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"I
think it's so important for all of us to understand each others cultures.
This Presentation is a wonderful way to introduce students to Islam.
It's a fantastic presentation"
Teacher-Scott
Elementary School
"Wonderful information I would like to do this with each group of new students
every year."
Teacher-Curie
High School
"I thought the presentation was very imformative it was great to have clarification
on topics related to Islam. Next time I will have my students prepared with educated
questions."
Teacher-Lake Park High School
"The
presentations were really interesting . It is nice for the students
to hear about the culture/ religion of Islam from someone who closely
follows the religion/ way of life. (The speaker) taught my students
things that I could not, through sharing her experience."
Teacher-Lake Park
High School
"I
would have been happy to listen and learn for 2 or 3 hours. You did
a lot in a about period of time. Thanks for coming out."
Hinsdale Public
Library
"Just terrific. This has been an excellent program for a library. It was
not prosyletizing but very imfornative. There were slides and many visual aids
as well as audience participation so even our preteens were not bored. I cant
say enough good things about this program. "
Glen Ellyn Public Library
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Teaching
About Religion: Do's & Dont's
Questions
and Answers Regarding Teaching About
Religion in Public Schools
Excerpts
from the booklet “A Teacher’s
Guide to Religion in the Public
School” by the First Amendment
Center:
Is
it constitutional to teach
about religion?
The
Center cites
the 1960’s school
prayer cases
(that promoted rulings against state-sponsored
school
prayer and
Bible reading), in which the U.S. Supreme Court
indicated
that public
school education may include teaching about religion.
In Abington
v. Schempp Associate
Justice Tom
Clarke wrote for the Court:
“It
might well be said that one’s
education
is not
complete
without
a study
of comparative
religion
or the
history
of religion
and its
relationship
to the
advancement
of civilization.
It certainly
may be
said that
the Bible
is
worthy
of study
for its
literary
and historic
qualities.
Nothing
we have
said here
indicates
that such
study of
the Bible
or of
religion,
when presented
objectively
as part
of a secular
program
of education,
may not
be effectively
consistently
with the
First Amendment.”
Why
should study about religion
be included in the curriculum?
The Center addresses
this question
based on the principles found in the “Religion in
the Public School Curriculum: Questions
and Answers,” issued
by a coalition
of 17 major
religious
and educational
organizations.
“Because
religion
plays a significant role in history and society,
study about
religion in essential
to understanding
both the nation and the world. Omission of facts
about religion
can give students
the false
impression that the religious life of humankind
is
insignificant
or unimportant. Failure to understand even the
basic symbols,
practices, and
concepts
of the various religions makes much of history,
literature,
art and
contemporary life unintelligent...”
How
should I teach about religion?
The First Amendment
Center provides the following guidelines
from the “Religion in the Public
School Curriculum” to address
this question:
-
The
school's approach to religion
is academic, not devotional.
-
The
school strives for student
awareness of religions, but
does not press for student
acceptance of any religion.
-
The
school sponsors study about
religion, not the practice
of religion.
-
The
school may expose students
to a diversity of religious
views, but may not impose any
particular view.
-
The
school educates about all religions,
it does not promote or denigrate
religion.
-
The
school informs students about
various beliefs; it does not
seek to conform students to
any particular belief.
May
I invite guest speakers to help
with study about religion?
The Center recommends that
teachers refer to their school district’s
policies concerning guest speakers
in the classroom. In choosing a guest,
the Center suggests inviting someone
with the academic background necessary
for an objective and scholarly discussion
of the historical period and the
religion being considered, and encourages
utilizing speakers who understand
First Amendment guidelines when teaching
about religion in public schools.
The
Organization of Islamic Speakers
Midwest certifies its speakers
on the First Amendment Center
guidelines for speaking about
religion in schools and other
public institutions. To schedule
a speaker, please contact
us at (630) 848-1475 or email
admin@oismidwest.org. You
may also schedule a speaker
on-line at Speaker Request
Form.
To
review the complete
guidelines and to order a copy of “A
Teacher’s
Guide to Religion
in the Public Schools” please
contact the First
Amendment Center
at: 1-800-830-3733
or send an email
to puborder@freedomforum.org
and request publication no. 99-F02A.
Tips
for Teaching About Islam in
the Context of Social Studies
and World History
Based
on our years of experience in
providing education about Islam
to Social Studies and World History
teachers, we make the following
recommendations:
-
Use
CIE (Council on Islamic Education)
and ISB (Islamic Speakers Bureau)
materials found in their catalogues.
-
Use
AWAIR (Arab World And Islamic
Resource) materials.
-
Use
TCI (Teachers Curriculum Institute)
materials.
-
Differentiate
between the teachings of Islam
and the practices of some Muslims,
as is done with other faiths.
This is especially important
if you are referring to news
articles about current events.
To
reduce the potential of hate
crimes and incidences against
Muslims in America, and change
stereotypical perceptions,
we recommend AGAINST the use
of:
-
-
The
film "Not Without
My Daughter" as a
tool to teach about Islam
and Muslims – it
was released during the
Gulf War and presents a
negative and stereotypical
view of Muslims – not
unlike most Hollywood productions.
-
The
use of the media or Hollywood
in general as an authoritative
source on Islam or Muslims.
If
you have any questions, contact the
Organization of Islamic Speakers
Midwest at (630) 848-1475.
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