Schools' Islamic Lessons 'Inaccurate'
Some Muslims in Baltimore County say lessons involving Islam being taught to seventh- and 10th-graders in public schools are inaccurate.
Bash Pharoan, president of the Baltimore chapter of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said resource sheets, called "Islamic Life" given to seventh-graders studying world cultures and "World Religions" for 10th-graders in world history classes, not only misrepresent Islam, but show disrespect to the prophet Muhammad [PBUH].
For three years, Pharoan said, he has unsuccessfully petitioned the Baltimore County school board to review the way Islam is presented in public school classrooms.
Joe Hairston, county school superintendent, said his "teachers do not use materials that contain inaccurate information."
Pharoan disagrees, saying the resource sheet on Islam belittles the prophet Muhammad [PBUH] by referring to him only as "Muhammad."
"We always say 'Prophet Muhammad. Omitting the word prophet is disrespectful."
Pharoan said many facts on the resource sheets are untrue or half-true, and they "emphasize negative differences that are divisive in nature." He said it is wrong to knowingly teach children inaccurate information.
Getting accurate information to children is important now because of the war in Iraq, he said.
Pharoan said the information given to students about "jihad" and the Quran, the sacred book of Islam, is especially objectionable.
The resource sheets state Muhammad's "main goal was to get people to accept Allah and to spread the faith of Islam. Muhammad justified his attacks to his followers by explaining that to weaken those who opposed the spread of God's word was a virtue, and that those who fell in battle would be rewarded in heaven. Thus the idea of the jihad became the holy war of the Muslims against 'the unbelievers.'"
This reference, said Pharoan, inaccurately portrays Islam as a religion that embraces the use of force.
"Islamic teachings explicitly forbid coercing others to adopt the Islamic religion. Suicide is forbidden. The taking of innocent lives is forbidden. Yet the curriculum would have students believing otherwise," Pharoan said.
"Jihad" is defined in the resource sheet as a "struggle." Pharoan said that is a true depiction. But it's "a struggle to be a good person, a struggle to help the community and mankind. It does not mean a holy war."
Mahammad Jameel, of Reisterstown, has also petitioned the board about school lessons on Islamic culture.
Giving a partial definition of "jihad" -- as in the resource sheet -- is like saying gravity only exists under apple trees. Not only is it misleading, but it is inaccurate, Jameel said.
"We have many jihads," Jameel said, such as "a jihad against poverty, just like the U.S. has a war against poverty." "Jihad" does not mean a Muslim should go out and kill the poor, he said.
Donald Arnold, the school board president, said he has not asked the school administration to look into Pharoan's and Jameel's allegations.
"We take the approach that the class material was chosen on a scholarly basis (by the administration), and it (the information being taught) reflects the history of the Muslim community."
Cara Calder, a spokeswoman for the school system, said the class material was selected on a scholarly basis.
"Our perspective is that when it comes to curriculum, our focus is academic rather than social or political," she said. "We (the administration) are aware of Dr. Pharoan's and Mr. Jameel's concerns, and as we would with any question of curriculum, we will rely on academic and scholarly information."
Calder did not know if the curriculum had already been reviewed, or if it was scheduled for review at some future date.
Pharoan said it is unfair to the students to perpetuate misinformation, and it might be up to the faculty to correct the problem.
"Teachers should ask themselves, 'Am I teaching fact or opinion?'" Pharoan said.
By Julia Wilson
North county News
For three years, Pharoan said, he has unsuccessfully petitioned the Baltimore County school board to review the way Islam is presented in public school classrooms.
Joe Hairston, county school superintendent, said his "teachers do not use materials that contain inaccurate information."
Pharoan disagrees, saying the resource sheet on Islam belittles the prophet Muhammad [PBUH] by referring to him only as "Muhammad."
"We always say 'Prophet Muhammad. Omitting the word prophet is disrespectful."
Pharoan said many facts on the resource sheets are untrue or half-true, and they "emphasize negative differences that are divisive in nature." He said it is wrong to knowingly teach children inaccurate information.
Getting accurate information to children is important now because of the war in Iraq, he said.
Pharoan said the information given to students about "jihad" and the Quran, the sacred book of Islam, is especially objectionable.
The resource sheets state Muhammad's "main goal was to get people to accept Allah and to spread the faith of Islam. Muhammad justified his attacks to his followers by explaining that to weaken those who opposed the spread of God's word was a virtue, and that those who fell in battle would be rewarded in heaven. Thus the idea of the jihad became the holy war of the Muslims against 'the unbelievers.'"
This reference, said Pharoan, inaccurately portrays Islam as a religion that embraces the use of force.
"Islamic teachings explicitly forbid coercing others to adopt the Islamic religion. Suicide is forbidden. The taking of innocent lives is forbidden. Yet the curriculum would have students believing otherwise," Pharoan said.
"Jihad" is defined in the resource sheet as a "struggle." Pharoan said that is a true depiction. But it's "a struggle to be a good person, a struggle to help the community and mankind. It does not mean a holy war."
Mahammad Jameel, of Reisterstown, has also petitioned the board about school lessons on Islamic culture.
Giving a partial definition of "jihad" -- as in the resource sheet -- is like saying gravity only exists under apple trees. Not only is it misleading, but it is inaccurate, Jameel said.
"We have many jihads," Jameel said, such as "a jihad against poverty, just like the U.S. has a war against poverty." "Jihad" does not mean a Muslim should go out and kill the poor, he said.
Donald Arnold, the school board president, said he has not asked the school administration to look into Pharoan's and Jameel's allegations.
"We take the approach that the class material was chosen on a scholarly basis (by the administration), and it (the information being taught) reflects the history of the Muslim community."
Cara Calder, a spokeswoman for the school system, said the class material was selected on a scholarly basis.
"Our perspective is that when it comes to curriculum, our focus is academic rather than social or political," she said. "We (the administration) are aware of Dr. Pharoan's and Mr. Jameel's concerns, and as we would with any question of curriculum, we will rely on academic and scholarly information."
Calder did not know if the curriculum had already been reviewed, or if it was scheduled for review at some future date.
Pharoan said it is unfair to the students to perpetuate misinformation, and it might be up to the faculty to correct the problem.
"Teachers should ask themselves, 'Am I teaching fact or opinion?'" Pharoan said.
By Julia Wilson
North county News
