[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.

[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.

[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"?

[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.

[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.

[RhoTheta]

Well isn't that special. School districts can allow students to hold anti-American rallys on school time. Teachers can even opine to their classes on the [im]-morality of the Administration (and majority American) position on going to war, but pull the third person when it comes to sensitivity to those students with an opposing (majority) view: "We have to follow the curriculum." "Muslim Culture classes in the Byron, CA, school district had children identifying with Jihad, and reciting Muslim prayers!

[arasina]

"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?"

hmmm...maybe schools should start teaching Christian CULTURE. (That's how the schools got around the rules and are essentially teaching the Muslim religion.)

[skeeter]

"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?"

Excellent question.

[dfwgator]

Muslim Culture?!? Now there's an oxymoron.

[Experiment 6-2-6]

Poulin said one teacher tore up his first petition because he typed it in a computer laboratory at school.

Hmmm. Seems like he's learning a lot about Muslim Culture already.. What else is there?

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

"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?"

Stop making sense, kid.

[xrp]

Why can't they argue that this is against the supposed separation of church (mosque) and state?

[Ronin]

When Muslim kids in that school, and yes there are probably some, have to sit down in class and learn about Christian and Jewish culture, then they can make the Christian kids sit down and learn about Islam.

Until sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, keep that crap out of the schools.