Posted on 04/11/2008 8:35:41 AM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
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 with 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.
Someone figured out how to "work" a flagpole......
I guess they found the flagpole’s user’s manual. Or, they could have called tech support. Who knows?
Goose meet Gander.
That never seems to have been a requirement for ACLU involvement in the past.
Fixed.
Just how many of your students are Christians, Jews or other non-Muslims? After school hours could Christian, Jewish or other religious groups hold services in this taxpayer funded facility? This is pure and simple a Muslim academy funded by Minnesota taxpayers.
Why isn't the ACLU filing suit at this school for promoting religion? ...perhaps it's because no one is complaining as all the students are Muslims.
my church would love to hold a pork bbq fundraiser on site for them
Does that also apply in other charter schools when Catholics or Evangelicals wish to pray during the day?
This should have been set up better.
Someone should have simply demanded equal time for other religions.
That would have gotten something started.
Yep. As long as teachers or any other school officials do not get involved.
But, that is one of the allegations, here. This is not voluntary prayer. It is organized by staff and parents....
Did anyone else see the interview with the director of the school? He was very smug, very slick. He had all the answers, like he was pulling them from a playbook.
Watch what happens next- I’ll bet they try to discredit the substitute teacher who raised questions about the school.
This stinks worse than the southbound end of a northbound camel.
He was just following the playbook........
http://www.islam-watch.org/Warner/Taqiyya-Islamic-Principle-Lying-for-Allah.htm
sponsored by Islamic Relief USA, based in California
a member of Islamic Relief Worldwide
Islamic Relief Worldwide is a member of the U.N. Economic and Social Council (special category), and is a signatory to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief. It is committed to implementing the Code of Best Practice in the Management and Support of Aid, as stated by “People In Aid.” Islamic Relief Worldwide always aims to meet U.N. standards in all of the projects it implements.
You should be asking why the ACLJ isn’t looking into this.
Are we now supposed to give three $hite$ about this so called organization since the UN likes them? I don’t think so and more so if it’s OK with the UN, it is bad for the USA. One way or the other, they can’t have it their way any longer.
We are paying $5.00 for Gas and $5.00 for home heating oil all due to our “friends”, the Islamofacists.
LOL...I wonder if flagpole tech support has been outsourced!
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