Gym class, then biblical studies?

[shadha]

Gym class, then biblical studies?
I am a Muslim parent who wants his children to learn about Christianity in public school. I want my children to know about the significance of Christmas, Easter and Lent. Why? It will make them better Americans.

BY MUSHIR HASSAN, NOVEMBER 30, 2008

A place for religious literacy?

The recent turmoil in financial markets may have surprised some Americans with how risky their investments were leveraged. Another surprise may have been that negotiations needed to be delayed two days as key congressional leaders were observing Rosh Hashanah. Were you asking, "What's Rosh Hashanah?"

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish new year and heralds the 10 days of repentance leading up to Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. Why do I as a Muslim know this? I had the privilege of growing up and going to public school in suburban New York City, where these days were public school holidays. Naturally, one would ask friends and teachers about the significance of these religious holidays. Teachers taught religious history, not religious indoctrination.

Our country and our region are getting more diverse, both ethnically and religiously. As this shift occurs, it is incumbent on our public schools to teach the basics of religions of the world to ensure well-rounded students. This makes sense, given the interplay of religion in current events. It also makes sense as our economy goes global.

Social customs often have a religious background. Some of our local students may pursue civil engineering and help build skyscrapers in Dubai. It would be helpful for them to know not to bring holiday ham or wine to their Muslim friends in Dubai. Future IT consultants traveling back and forth to Bangalore, India, would do well to know some basics about Hinduism and Islam for smooth interactions with their Tata Consulting colleagues. Closer to home, how many of us knew much about Rosh Hashanah prior to the bailout discussion?

Stephen Prothero's book "Religious Literacy" outlines our rich religious heritage in America and how we used to teach the basics of religion in public school and why we should return to that. There is a difference between teaching basic fundamentals and proselytizing.

In Milwaukee, we also have the advantage of a rich interfaith tradition. That could help school districts in planning curriculum that prepares high school students with knowledge of the world - while still being sensitive to the First Amendment but capitalizing on the knowledge base of our interfaith community. As a community, we need to agree that a certain skill set of religion basics is needed to be a global citizen and that this process is inculcating knowledge, not merging church and state.

Think of what I am saying. I am a Muslim parent who wants his children to learn about Christianity in public school. I want my children to know about the significance of Christmas, Easter and Lent. I want them to have some understanding of biblical references in English literature. Why? It will make them better Americans.

We are too afraid to discuss religion in public schools as we misinterpret separation of church and state. Public schools cannot teach one religion, but they can teach about religion. As our economy goes global and our society gets more diverse, we should ask our school boards to read Prothero's book and come up with an action plan.

This will help students better understand their friends, neighbors and the world around them. In addition, with education about Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism and other religious traditions, schoolmates will better understand one another.

Do I worry my children will be confused? Possibly, if we start too young. But if we wait to do it at the high school level, there can be mature discussions in school with follow-up discussions around the dinner table. I see little downside to families talking about values they hold dear and how they compare to those of other belief systems.

Better to learn facts in school than imagery from the film "Religulous."
________


Totally agree! Though personally, I prefer to start my children young, since we have such a religiously diverse family.


shadha-

[ZakisDamusa2008]

shadha said

Gym class, then biblical studies?

I am a Muslim parent who wants his children to learn about Christianity in public school. I want my children to know about the significance of Christmas, Easter and Lent. Why? It will make them better Americans.

BY MUSHIR HASSAN, NOVEMBER 30, 2008

A place for religious literacy?

The recent turmoil in financial markets may have surprised some Americans with how risky their investments were leveraged. Another surprise may have been that negotiations needed to be delayed two days as key congressional leaders were observing Rosh Hashanah. Were you asking, "What's Rosh Hashanah?"

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish new year and heralds the 10 days of repentance leading up to Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. Why do I as a Muslim know this? I had the privilege of growing up and going to public school in suburban New York City, where these days were public school holidays. Naturally, one would ask friends and teachers about the significance of these religious holidays. Teachers taught religious history, not religious indoctrination.

Our country and our region are getting more diverse, both ethnically and religiously. As this shift occurs, it is incumbent on our public schools to teach the basics of religions of the world to ensure well-rounded students. This makes sense, given the interplay of religion in current events. It also makes sense as our economy goes global.

Social customs often have a religious background. Some of our local students may pursue civil engineering and help build skyscrapers in Dubai. It would be helpful for them to know not to bring holiday ham or wine to their Muslim friends in Dubai. Future IT consultants traveling back and forth to Bangalore, India, would do well to know some basics about Hinduism and Islam for smooth interactions with their Tata Consulting colleagues. Closer to home, how many of us knew much about Rosh Hashanah prior to the bailout discussion?

Stephen Prothero's book "Religious Literacy" outlines our rich religious heritage in America and how we used to teach the basics of religion in public school and why we should return to that. There is a difference between teaching basic fundamentals and proselytizing.

In Milwaukee, we also have the advantage of a rich interfaith tradition. That could help school districts in planning curriculum that prepares high school students with knowledge of the world - while still being sensitive to the First Amendment but capitalizing on the knowledge base of our interfaith community. As a community, we need to agree that a certain skill set of religion basics is needed to be a global citizen and that this process is inculcating knowledge, not merging church and state.

Think of what I am saying. I am a Muslim parent who wants his children to learn about Christianity in public school. I want my children to know about the significance of Christmas, Easter and Lent. I want them to have some understanding of biblical references in English literature. Why? It will make them better Americans.

We are too afraid to discuss religion in public schools as we misinterpret separation of church and state. Public schools cannot teach one religion, but they can teach about religion. As our economy goes global and our society gets more diverse, we should ask our school boards to read Prothero's book and come up with an action plan.

This will help students better understand their friends, neighbors and the world around them. In addition, with education about Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism and other religious traditions, schoolmates will better understand one another.

Do I worry my children will be confused? Possibly, if we start too young. But if we wait to do it at the high school level, there can be mature discussions in school with follow-up discussions around the dinner table. I see little downside to families talking about values they hold dear and how they compare to those of other belief systems.

Better to learn facts in school than imagery from the film "Religulous."
________


Totally agree! Though personally, I prefer to start my children young, since we have such a religiously diverse family.


shadha-

I agree too. Thank Allah my hubby and i celebrate muslim and christian holidays hes so good to me

[sumi]

i do agree with educating children about other religions and etc, but i don't necessarily agree with the connection implied here.. that learning about christianity will make for better americans.

[Purple_alien]

I think children should be taught religious diversity. I wen to a predominately Jewish school at a young age, and learned about all the holidays. I have a better grasp of the similarities between Judaism and Islam because I was positively exposed to them. My sister on the other hand went to a Muslim school k-12. She learned about the religious holidays but never experience playing with a dreidel, or making christmas cookies. They knew Christmas from my family but my parents were cautious that they not get too attached.
I don't know if it makes one a better American, but it certainly makes you more learned.

[riad19]

its a pointless article. i went to a public high school, and i learnt about all the major religions. basic world history classes that students are required to take in high school already have pretty good information about Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism etc. So its not like we arent exposed to other cultures and religions.

the problem is apathy, not scarcity of information or under exposure to different cultures.

i rather have my kids go to an islamic school and learn proper social values. and if the islamic school have a hifz program as well, i dont see why anyone wouldnt want their kids there.

if they learn about islam properly and understand their place in this world and in this society, they'll automatically be good americans.

[LEGALEAGLE]

I want them to learn about 'community' which isn't the same thing as 'Christianity'.

[Revert]

I thought Teachers weren't allowed to teach religion in schools in the USA.


I don't think teaching children about religions will amke them better Americans, however it might make them better humns. Then again Religiouys Studies have been a part of the UK education system for a long time. Most kids zone out during that class.

[ZakisDamusa2008]

Revert said

I thought Teachers weren't allowed to teach religion in schools in the USA.


I don't think teaching children about religions will amke them better Americans, however it might make them better humns. Then again Religiouys Studies have been a part of the UK education system for a long time. Most kids zone out during that class.

LOL my son loved religous studies

[AishaMysha]

I agree with most posts here, but one thing i wanted to add was that growing up, nobody cared about Islam or Eid.

I remember we celebrated\learned about Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, and Diwali but whenever it was Eid, the teacher turned a blind eye.

[sumi]

AishaMysha said

I agree with most posts here, but one thing i wanted to add was that growing up, nobody cared about Islam or Eid.

I remember we celebrated\learned about Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, and Diwali but whenever it was Eid, the teacher turned a blind eye.

exactly. whether it was islamic school or public school (i went to both), we learned enough about christmas and hanukah, but in public school we didnt learn squat about eid. instead of implying that learning christianity will make for better americans, it should be that learning about all religious celebrations equally makes for better americans.

[Purple_alien]

I remember in 3rd grade, we did this year long project where we had to look up our family history. Since I am Black, my parents encouraged me to look at African countries. I picked Nigeria, which has a predominately Muslim population. In teaching that, the 3rd grade learned about Muslims and Muslim holidays. When it was Eid, we had a discussion about it and everything.
That year was awesome, but I hated my teacher