like some teachers and professors teach student down here the this part of Texas was "stolen" by the United States.

[Tamzee]

Bet the teacher wouldn't have ripped it up if it was a petition against President Bush...

The problem is "God" is a forbidden word on school property but our kids are forced to learn all about "Allah". I do think Middle Eastern studies are important, though it probably would go down a lot easier if Western culture weren't shredded and demeaned to the students.

[The Other Harry]

It does seem odd that they are required to study Islam and prohibited from studying Christianity or from even saluting the American flag. This is "diversity"?

[Howlin]

No kidding.

[Chi-Town Lady]

"It's up to us to follow the adopted curriculum," Krapf said. "As a public school we must prepare students to go out into different types of culture — because our job is to help the students, these young adults, to fit in and understand other cultures."

My questions is when are they going to start teaching Muslims right here in America to understand other cultures? These schools, financed by our "friends" the Saudi's have only taught hate of America.

[fight_truth_decay]

"I'm a Christian," Poulin said. "How come we can't sit down and study why we worship what we do, but we can sit down and study what another country does?"

This was the quote which jumped out at me. What do you think the answer would be?

[Madame Dufarge]

Would any Muslim students be excused from a class that taught Christianity (as if there were even a remote possibility?)

My money's on the wholesale excusing of the Muslims, lest they be "offended."

[Xenalyte]

In English class, one should be studying English. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, literature . . . doesn't matter. English. That's why it's called English class.

[CIBvet]

Perhaps this class will help these young HS students better understand how to accept another wave of Somali Muslims dumped into their small-town Maine community by the refugee micro-managers at the U.N. & D.C.

I haven't heard of any of these 3 Worlders being settled into Hillary's neighborhood.

[Xenalyte]

"As a public school we must prepare students to go out into different types of culture — because our job is to help the students, these young adults, to fit in and understand other cultures."

No, you nimrod, your job is to teach the kids how to read, write, and do math. If their parents want them to be multicultural, the parents will take care of it.

[ProudEagle]

Actually I think these students are missing a golden opportunity. Know thine enemy. If they think this current Iraq battle (I personally hesitate to call it a war, because it won't be the last time we deal with this region) is the last they'll have to deal with this culture, they'd better think again. We'll need future diplomats, business contacts and especially warriors who understand and know how to deal and interact with this region in the future. Pity there is nobody at their school wise enough to point this out to them.

However, I will concede their issue that if they can't study their own culture or religion then they shouldn't be forced to study Muslim and Arab culture. It should be an elective.