presentation on other cultures in public schools Options

[*disco infiltrator*]

A couple weeks ago, a Muslim family in Porter Lakes schools in Porter County, Indiana, made a presentation to the entire second grade and one third grade class at Porter Lakes Elementary School. Upon hearing this, many parents were upset about not being asked permission for this children to attend this presentation.

The couple that put on the presentation insists that it was only to initiate knowledge of the practices of the religion so their children, who attend the school, wouldn't be made fun of because others didn't know why they did things such as wearing the hijab, or headscarf, or pray 5 times a day, etc. It was just to inform. However, many other parents in the school district claim that their child is being influenced and may convert to the religion through hearing these things.

Some quotes from a few parents heard at the board meeting about the issue:
"I'm not racist, but when it comes to Muslim people, I have some concern."
"I didn't answer my child's questions on the subject because one, I don't know, and two, she doesn't need to know."
"There should have definitely been a permission slip sent home because I would have never allowed that. I don't want my child to see these things or be around these types of people."
"I don't understand why they don't just go to a private school anyway."

There was also talk of a "prayer room" set aside for the Muslim children due to the requirements of the religion (praying 5 times a day - two of these occur during the school day). National law says public schools have to accomodate each student - no matter what the circumstances.

A quote from one concerned mother: "If they're going to let some students have religion present in the school, they should do it for all. I request that an altar be put in for my Catholic boy." (Though, Catholicism doesn't require any participants to pray at any certain time of the day, and, in most schools, after the Pledge of Allegiance is said, a "moment of silence" is set aside and children can pray then.)

Now, due to advice from the school's principal, the family has opened up their home to anyone who wants to look around to assure people that they are not terrorists. However, one of the men on the police force for the area has been eyeing them carefully. He is constantly parked outside their house and has grilled their neighbor for information for them, even though he has run their name through the police computers and has found no terrorist ties.




Discuss. I'm pretty sure no one's thoughts on the issue on this site will differ all too much from mine, or anyone else's, but it's a good topic, IMO.

This school is about 15 minutes away from where I live, by the way. Just so you know how I knew about all of this.

[*mona lisa*]

Hmm, I think a notice to parents would have been a good idea when schools opt for guest speakers to make presentations to elementary school students. At that age, a child's cognitive abilities may not be so developed as to understand certain issues and are sensitive to the information that's presented to them. They're curious and the parents of these children may not be the most qualified people to satiate such curiosities.

It's unfortunate the children who were made curious by the presentation may not look to their parents to further their knowledge without bias and discriminatory attitudes, such as the one whose parent said that he/she "didn't need to know". Seeing how a child's understanding of the issue is limitted, he/she will be sway by his/her parents attitudes and may think of what he/she have learned in a negative light.

If I were a parent, I would appreciate a notice. I think that my child would have more of a chance to form his/her own opinion if he/she were a bit older and not allow him/her to attend the presentation. This is strictly an age problem to me. If my child expresses interest about religion or has false views about religions at that age, I would not prohibit his/her learning. However, coming to them in a classroom environment is almost like forcing them to sit through a sermon, even if that was never the purpose. It doesn't matter the religion that was talked about. I would feel the same if a Christian, Buddhist, or Jew made the presentation.

I understand what you're saying, but what opinion would the child need to form on his/her own when they are a bit older? They don't exactly have to express an interest in a particular religion to learn the basic tenets of that religion and learn to leave the other children to pray in peace. Why do they need to be made fun of simply because they practice a religion that is different from their own? The purpose of the presentation was to inform the non-Muslim children so that they could understand why their fellow classmates pray five times a day, why most girls where a hijab, etc. I agree with you in that a notice should have been given out, although if it were a permission slip, do you really think the parents would let their child go to school that day and listen to the presentation? Most likely not. It's fine if the parents don't want their child exposed to certain things at a young age, but if it will teach them new values, then why should the parents be worried? It's also fine if the parents don't want to teach their child(ren) certain things, but this is life. It's most likely that when they get older, the child will encounter at least one Muslim person. If they are taught to turn their heads on them at a young age, they won't exactly be kind and respectful to them at an elder age.

[Spirited Away]

I understand what you're saying, but what opinion would the child need to form on his/her own when they are a bit older? They don't exactly have to express an interest in a particular religion to learn the basic tenets of that religion and learn to leave the other children to pray in peace. Why do they need to be made fun of simply because they practice a religion that is different from their own? The purpose of the presentation was to inform the non-Muslim children so that they could understand why their fellow classmates pray five times a day, why most girls where a hijab, etc. I agree with you in that a notice should have been given out, although if it were a permission slip, do you really think the parents would let their child go to school that day and listen to the presentation? Most likely not.

What I meant by forming their own opinions at an older age would be for the benefit of not being swayed by negative attitudes of their parents. As in a child could think "isn't Mom being a little too irrational/weird about this whole thing?" as oppose to "Mommy is bigger, she knows a lot more than I do."

Ideally, my child, at that age, would first look at a Muslim and identify him/her as just another person. To achieve that, they must learn that differences in appearances and opinions are normal, not something to be goggled at or preached about. When children are first exposed to Barney, we do not explain to them that he's a purple dinosaur who sings and do cool tricks. Children just know for a fact that Barney is different in that he makes them happy. When children first see a person of a different race, we do not tell them that the person is of a darker or lighter skin-tone, they can see it on their own. Should they be curious as to why, we should tell them and if they want to know more, we should encourage them to learn. However, if they can accept that a person is just a person, no matter clothes or skin color, why force them to know? Would we have a Black/Hispanic/Asian person speak about why he's Black/Hispanic/Asian to a group of elementary schoolers? If not, why should we have a Muslim speak about why he/she wears a veil or pray five times a day? Why do they need to know, I guess at that certain age, is what I'm asking.

I completely endorse the teaching of this knowledge at, lets say junior high school to be safe, but second graders? I'm really uncomfortable with that.

This post has been edited by Spirited Away: Nov 9 2005, 10:43 PM