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

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

[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.