d'urville
06-10-2008, 06:15 PM
The original title of the article is "Controversy highlights pitfalls to teaching faith":
Faced with the threat of having a hate crime reported to the FBI, the principal of Friendswood Junior High School hurriedly agreed to let the Council on American Islamic Relations make a half-hour presentation to about 875 students last month.
At the assembly, seventh- and eighth-graders learned, among other lessons, that Muslims are expected to avoid pork, dress modestly and believe "Allah is God for all human beings."
But as word of the May 22 assembly spread, outraged parents have flooded the district with calls and e-mails, saying they deserved to be notified before students were pulled out of physical education class for the presentation. The controversy, stoked by local talk radio, cost Robin Lowe her principalship.
One of the most sensitive areas in public education, the blurry line between what's allowed and what's not when it comes to religion in schools, can be tricky territory for administrators. Terrified of a misstep, some school districts end up banning Christmas decorations or discouraging students from even mentioning God on campus.
"So often, communities are really hesitant to take it on because they figure no matter where they step, how lightly they tread, they're going to catch it," said Joy Baskin, an attorney for the Texas Association of School Boards.
As in the case of the assembly on Islam, interpretations of what's acceptable vary. Recent state law says that teachers can cover religion, including the Bible, in academic courses and that students are allowed to express religious viewpoints when its relevant to the subject or assignment.
School-led prayer, however, is forbidden.
Critics of the Friendswood presentation say that by allowing two women from the Council on American Islamic Relations to discuss Muslim culture, school officials were promoting a particular religion.
"The school couldn't have an assembly to convince kids that Christianity is OK or that Judaism is OK," said Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for the Plano-based Liberty Legal Institute.
full article: link (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5826378.html)
CAIR's probably emboldened by what's going on within the Democrat Party.
Faced with the threat of having a hate crime reported to the FBI, the principal of Friendswood Junior High School hurriedly agreed to let the Council on American Islamic Relations make a half-hour presentation to about 875 students last month.
At the assembly, seventh- and eighth-graders learned, among other lessons, that Muslims are expected to avoid pork, dress modestly and believe "Allah is God for all human beings."
But as word of the May 22 assembly spread, outraged parents have flooded the district with calls and e-mails, saying they deserved to be notified before students were pulled out of physical education class for the presentation. The controversy, stoked by local talk radio, cost Robin Lowe her principalship.
One of the most sensitive areas in public education, the blurry line between what's allowed and what's not when it comes to religion in schools, can be tricky territory for administrators. Terrified of a misstep, some school districts end up banning Christmas decorations or discouraging students from even mentioning God on campus.
"So often, communities are really hesitant to take it on because they figure no matter where they step, how lightly they tread, they're going to catch it," said Joy Baskin, an attorney for the Texas Association of School Boards.
As in the case of the assembly on Islam, interpretations of what's acceptable vary. Recent state law says that teachers can cover religion, including the Bible, in academic courses and that students are allowed to express religious viewpoints when its relevant to the subject or assignment.
School-led prayer, however, is forbidden.
Critics of the Friendswood presentation say that by allowing two women from the Council on American Islamic Relations to discuss Muslim culture, school officials were promoting a particular religion.
"The school couldn't have an assembly to convince kids that Christianity is OK or that Judaism is OK," said Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for the Plano-based Liberty Legal Institute.
full article: link (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5826378.html)
CAIR's probably emboldened by what's going on within the Democrat Party.