Islam In The Classroom: 9th Circuit Court Endorses Teaching of Religion In Public Schools
S.F. Chronicle reports: “A Contra Costa County school was educating seventh-graders about Islam, not indoctrinating them, in role-playing sessions in which students used Muslim names and recited language from prayers, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.”
Where’s the ACLU when you really need ‘em? (Sarcasm intended)
The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a lawsuit by two Christian students and their parents, who accused the Byron Union School District of unconstitutionally endorsing a religious practice.
“The Islam program activities were not overt religious exercises that raise Establishment Clause concerns,” the three-judge panel said, referring to the First Amendment ban on government sanctioning a religion.
Not overtly religious? Michelle Malkin has the curriculum.
During the history course at Excelsior School in the fall of 2001, the teacher, using an instructional guide, told the students they would adopt roles as Muslims for three weeks to help them learn what Muslims believe.
She encouraged them to use Muslim names, recited prayers in class and made them give up something for a day, such as television or candy, to simulate fasting during Ramadan. The final exam asked students for a critique of elements of Muslim culture.
U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton ruled in favor of the school district in 2003, saying that the class had an instructional purpose and that students had engaged in no actual religious exercises.
Does anyone believe the court would’ve voted this way in favor of teaching Christianity?
But maybe we should be thankful. The most notoriously liberal court in the land has just set precedent by dismissing the recitation of prayers as a not an “overt religious exercise.” This should open the doors to other lawsuits and maybe Christians will finally get their day in court. But we won’t swear on the Bible.
As for Byron Union, the ruling comes just in time for Christmas, so perhaps these same schools will have the children dress up and role-play the nativity scene. The law should now allow it.
UPDATE:
Jay at Stop the ACLU quips:
“Can we find a teacher out there willing to make some Muslim students pretend to be Christians for a few weeks? You know, just to better understand the culture and all.”
Exactly.
November 21st, 2005 at 12:35 pm
My God!
Judaism isn’t even taught like this in schools!
November 21st, 2005 at 12:50 pm
Now That Schools Can Teach Islam, They Can Teach Christianity Too
Great news! The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has just approved teaching Christianity in public schools. Actually, the Ninth Circuit didn’t intend to approve teaching Christianity. The Ninth Circuit intended to approve teaching Islam in school (as lo…
November 21st, 2005 at 1:36 pm
The 9th Endorses School Prayer…to Allah
The court ruled that the teacher, who had children role play as Muslims for 3 weeks including having them “fast” and recite Muslim prayers was only instructing the students in Islam, not indoctronating them.
November 22nd, 2005 at 7:42 am
Now it’s official. The world has gone mad!
Islam and witchcraft are OK to teach in California? Yet any attempt to teach Christianity is fought and prevented.
The Ten Commandments are being removed from public buildings, an atheist sues to have “under God” removed from the Pledge of Allegiance, some people don’t like “In God We Trust” on our currency, public prayer at football games, etc.
Lunacy, sheer lunacy.
Christianity IS singled out for persecution, don’t let anyone tell you differently, especially not after reading about this.
November 22nd, 2005 at 8:20 am
I guess none of you have been to college and know about the World Religion course required of most majors. So, if the CA school boards have decided to try and prep your public school kids for that course, naturally you’d have a problem with it. Really, just admit you want everyone and their chidren to all be good little christians and learn nothing but the bible, right? I have news for you evangelical right-wing nuts, more of us every day believe in science, not god. I am a secular humanist in the bible belt and proud of it. I can think for myself and use things like logic and analysis to determine my reality, I don’t have to have it spoon-fed to me by a bunch of mad priests. I’ll continue to work to remove your fanatical and dangerous viewpoints and belief systems from our culture. You are nothing but a loose group of cranks who can’t stand to see someone live better than you, without any guilt or angst.
Oh, and as for conservativism, you don’t even do THAT well. Everyone of you would swear that having children was a right, God-given I’m sure. Well a true conservative not only believes in closing our borders to immigrants, I also believe we should start requiring couples (anyone) who want children to have to get a license and pass a basic financial, mental and health test. Don’t hear much support for that, though it certainly makes more sense than letting just anyone have as many kids as they want, regardless of whether they can feed or care for them. I suspect that some frequently have 9 or more just to grow their flock of religious believers. It’s funny how many churchgoing families tend to be a LOT bigger than secular families…Oh, that’s right, masturbation is wrong and so are rubbers, pills, anything else that keeps you from overunning your budget. Of course, if you’re poor I guess you’ll be spending lots more time at the church, it’s free attendance.
SYRINX http://outgrowinggod.blogspot.com/
February 7th, 2006 at 8:22 am
[...] RELATED: Islam In The Classroom: 9th Circuit Court Endorses Teaching of Religion In Public Schools [...]
May 22nd, 2006 at 1:35 pm
[...] RELATED: Islam In The Classroom: 9th Circuit Court Endorses Teaching of Religion In Public Schools [...]
May 23rd, 2006 at 3:47 am
Ninth Circus at it again
The same court that ruled that saying the pledge of allegiance is unconstitutional, because it contains the words "under God"…
October 30th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
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