[jude24]

I see two aspects to the assignments listed. There was the required memorization of Islamic prayers, and the required simulated fasting. The first is a legitmate academic exercise; the second brings it over the line to making them engage in the religious practices.

An educated person should know something about Islamic theology, including the shehdada. Likewise, an educated person should certainly know the Aaronic Benediction, the Lord's Prayer (and assuming a rabbinic equivalent, that too). They should know the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path of the Bhuddists, and something about Hinduism. Memorization is an appropriate didactic technique for this training.

[Buggman]

Agreed, except for one aspect: No Jew thinks that by saying the Amidah or the Kiddush (which is the prayer the Lord's Prayer is based on) you become a Jew, and subject to the death penalty if you revert to your "previous" faith. No Christian thinks that by saying the Lord's Prayer--or even the Sinner's Prayer, unless it is accompanied by true faith and repentence--that you become a Christian, and subject to the death penalty if you revert to your "previous" faith.

Islam, as currently practiced and preached in 90+% of the Muslim world, can't say the same about its prayers.

Besides, we both know that equal time is not being given.

[teawithmisswilliams]

An educated person should know something about Islamic theology, including the shehdada..the Aaronic Benediction, the Lord's Prayer (and assuming a rabbinic equivalent, that too)...the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path of the Bhuddists, and something about Hinduism. Memorization is an appropriate didactic technique for this training.

Your opinion on the virtues of learning about all religions has nothing to do with this public school situation. None of the other religions are accorded remotely the same treatment.

If we want Western civilization to survive, it is critical that our children learn the principles and religious beliefs (Greco-Roman; Judeo-Christian) on which it is based. The Eastern religions are irrelevant; and Islam is overtly hostile. And guess which ones the NEA wants promoted?

[wintertime]

An educated person should know something about Islamic theology, ( jude24)
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Jude,

Are you willing to use the threat of government police, court, and foster care action to force your anointed educational philosophy on other people's children?

For all the children in the school who are there by compulsion that is exactly what the threat is. It is armed police, court, and foster care action if they refuse to subject themselves to being "educated" in Muslim culture.

Jude, we do have a First Amendment. This Amendment says that government can NOT tell people to shut up, or forbid them to publish, or prohibit the free expression of religion, or tell them with whom they must associate. Yet, government schools do this every day to each child who is in their indoctrination centers by compulsion.

That children are forced to be indoctrinated against their will in any religion is NOT religiously neutral. No matter how the government schools acts on this matter, the government will establish the religious worldview of some, and actively undermine and destroy the religious worldview of anther. This particular issue of instruction in the Muslim religion is not religiously neutral, nor is it for hundreds of other school issues as well.

It is axiomatic. The education of youth is NOT religiously neutral, and that is why government should not be in the education business.

Solution: Begin the process of privatizing universal K-12 education.