The Access Islam syllabus is still being taught throughout the nation. The syllabus is a resource guide, not a mandatory curriculum, intended to inform students about Muslims the world over. It was put together by PBS with the help of ISNA, a fundamentalist Muslim organization.
A Republican organization that objected had their claims rated “false” by fact checkers because the Republican group called it indoctrination and said it was compulsory. In fact, some schools are making it mandatory but the DoE has not made it a requirement. The Miami Herald and Politifact are among the fact checkers that rate the claims against the resource as “false”.
That being said, it is best for people to read the Department of Education “resource” for yourself on this link.
A blog radio host named Barry Secrest of Conservative Refocus reported recently that students in Virginia are being taught to explore and understand the basic beliefs of Islam as well as the Five Pillars that guide Muslims in their daily life” as follows:
- Muslim Prayer
- Zakaat
- Ramadan is Here
- The Hajj: Islamic Sacred Pilgirmage
The students are assigned an art project which consists of creating adorable little “posters illustrating the Five Pillars of Islam” for display throughout the entire school. It’s not likely photos of Jesus are going up anytime soon.
Can you imagine if Evangelicals or politically conservative Jews started proselytizing in the schools? The Access to Islam seems to be on the border or over the border of preaching to us. There is a fine line between understanding and indoctrinating. If other religions were given the same amount of time and effort, it might be more acceptable to some. That is not the case.
Understanding Islam doesn’t need to include lessons on the religion, does it?
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We reported about this in April and it’s been going on for some time.
The Christian Action Network wants it to stop
The Christian Action Network (CAN) believes Islamic indoctrination is going on in our schools in grades 5 through 12, at taxpayer expense. They have written a strongly-worded letter to Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos saying this violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution.
“The nature of the materials and the lack of any similar materials for other religions such as Judaism, Christianity or Hinduism demonstrate the Establishment Clause violation, because there can be no argument that the materials are for comparative educational purposes. The materials are accordingly offensive not only to our clients, but offensive to the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution,” the letter reads.
Where is that annoying Freedom from Religion Foundation to condemn this instruction?
According to the network’s lawyer, students are taught to learn Islamic scripture, give the meaning of that Islamic verse, and explain how they can use it in their daily lives. He asks, “How can this be anything other than indoctrination?”
In one DOE funded video, students are introduced to a man who has converted from Christianity to Islam. The Muslim man tells students that Islam “is the true worship of God.” The man then instructs children to “submit yourself” to Allah.
The “Access Islam” curricula and includes lessons on:
- The Five Pillars of Islam, in which students in grades 5 through 12 explore and understand the basic beliefs of Islam. They make posters, learn the prayer of faith.
- Salat: Prayer in Muslim Life, in which students 5-12 learn “the importance of the Quran in daily worship.”
- Quran: Sacred Scripture of Islam, in which students in grades four to six are taught that the Quran “is considered the word of Allah.” Students must review quotes from the Quran and Hadith. They must then to present one of the Islamic quotes to the teacher and “describe the passages practical application…”
“Can anyone imagine The Lord’s Prayer recited in a classroom?” asked the CAN lawyer. “Or students taught that the Bible is the inspired, infallible final Word of God? Or displaying the Christian cross in the school classroom? Or lesson plans that encourage students to pray to Jesus Christ? It’s out of the question! Christ, the Bible, the cross and Christian prayer were thrown out our public schools decades ago.
Jewish people are far more abused than Muslims according to federal statistics. Why don’t we teach the Jewish religion?
How about no religion will be taught in public schools?
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