Why are public high school curricula permitted to enforce professing the Shahada?
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.What? Teaching them tenets of lots of religions may make it easier for them to reject them all....
AnneWimsey
Level 9
May 17, 2019
1
A lot of information learned could be the basis for this argument...the point of education is to put out there the different views and allow for students of that age to stand firm in their belief DESPITE all of the information...it is called critical thinking...for pity sake...we all read about how slavery was good for the South, all about the Crusades to free the holy city from the infidels, the salem witch trials, and on and on...the article was skewed to make it look like she was forced to profess something she did not believe in when it was actually a discussion on the formation of Middle Eastern countries and how religion played a part...I found this as the actual assignment:
"The particular unit in question at La Plata High School is on the formation of Middle Eastern empires in which students learned the basic concepts of the Islamic faith and how it, along with politics, culture, economics and geography, contributed to the development of the Middle East. Other religions are introduced when they influence or impact a particular historical era or geographic region. For example, when reviewing the Renaissance and Reformation, students study the concepts and role of Christianity. When learning about the development of China and India, students examine Hinduism and Buddhism."
The courts were obviously a lot smarter than the parent and people who decided to bring this to court...
thinktwice
Level 8
May 16, 2019
1
From the petition:
' In addition, Ms. Wood was required to profess in writing that "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." '
Her refusal to do so resulted in a failing grade.
Studying various religions is recommended. Enforcing participation in religious practices violates the Bill of Rights.
@PBuck0145 The assignment was open-ended questions...there was no professing anything other than to answer the essay questions, which gave her the opportunity to use her own words. The question was similar to "What are the five pillars of Islam" The courts agreed...looks like a fact based essay test.
The Maryland standards state students are required to “compare the fundamental teachings, practices, and divisions found in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism” and “compare the impact of religion on political affairs.” Sections cover the formation and development of a number of different religions, including Hinduism, Daoism, Islam and Christianity in the context of their belief systems and impact on world history, according to school system spokeswoman Katie O’Malley-Simpson.
“We don’t teach religion,” O’Malley-Simpson told the Maryland Independent in February 2016. “We teach about religion’s impact on the rise and fall of nations.
@bobwjr @thinktwice
Egg on my face.
[washingtonpost.com]
PBuck0145
Level 7
May 16, 2019
0
We all want to protect the First Amendment rights of everyone...no matter how crazed or vile, but I think we also don't want government in every phase of our lives, nitpicking when common sense and other means are available. I think her parents could have used this as a lesson for their daughter that she will be exposed to a lot of things that they might not agree to...how to deal with those things...when to fight the battle and when to turn the other cheek, so to speak...
I find it very interesting that the picture of the daughter looks like that she has had some plastic surgery, lip collagen, botox, microblading...they object to her learning comparative religions and yet support potential physical objectification? Cherry picking values? Not very consistent in their messages, are they?
Relevance is that they will promote any cause that does not conform to their Christian ideals the project was to promote understanding not conversion the objection was to that if it was Christian and Muslim objected would have defended it as right
bobwjr
Level 10
May 16, 2019
0
Exactly...and the citations they used were really reaching...I read the entire case and even looked at the case law used...I am surprised it was not thrown out for poor lawyering...
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