Posted on 04/01/2005 8:49:14 AM PST by Ron Edwards
Is Religion really being kicked out of America’s schools ? by Ron Edwards
Increasingly across America, government schools are supposedly building upon a wall of separation between students and religion, particularly Christianity. No longer is it permissible to openly pray before sporting events or graduation exercises at many government high schools. Even at the elementary school my son attends, all references to Thanksgiving and Christmas were banned this past holiday season. Why? “ because both Thanksgiving and Christmas may remind people of Christianity.” Oh My! So, with such a mighty effort to stamp religion out of government schools, why does it seem that Islam is making huge inroads into many class rooms throughout America? Some parents have been dismayed by certain assignments brought home by their children! In some government schools, students have been instructed to build models of a Muslim mosque and journal their thoughts about Islam. Then students are told to explain why people might be attracted to Islam. These assignments were taken from a seventh grade text book, Across the Centuries. The book is published by Houghton – Mifflin. The Council on Islamic Education had contributed substantially to the textbook, according to a Houghton Mifflin spokesperson. The blatant Islamic bias of the Across The Centuries textbook has aroused concern among parents who simply desire their children receive a decent education. Most textbooks carefully substitute references to “Jesus Christ” with “Jesus of Nazareth” or ignore him altogether. However, statements in Across the Centuries convey Islamic religious beliefs as historical facts. For example, “The Koran the final revelation, just as Muhammad is the final prophet” and “Ramadan is a holy time, because in this month Muhammad received his first message from Allah”. In general, Christianity is portrayed in a critical manner while Islam is emphasized positively. Jihad, the Muslim word for “sacred war” is even defined in the book as a fight “to do one’s best to resist temptation and overcome evil”. According to (religion news services Oct. 6, 2004). The Council on Islamic Education has provided it’s booklet, Muslim Holidays to teachers nationwide, for thousand of which have taught from the literature to our nations young. Despite the big “no no” to Christian values in government schools, according to Trumpet Magazine, teachers throughout our Republic are using Muslim children to present students with information and demonstrations on Islamic rites and beliefs surrounding Ramadan, Islam’s fall holy month. While Christmas is banned from America’s schools, Ramadan is welcomed with open arms. The Arabic Language Institute Foundation advocates making Arabic as prevalent in North American high schools as Spanish, German or French. “Knowledge of Arabic can then help the Western countries recover from the present moral decay” because it is the language of the Koran, it’s website states (www.hadi.org/ALIF). The Koran places a responsibility on believers to spread the message of Islam, a concept called dawa. One Islamic networks website (containing hundreds of dawa tips) points out, “Students are routinely exposed in their classroom to new information and opinions; hence they tend to be more receptive to new beliefs and ideas. Schools are therefore fertile grounds where the seeds of Islam can be sowed inside the hearts of non- the beautiful beliefs of Islam”. “Muslim students should take advantage of this opportunity and present to their schoolmates the beautiful beliefs of Islam”. (www.dawanet.com) Forgive me! But along with everything else that is wrong with America’s government schools, the concerted effort to Islamasize our society through the young is counter-productive to efforts to re-establish excellence in our schools and society.
Religion is welcome in America's government schools. Christianity was kicked out in the early 60's with the *no prayer* law.
They are a little late in asking that question.
I'm a public school teacher, and if I want to metion God, Jesus, the Bible, Christianity or anything referring to religion then I a red, white and blue American right to do it. It's called the First Amendment and watch me use it. There is no problem with mentioning religious matters in school as long as you dont try to convert others.
Are you sure this wasn't an April Fool's posting? I read a whole lot more stories about Christianity in schools than Islam. That one we all heard about the school that banned the Declaration of Independence becuase it mentioned the Creator turned out to be a hoax, according to the Wall Street Journal.
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