Students want out of Muslim culture class

Central Maine Newspapers ^ | March 26, 2003 | DARLA L. PICKETT, Staff Writer

[paul in cape]

MADISON — Some students at Madison Area Memorial High School are objecting to studying the Arab and Muslim culture and religion while the United States is at war with Iraq.

About three dozen students have signed a petition that calls for seniors to be given the option to take alternative assignments in the senior English class project, according to 18-year-old senior Richard Poulin, who circulated the petition.

"There are students who don't feel comfortable with this right now with the events that are taking place in Iraq," Poulin said. "I and others have family and friends over there right now fighting."

Poulin says his cousin, Ryan Holt, is in the 3rd Marine Brigade headed toward Baghdad and a friend, Craig Ladd, is in the army in Iraq.

"I'm angry right now that, with everything going on, they are going to force students to learn about this if they don't agree with it at this time. I know they are not all bad people, but I'm upset with things like Muslims throwing candy in the street on Sept. 11, 2001, celebrating because 3,000 Americans had just died."

Poulin said religion issues also factored into his decision to circulate the petition.

"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?"

Poulin and anyone else who refuses to take the class will get a zero and forfeit points toward graduation this spring, he said. Most are not willing to take that chance, Poulin said.

Carrie J. Foss, a 17-year-old senior, said she signed the petition because she has a cousin who is fighting in the war.

"I'm mad, angry and sad," Foss said. "I don't want to study about them now. Maybe later when it's all cooled down, but not right now."

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."

Krapf said he does not know all the details of the petition yet, but said there are some situations, such as in health class when teachers talk about human sexuality, in which students are allowed to opt out.

"I guess we would need to talk about this," Krapf said.

[cake_crumb]

"I'm angry right now that, with everything going on, they are going to force students to learn about this if they don't agree with it at this time. I know they are not all bad people, but I'm upset with things like Muslims throwing candy in the street on Sept. 11, 2001, celebrating because 3,000 Americans had just died."

I'm so proud of these students, and praying that more will gain the courage to fight the disease of division in the form of 'multiculturalism'. There is always the court system. Seperation of Church and State? Completely OFFENSIVE?? Another example of special privilidge for the Somalis who are inundating Maine, taking up all the affordable housing, living on Welfare and pushing the natives out?

[Dajjal]

I think they should stay in the class, but have the freedom to study what Islam really is. Know your enemy.

[valkyrieanne]

Madison Area Memorial High website

District 59 information:
Anthony Krapf, Superintendent
55 Weston Avenue
Madison, Maine 04950
(207) 696-3323
(207) 696-5631 (fax)
E-mail address for district: debwhite@madison-alt.sad59.k12.me.us

[cake_crumb]

The problem of rabidly piecenik teachers is worldwide. Same incidents happening in Britain:

Teacher, Leave Them Kids Alone

[kimmie7]

They probably can't even utter the word God in school yet they're compelled to study Islam???? The world has gone mad.

AGREED. Kudos to these kids...

[ethical]

because our job is to help the students, these young adults, to fit in and understand other cultures."

He thinks this is the function of government run schools. No wonder they fail at reading, writing and arithmetic.

[jackbill]

"I guess we would need to talk about this," Krapf said.

Perhaps you should, Mr. Krap (sic). Or else look for another job. You work for the American taxpayers, not for Saudi Arabia.

[peter the great]

If it is truly their job to help students understand other cultures. Why are'nt they learning about what we do here? As one student posed that very question. My point is that Christianity comes in many varieties and dominates a few countries in the world. Russia and Greece to name a few,combine that fact with the dangers of cults and that student who raised the question his concern about what we do here and why we are not learning it is very valid.

[friendly]

Teacher, Leave Them Kids Alone

These unionized Democrat Party monsters have no business within a hundred miles of an innocent child.

[tessalu]

Islam is the Muhammedan Cult that should be banned. I have studied Islam, and I feel that it is demonic, for it teaches that Jesus did not really die, and that one day he will return and follow Muhammed. This is the grossest form of blasphemy, and no one should be forced to study it.
I finally gave up my study of Islam, and I burned everything that I owned associated with it.