(I wonder if they'd get the extra credit for dressing accurately?)
Posted on 10/10/2006 3:46:48 AM PDT by Man50D
Another school has been "teaching" Islam by having students study and learn Muslim prayers and dress as Muslims, and a lawyer who argued a previous dispute over this issue to the U.S. Supreme Court said such methodologies wouldn't "last 10 seconds" if it were Christianity being taught.
"Would it have been 'just cultural education' if students were in simulated baptisms, wearing a crucifix, having taken the name of St. John and with praise banners saying 'Praise be to Jesus Christ' on classroom walls?" asked Edward White III, of the Thomas More Law Center.
His comments came after a new protest arose in Nyssa, Ore., where one parent raised objections when the Islamic teachings came to light. The district there, according to Supt. Don Grotting, is teaching a chapter in a history textbook "Journey Across Time" that talks about "how civilization has developed and some of the particular aspects of Islam."
"We teach out of the book, and there are some supplemental class activities," he told WND. "The kids do some skits, they could bring a food from the region, you could build a prop that would have depicted (something) maybe during that time period.
"If you wanted to you could dress up (as a Muslim) for extra credit," he said.
He said students also learned about the climate of the Middle East, the food and everyday activities of Islam, and the geography and the lay of the land.
Still another assignment was to learn the "five pillars" of Islam, study Ramadan and listen to guest speakers including an American Muslim who arrived dressed in her religious costume to talk to the kids about her Quran.
"She relayed to the kids, if you're a Christian you have your Bible, this is our Quran," Grotting said.
Parent Kendalee Garner, however, objected to having her son being taught Islam and also to the time the public school system spends on the subject.
She told WND that her 13-year-old son is being "indoctrinated that Islam is a religion of peace, and being dressed up as a Muslim, being taught prayers, and scriptures out of the Quran."
"I just don't understand the ban on Christianity but Islam has free rein," she said.
She said the guest speakers and skits and reports were wrong, but what set her off was a class in which students in all three social studies classes dressed in traditional Islamic outfits.
"The only reason I knew about it was because my son told me about it," she said. "They sent him to the library instead of stopping what they were doing. I'm sure people would be outraged if they dressed up as the pope."
That was White's point exactly.
If that's how teaching about religions is done, he said, "then teach all religions in the same way, Christianity, Judaism. Have the kids study Native American religions, do the dance, smoke the pipe. Have the kids dress up as priests and hear confession."
He said when he suggests that, school managers and even judges get that "panic-stricken" look.
He knows because he argued the same dispute up to the U.S. Supreme Court after complaints of similar teachings in the Byron Union School District in California.
As WND has reported that case was almost a duplicate. Teachers were having students memorize Islamic prayers, wear Islamic dress and learn to behave as a Muslim under the guise of studying history.
Some parents objected and their resulting lawsuit was turned back by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals where the opinion called it "cultural education."
The U.S. Supreme Court last week declined to intervene, but lawyers note that's not necessarily an endorsement of the court; it just means the justices will not review the dispute at this point.
White said he actually challenged the 9th Circuit to write its instructions in a detailed opinion, so schools would know exactly what's required. However, he said the court brushed him off with a three-paragraph ruling that essentially boils down to one district judge saying it's okay in one school district.
"Why is it okay to teach Islam? Unless there's an exception in the Establishment Clause, which says you cannot teach religion in schools unless it's Islam," he said. "I haven't seen it."
Grotting said the course has been taught for several years, and comes mandated by the state under a set of required standards – called Benchmark 3 – that students must reach each year.
Grotting acknowledged to WND that textbooks do "take a slant" on some issues, because publishers "are wanting to sell a textbook that is meeting the needs of the state and federal mandates."
"I believe we're not here to promote or advocate either religion or politics," social studies teacher Jim Casad told the Ontario, Ore., Argus Observer. "However, we do have an obligation to inform students of what is going on in our world today and how history and culture have affected that world."
In the California case, school officials also blamed the "possible cant" of the textbook and said the Islamic studies were being taught because of state mandates.
"It is imperative that our instruction includes an understanding of and insight into all cultures and a tolerance for the diversity found in the world," said Peggy Green, the Byron Union School District superintendent, at that time.
A review online of information from the text shows that it teaches Christianity spread because "it gave meaning to peoples' lives, appealed to their emotions and promised happiness after death."
Its description also focuses on Christians' conflicts with Rome (when they were fed to lions), and splits between Christians following Roman teachings and those following the teachings of Constantine.
However, the article praises how the Muslims founded the system for banking, created important centers for learning, government and the arts, how they ran "government, society and business" and made valuable contributions in math, science and the arts.
The text also credits Muslims with inventing algebra and chemistry as well as creating beautiful buildings, citing the Taj Mahal, although the text does not mention that that is a tomb.
There's also no mention of the Quranic instruction that Muslims must behead infidels, or nonbelievers.
One blogger said Christians should think strategically on such issues.
"Cases like this present Christians with a golden opportunity to introduce elements of religious teaching back into the state curriculum by using the left's double standard towards Islam against it," said one commentator. "Now that this case is on the books in the Ninth Circuit as precedent, expect Christian immersion classes to follow."
bttt
Agreed. Most folks, including conservatives, have bought the "separation of church and state" line hook, line and sinker. The establishment clause was a limitation on the federal government's ability to interfere with exisiting, established religions in the States.
OTOH, it is what the Supreme Court says the establishment clause says with respect to Christians, but now, apparently, not with respect to muslims, wiccans or whatever. I don't think we hurt ourselves by pointing out the hypocrisy.
I'm not surprised the supremes ducked this one. The leftist bloc is undoubtedly happy endorsing Islam in the public schools but does not want to have to write an opinion that addresses their obvious hypocrisy. The constitutionalist bloc cannot take this on now because, to make establishment clause law consistent, they would have to overturn decades of liberal nonsense in that area and haven't the votes to do that. This issue will bounce around in the circuit courts until the constitutionalists have a solid five-vote majority--something I don't expect to see in my lifetime.
This is not a violation of the mythical, penumbraic "separation of church and state"; it is a flagrant violation of the very real Estabishment Clause.
5 pillars of Islam = hatred, murder, slavery, suicideforsex, and always blame the jews for islam's self created problems.
Because it isn't a religion. It's a governmental system of subjugation.
Teaching the 5 Pillars of Islam while taking the Ten Commandments out of the schools.
Do they teach them to raid younger kids for lunch money and divide the booty? Do they get to beat girls if they don't obey? How about the beheadings?
Don't be ridiculous. That's clearly a field trip.
a "hands on " field trip
Only in America do we teach about a religion whose very words motivated the attacks on 911. Why isn't this teacher teaching US HISTORY, SCIENCE, MATH, ENGLISH ??
If they're teaching Islam in school, I hope they included lessons in the correct methodology for donning and detonating an explosive belt and decapitating a human being with a rusty crosscut saw.
Next, how to make a car bomb in shop class.
I hope the school district is sued into bankruptcy.
"The textbook made me do it."
(I wonder if they'd get the extra credit for dressing accurately?)
Ping.
Take a good look at the NEA and it's goals. This is not the same country I fought for or grew up in thanks to the liberal teachers and professors. I have two sisters who are public school teachers and both belong to unions.
I am ashamed of both of them. I have asked many questions of teachers as to why kids who graduate from high school today know so little about history, geography, science, math, etc.? I received one honest answer from a teacher-not from either and/or both of my sisters did I receive an honest answer.
I am ashamed of this crap being taught, and that includes my own sisters. I am ashamed of all PC MC teachers, who are union and teach the NEA's BS. I have one statement to the NEA and to all union teachers. " Sell your country down the drain and then you take a good long look at yourself in the mirror." Think whose agenga you are pushing before you teach our kids about Islam. How about telling the truth about Mohammed. Will your next skit be how to conduct beheadings?
You are cheating and robbing our kids of a decent education at taxpayer expense while you feed at the public trough. Most seem to be more concerned with their pay, benefits, and retirement, then they are about teaching. Not all teachers fit this category of greed and PC/MC.
Wear that skit garb yourself for a week in public yourself or with your spouse and see how much your skit is appreciated.
Schedule the NEA convention in the Sunni triangle, and; no, do not ask for any US troops to protect you.
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