My wife attended the science class today. She brought her little recorder. Before class started, the science teacher had another teacher watch the class while he lectured my wife. He said that he would not permit her to sit in his class if she was there only to find fault. He said that she could sign up as a teacher's aide and help teach the class, but that he would not tolerate her "negative" influence. She basically said, "whatever..." Then, he said he was angry that I had "demanded" a copy of the current lesson plan and that all I had to do was ask for it and he would have given it to me. She corrected him and said that I had not demanded anything, but simply asked the principal for the current lesson plan. He then started the class.
Guess what? No oral presentations were given today. He rearranged the whole class schedule, announced that the test on the whole chapter that was going to be next week was now going to be tomorrow and then he launched into a review of the science portions of the chapter.
This tactic is not going to work because my wife is prepared to sit in that class until that "science" textbook is out of the school.
Here's where the story gets even more interesting. In the middle of class, another teacher (my son's teacher) came to the classroom to get my wife. She left her purse there with the recorder going and went to the principal's office with the teacher. She said that my 6th grader son was not in any kind of trouble, but that there was an issue that she could help resolve.
Yesterday, my son came home after school and wanted to talk to me about what he'd learned in History class. They are studying World History and they're currently on the set of chapters about World Religions. He had come home Monday night with a bunch of spelling words which were words from such religions as Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Daoism, and Hinduism. We noticed nothing related to Christianity. My wife asked the teacher about that on Tuesday and she was more than comfortable with the teacher's plans to cover Christianity next week. In fact, the class is currently reading The Chronicles of Narnia and will be attending the film as a field trip on Friday. Additionally, the symbolism in the book and film has been discussed with the class.
In History class yesterday one of the high school teachers had come over and given a presentation on Islam. This teacher served as a Christian missionary in an Islamic country. He mentioned that he had to do so secretly or he could have been killed for trying to convert Muslims. He showed the a prayer rug, showed them how Muslims pray, and discussed other aspects of their religion and culture.
In my discussion with my son, who, by the way learned almost everything he needed to learn about Islam on 9/11, we discussed why the Christian missionary had to keep his mission secret. We discussed the Quran and the portions in it which proscribe the killing of those who convert Muslims to Christianity and to those Muslims who do convert to Christianity. We also discussed the head chopping habit with which Islam seems to be so enamored. We've discussed Islam before, he's seen the news reports about the hostages who have been killed on video by the "peaceful" representatives of the religion of Islam, and he's listened with me to Michael Savage in the car when Savage has been ranting about Islam. He is fully aware of what Islam is all about.
Even though the teacher was not pushing Islam, apparently my son took issue with him painting such a pretty picture of Islam by leaving out essential details.
The reason my son was in the principal's office is because his class was assigned to write a 'Thank You' letter to the teacher who gave the presentation. My son took the opportunity of that letter assignment to register his protest of Islam and the pretty picture that the teacher had drawn. He said something along the lines of, "Thank you for coming to our class and giving your presentation on Islam. It was nice, but you didn't talk about the slavery, torture, and killings that happen within Islam. You should have. Thanks anyway."
Apparently, the teacher questioned the tactfulness of the 'Thank You' letter my son wrote. My son felt VERY strongly about this issue and took his teacher's comments as an attack on his firm beliefs. He saw something that was wrong and he spoke up, through the letter, about it. My son can be somewhat emotional when he gets angry or upset, and apparently he shed a few tears as he defended himself against what he thought was an attack on his statements about Islam.
The teacher knew that my wife was on the school grounds, so she decided it was best to get everyone together and discuss the issue. The got everyone into the principal's office and explained to my son that he was not in trouble. He was told that he can keep his letter exactly as he wrote it. The principal told him that he was quite proud of my son for standing up so firmly for his beliefs, but that the method he used may not have been the best way to express himself. It was suggested that if he wanted to alter portions of the letter, that he may want to instead of attacking the teacher for leaving out the bad side of Islam, to have asked the teacher to come back and discuss the things like "slavery, torture, and killings" that happen in Islamic countries. He was sent back to class.
Now, I fully understand why my son chose to protest the way he did. He's attended protests and counterprotests with me. He's seen me in action and all of my kids love a good protest. They're just like I was when I was their age even though my parents were not politically motivated at all and I only once saw a protest when I was a kid, and it was against my church.
(Digression: When I was about my son's age I attended a large conference of my church in a city about 200 miles from my house. My whole family went. We had a great spiritual experience and walked out of the conference one day just filled with the Spirit. We came out and were assailed with all kinds of noise. This was during the push for ERA and my Church was against it. The conference site was surrounded by angry leftists protesting our opposition to ERA. They were chanting, had signs, and there was even a low-flying aircraft carrying a protest banner. There were protestors screaming at us. There were others standing just outside the doors of the arena who were passing out pamphlets to those attendees who were coming out. One tried to put a pamphlet in my hand and said to me, "You need one of these." I said, "No I don't", and I held my Scriptures up and said, "I only need these." I just love that look that a leftist gets when someone stands up to him like that. This was my first taste of it.So, now I have to decide if I back the teacher up and tell my son that he should have been a little more polite. Or if I applaud his protest. I can tell you right now that I'm really proud of him for sticking up for his beliefs even after he thought his teacher was attacking him. The teacher and the principal told my wife that they were thrilled to see such strong convictions in a child that age and that most of the kids in the school don't even know what they believe in, let alone have the ability to strongly advocate for their position.But I digress...on with the update.)
The principal told my wife that he wished that my son had brought up the issues in class during the presentation. My son is somewhat shy, unlike my daughters, so he probably just stayed politely quiet. The principal said that the school has to be careful about what they teach when it comes to religion - any religion - but that if a student asks about a certain religious topic that, by law, the teacher CAN discuss and teach on that topic. Now, I don't know why the principal felt that the very real situation of slavery, torture, and killings in the Islamic culture was one of those sensitive "religious" topics, but that is what he said.
I hope my son does decide to invite the teacher back to the class to present something on the issues he raised in his 'Thank You' letter to the teacher. That way, the whole class can be educated on the reality of Islam and its violent, oppressive culture.
Science class was over after this situation was dealt with. My wife retrieved her purse and the recorder. We haven't listened to what happened after she left yet, but we will.
She was told that the "science" book would only be used until the students were done with the test on this chapter. That it was gone, at least for the 8th grade. She didn't press for details about the 9th and 10th grades, but we will get that information as well.
You may have to make sure the teacher does not retaliate against your kid out of spite.
And make sure to always have that tape recorder rolling.
Bumping your whole family!
I like this approach: When a child asks a question about religion, the teacher should say,"that is a great question-little Sally I think you should talk to your parents about it and see if you can find a good book on the topic in the library."
You're close to the action and you seem like you have excellent judgement, so I shouldn't presume to presume, but here goes:
Reading between the lines, I get the feeling that you are being double-teamed. You may feel that people like the principal is somewhat on your side, but I suspect not. And do you think it is a coincidence that a teacher pulled your wife out of the science class? It was planned.
I know I'm cynical, but I say they are all lined up against you.
But you seem like you know what you're doing, so I suspect you'll be fine.
My wife and I have decided that it is most important that our children learn that it is important to respect the adults put over them, even when we disagree with the adults.
This teacher created a dillema for your son by changing the rules after the fact. I bet the teacher did not specify what was proper in the thank you note until after your son wrote what he wrote.
I think the best most respectful posistion your son should take is to withdraw his note. This path maintains respect for the teacher while allowing your son to maintain his stand.
I would think that you could do both. I have said to my girls (I'm sure they would say way too often) that there are many ways to say a thing. It takes youngsters a while to learn tactfulness. His point was valid, but it could have been made differently. Based on what I have read here about the efforts that you and your wife are making to get this junk science removed from the school, it is obvious that you are both very tactful and polite while being quite firm. It takes some learning and practice to be able to do that and you are excellent role models for your son.
Good write-up. Your daughter's science teacher is a sneaky bastard. He should not be trusted.
I tend to agree with your son's History teacher. The thank you note should simply thank the speaker for his time. Simple courtesy.
It would have been best if he had questioned the speaker in class so that the debate could have been presented to your son's classmates, however I do understand shyness. Perhaps your son could include a list of questions to the speaker with his thank you note (which would show interest in the topic without insulting the speaker), and suggest that he answer them on a return visit (or to the History teacher). Such as:
(a) is the Islam concept of "peace" the same as the Western or Christian concept of "peace"?,
(b) why are nearly all of the terrorists in the world Muslim?
(c) why are all of the world's present conflicts on the edges of Islamic civilization?
(d) why was Margaret Hassan beheaded?
I think you should both encourage your son to be polite, and applaud his protest.
Your son has a really good opportunity to learn the art of persuasion here, and of learning the difference between being strident (which is alienating and never wins arguments), snd of really trying to win people over -- which always requires class, tact and an ability to reach people on a heart level.
I really do applaud you for your dedication here. You are doing a great job. Your kids are very lucky. Thanks for the update.
Your son makes me have so much hope for our future! There was nothing wrong with the content but he might have said it a little less bluntly (e.g. I really enjoyed your talk but I was curious if there was a reason why you didn't specifically mention torture, honor killings, blah, blah, blah) but he's a kid! Plenty of time to learn diplomacy.
I commend you and your wife and your children too! How I wish I could read more stories like this. Thank God the principal seems decent. The science teacher is a zealot and he should not be bringing his "religion" into this science class if you ask me.
Thanks for the update!
In History class yesterday one of the high school teachers had come over and given a presentation on Islam. This teacher served as a Christian missionary in an Islamic country. He mentioned that he had to do so secretly or he could have been killed for trying to convert Muslims.
I think that this teacher, by serving as a missionary and mentioning that he could have be killed if discovered, isn't the enemy of you or your son. I think this might be a good opportunity to teach your son about being politely critical to people who are generally on your side and being more strongly critical of those on the other side. There are any number of reasons why this teacher might have taken a soft approach toward Islam and class time is limited. And, frankly, I'd argue that public schools should be teaching children to hate Islam, anyway.
Something that stands out for me in your very interesting reports is that school subjects don't seem to mean the same thing as they did when I was the age of your children, and attending public school. 25-30 years ago, "science" was about things that could be observed, measured, calculated, and experimented upon. Label and describe the sub-cellular bodies. Calculate the workload using a single-pulley system, a double-pulley system, etc. What's the result when you combine chlorine and ammonia? (Evacuation of half the school, but that's another story.)
Your daughter's science class isn't about any of those things, but about political philosophy and other, at best, "soft" sciences. If there is any genuine science content, you have not yet mentioned it.
World history, when I studied it, contained facts about things that happened in the past in various parts of the world. We didn't have comparative religion presentations or attend fantasy films under the heading of "world history," although that might have been appropriate in a literature class.
I don't know whether this replacement of factual with opinion-based content is something that has happened generally with the passage of time, or whether it's a characteristic of your school/school system in particular, but I would find that trend to be just as disturbing as the ideological slant of the courses.
And regarding your son's letter, I agree with those who said that you've got an opportunity to show him how he could convey the same meaning in a more diplomatic way. What he wrote was not *exactly* rude, but it was very blunt, and some guidance would help him to be more effective in communicating in future.
My wife just got a copy of the letter that my son wrote and it is largely as I described. However, he prefaced the letter with "You are dumb" and it was a direct attack on the teacher. I don't know why the principal and the teacher were not entirely forthcoming about it when my wife was there. My son will certainly be disciplined for such an attack and will have to apologize. He has a right to his convictions and should never hesitate to speak them, but he can't be disrespectful to a teacher or attack them like this.
By all means applaud the protest. Your son didn't "attack" anyone by pointing out the ommisions. Stay the course!
You might want to check with a lawyer on the legality of taping conversations, etc. I know that in Illinois you can tape any conversation that you are a part of; e.g., you can tape your own phone calls without telling the person on the other end, but not a phone call between two other parties (without a court order). You don't want to give this science teacher a legitimate way to tie you up in court.
Thanks for the update; fyi, the attitude of the teacher is extremely similar to that of a teacher (a counselor, the principal, the curriculum head, the superintendent, and a few others) I had to deal with when my daughter was in Kindergarten....and, again, for the "values" being taught rather than subjects, such as reading, writing, and arithmetic.
You have GOT to be kidding. I would have been playing it back in the car, probably in the school parking lot. :D
Well...?
Spiff, this teacher/missionary did say he might be killed for preaching Christianity in a Muslim country. That's a lot more honest and non-PC than most school presentations ever get. Also non-PC was having a Christian talk about Islam, instead of a Muslim to totally sugar-coat things.
Now this missionary may have seen things to admire in the Muslims he met, or admired certain aspects of the particular society he was in. Nothing wrong with saying that.
I think you have something of a treasure-trove in this missionary, and your son should realize that, and ask for more information, IF he wants to learn more- but not insist that the answers all reflect as badly as possible on Muslims and Islam - because that wouldn't be honest inqiry.