Public School Course on Islam Raises Furor in California
By the Rev.
Austin Miles, Special to ASSIST News Service
Seventh graders in a
growing number of public schools, who are not
permitted to wear a cross or
speak the name of Jesus, are being required
to attend an intensive
three-week course on Islam - a course in which
students are mandated to
learn the tenets of Islam, study the important
figures of the faith, wear a
robe, adopt a Muslim name and stage their
own Jihad.
In Byron,
Calif., parents were outraged when students came home with
handouts and
were told what was being taught. Their complaints to the
school principal
not only were ignored, but officials of this public
school, funded by tax
dollars, essentially fluffed them off.
The public schools in California
so stealthily slipped this course into
the 7th grade curriculum that even
another 7th grade teacher, Elizabeth
Christina Lemings, was totally in the
dark that this was being taught
until her son, Joseph, who is a 7th grader
in the same school where she
teaches, brought home the handouts.
"We
could never teach Christianity like this," Lemings said to ANS
during an on
site interview. "We can't even mention the name of Jesus in
the public
schools, but over there," she pointed to the building next to
hers, "they
teach Islam as the true religion, and students are taught
about Islam and
how to pray to Allah."
Lemings, in her second year of teaching in the
Byron (Northern
California) Union School District, has been a Christian
since 1987. The
government school system requires that she teach evolution
in her
science class with no reference to creationism or any
contrasting
viewpoint to Darwin's theory. She quickly learned that God
and
Christianity are out (forbidden) but that Islam is in.
The
textbook used for the Islamic course, "Across The Centuries," is
published
by Houghton-Mifflin (Boston, Ma.). It is described as a
Social
Studies/History book and has been adopted by the California
School
System.
In it, Islam is presented broadly in a totally
positive manner, whereas
the restricted references to Christianity, is
centered on The
Reformation, Martin Luther and The Catholic Church.
Everything Christian
is shown in a negative light, with events such as the
Inquisition, the
Salem witch-hunts, etc. highlighted in bold, black
type.
This is proper for a complete study of history. However, there is
not
one negative to be found about Islam in this one-sided account, such
as
the wars, massacres, cruelties against Christians and other
non-Muslims
that Islam has consistently perpetrated over the
centuries.
The handouts used in this course, obtained by ANS, are
considerable.
They include a history of Islam and the life of Muhammad its
founder.
Muhammad is portrayed as an extremely moral man who wanted a
society of
purity. A vast body of historical accounts will refute this
image.
There are many verses in the Koran that must be memorized in
this Public
School course and students are taught to pray, "in the name of
Allah,
the Compassionate, the Merciful" and to chant, "Praise to Allah,
Lord of
Creation."
There are 25 Islamic terms that must be
memorized, six Islamic (Arabic)
phrases, 20 Islamic Proverbs to learn along
with the Five Pillars of
Faith and 10 key Islamic prophets and disciples to
be studied.
"Can you imagine the barrage of lawsuits and problems we
would have from
the ACLU if Christianity were taught in the public schools,
and if we
tried to teach about the contributions of Matthew, Mark, Luke,
John and
the Apostle Paul?" teacher Elizabeth Lemings lamented. "But when
it
comes to furthering the Islamic religion in the public schools, there
is
not one word from the ACLU, People For The American Way or anybody
else.
This is hypocrisy!"
Even more disturbing; students are to
pretend that they are Muslims,
wear Muslim clothing to school, stage their
own Jihad via a dice game,
and pick out a Muslim name (to replace their
own) from a list of 30.
ANS asked some of the students what they
thought about this course. All
of them felt that "it was fun," while others
described Islam as "a
pretty culture." This included a pastor's son. Joseph
Lemings, 12, said,
"The Jihad was like playing a video game," even though
the true violent
nature of Jihad was well concealed.
Lemings' mother
is disturbed by the "fun" description. She sees it as a
tool, not only to
engender sympathy and support for the Muslim cause,
but for recruitment.
"This is not just a class of history of examining
culture," she said. "This
course is entirely too specific. It is more
about
indoctrination."
Lemings, upon learning of the course on Islam,
approached the principal
of Intermediate-Excelsior School of Byron, Nancy
Castro, requesting the
right to teach Christianity in the manner that Islam
is taught and for
the same length of time.
Castro has not responded
to her request. Lemings later received,
roundabout information that the
only way she could do this would be to
teach the Christianity class (as a
Christian Club) after school hours
where students would come of their own
accord. Otherwise, she would
violate the law of (selective) Separation of
Church and State.
In an interview with Nancy Castro, the principal of
the schools in
Byron, she stated to ANS that the Islam course (hidden
within "History
of Cultures") reflects California (educational) Standards
that meet
State requirements.
When asked about the intensity of the
Islamic course, Castro stated that
the course "is not religion, but Ancient
Culture and History. And," she
pointed out, "the text is a State Adopted
textbook. We do not endorse
any religion, we just make students
aware."
She stated that the textbook is now in use throughout
California. When
asked if she would allow Christianity to be taught the
same way that
Islam is taught, Castro stammered before saying that
Christianity is
already taught in the History and Culture class, "which,"
she said,
"actually starts in the 6th grade."
Lemings had stated to
ANS that there were many, many parents who
protested this course on Islam,
especially after Sept. 11. Nancy Castro
contradicted this account. Asked if
there was any response from parents
about this course, Castro answered, "Oh
a couple of parents called to
express concerns, three to be
exact."
Peggy Green, Superintendent of the Byron Union School District
did not
return calls by press time.
**The full text of this
article, too long to be reprinted here, may be
found at
www.christianity.com/assistnewsAustin
Miles is a chaplain, author, historian, speaker and
educator.
-----------
From: "Jay Alan Sekulow, Chief Counsel"
<
[EMAIL PROTECTED]To:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject:
Students required to participate in Muslim worship services!
Date: Fri, 18
Jan 2002 09:44:12 GMT
Dear Mr. Frank Lindley,
A California
school district wants to FORCE seventh-graders to participate
in Muslim
worship activities ...
... and I need your help today to protest this
violation of religious
freedom - and PROTECT THE RIGHTS of your children
and grandchildren!
I urge you today to ADD YOUR NAME TO THE OPEN LETTER
we have written to
California's Governor and State Superintendent of Public
Instruction,
demanding that they remove this unconstitutional course
requirement!
http://www.aclj.net/aclj/islam1.cfm?dn=1008&commid=21138403&id=593819The
Byron Union School District in California has instituted a
MANDATORY
three-week course on Islam as part of the seventh-grade history
class -
- and it's an OUTRAGE!
Students in the class not only
receive handouts on Islam and the life of
Mohammed, they also
must:
* chant praise to "Allah, Lord of Creation."
* pray "in the
name of Allah the Compassionate the Merciful."
* stage their own
jihad!
* dress up as Muslims and choose new Muslim names.
Don't
misunderstand me - it is perfectly appropriate for schools to teach
about
religion - including Islam, Judaism, and Christianity ...
... but it is
entirely INAPPROPRIATE to mandate that students participate
in a Muslim
worship service!
This course is a GROSS VIOLATION of the students'
First Amendment rights!
In fact, we now have been contacted by a parent in
that California school
district who objects to the mandatory nature of the
course.
This threat is not limited to the students in the school
district. This
course may be implemented in schools across California
- even ACROSS THE
COUNTRY!
We must stop this threat in its
tracks!
The American Center has already issued a demand letter to the
school
district and to the State Department of California objecting to
this
mandatory course.
We have also written an OPEN LETTER to the
Governor and State
Superintendent of California, voicing our opposition to
this mandatory
course -
- and I urge you to SIGN IT today!
http://www.aclj.net/aclj/islam1.cfm?dn=1008&commid=21138403&id=593819We
are now pursuing all other available legal options.
But now the legal
battle has just begun.
We must be prepared to protect the religious
freedom of students AT ANY
COST -
- and I must have the help of
friends like you!
1. PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO THE OPEN LETTER to
California's Governor Gray
Davis and school superintendent Delaine Eastin,
urging them to protect
students' constitutional rights.
http://www.aclj.net/aclj/islam1.cfm?dn=1008&commid=21138403&id=5938192.
FORWARD THIS EMAIL to your friends so they too can join
this
nationwide
campaign and add their name to the Open
Letter.
No student should be forced into religious activity - but with
your gift
today, WE CAN FIGHT THIS OUTRAGE and protect students' First
Amendment
rights, as well as continue the American Center's involvement in
cases
across the nation.
I ask you to give the best you can - the
religious freedoms of our young
people are in serious
jeopardy.
PLEASE RESPOND TODAY with the Open Letter and your financial
contribution
-
and thank you for joining me in the fight for
liberty!
_________________________________________
As
always, let us know of threats to Christian freedom in your area via
www.aclj.org . And tune in to my daily
radio program, "Jay Sekulow Live!"
To ASK JAY
http://www.aclj.org/askjay.asp a
question, or to REQUEST HELP
http://www.aclj.org/about/contact.asp
, click on the respective link.
SS 2:4a He brought me
to the wine house..
