Islam and Our Public Schools

By Kate Price, Co-Founder, Operation Information
August 30, 2005

The fall of 2004 brought many parents much grief at the thought of area Tulsa public school teachers gathering for a professional development course on Islam, co-hosted by Tulsa Public Schools.

The Islamic Society of Tulsa co-sponsored the event, purchasing the controversial Arab World Studies Notebook and providing a lunch, including lovely baklava for dessert, to all the participants.

There was no disdain for giving information to teachers about the Arab world. There was, however, concern over the one sided study of their religion, Islam, and the probability of Islamic indoctrination taking place at the hands of misinformed middle school and high school teachers.

Several parents from the Tulsa community attended the teachers workshop held at the Fulton Professional Development Center. Our attendance only confirmed the concerns of many in our city; this indeed, would be indoctrination should the Arab World Studies Notebook, written by Audrey Shabbas of the Middle East Policy Council, be used in the classroom.

Lesson plans include the “Pre-Test: Three Holy Books”, page 13 of The Arab World Studies Notebook. The teachers note on the pre-test states, “This is a good pre-test designed to stimulate discussion of a less well-known religion, Islam. Take the test yourself, before you turn the page to look at the answer key, and you’ll discover what a good conversation starter this can be.”

“Directions: For each quotation, indicate which is the source by writing a letter in the blank. A. Jewish Scripture (Old Testament), B. The New Testament, C. The Qur’an.”

The above teacher’s note and the directions are not very alarming until you take the test, as I did, and see the conclusion. I will now direct you to the Middle East Policy Council’s (MEPC) website where you, too, can take the test. Go to: Arab World Studies Notebook: Pre-test.

How did you do on the test? Did you answer most of the questions with “The New Testament” or the “Old Testament” as I did? Would you like to know the answers?

Before I give you the answers to the pre-test, please go back to the mindset of your adolescent days. Think of how trusting of your teachers you were in your innocence. Remember how mom and dad said always to do and believe what your teacher tells you.

The back of the pre-test page states, “ALL ARE FROM THE QUR’AN!” What will such a revelation do to a young boy’s or girl’s trust of their parents and pastor’s careful teaching of their faith when the trusted teacher blithely states how similar Islam is to their own faith. In the words of Audrey Shabbas, “we are not introducing you to a new religion, only a continuation of the oldest religion.” I have news for Muslims who perpetuate this ideology, Christianity is not a religion, it is a reality.

This will shake the very foundation of these children, still forming for most of them. No school, non-government organization, or teacher has the right to do that to someone else’s child. NO ONE.

Why would Tulsa schools (Tulsa, Union and Jenks Public Schools) do something like this? Their new mission is to change the values of your children and grandchildren. It’s all in the name of values clarification for the creation of the international child of the future. Union Public Schools mission states, “It is Our Mission to provide our community of learners with educational opportunities…enabling them to become valued, contributing members of a changing global society.”

As we were told by Mrs. Shabbas, we ALL worship Allah. Allah means god, so, if you are speaking in Arabic and used the word “god”, you would say Allah.

I don’t mind saying, and neither should any other Christian, Audrey Shabbas’ god is not my god. Islam’s god is not my god. Only my Father in Heaven do I worship. There is NO relation between the two. PERIOD.

Some time now has passed since the controversy began. Many who helped in the fight against the Arab World Studies Notebook coming to our classrooms believe that the battle is over. My purpose of writing this is to tell you it is not.

The various school systems present at the workshop did not state it wouldn’t be used. Here are the direct words of Derek Rader, then President of Union Public Schools Board of Education, on October 11, 2004

“…Unfortunately, a great deal of reckless, misinformation has been perpetrated by an uninformed individual in the media suggesting that Union Public Schools is considering adopting a new curriculum relating to the study and practice of that religion. First, I appreciate the concern that well-meaning parents show when they become involved in the activities and curriculum of our school so I welcome questions and concerns from parents that are based on fact and good will. Our public schools work in partnership with our community to develop the values of a democratic society and we are open to scrutiny at all times. At Union Public Schools-like in all public schools-our curriculum adheres to the Oklahoma Priority Academic Student Skills which is mandated by the state legislature and the Oklahoma Department of Education. Our student textbooks are selected from the Oklahoma State Textbook list with the full and open involvement of teachers and parents who serve on our textbook selection committees. Let me be perfectly clear: Union Public Schools is not implementing any new curriculum which would advance any religion...”

Case closed. Or, at least, that is what most parents believe.

While Derek Rader and the rest of Union Public School’s Board of Education addressed the adoption of a new curriculum, they did not address the issue of enrichment.

Enrichment can be used in the classroom along with the normal course of study for each class. When the teacher reaches the section of the Social Studies book instructing on the Arab world, she may, if she chooses, pull lesson plans from the Arab World Studies Notebook as enrichment to the normal course of study.

I was told by Union Public Schools that the only way I would know if those lesson plans were used on my child or not was if my child came home and told me. In other words, the school will not monitor the teachers and will not keep them from using the material if they wish. Your child must become the classroom monitor.

Later, a phone call was placed to Superintendent, Cathy Burden, in regards to the statement made at the board meeting. I thanked her for the statement made saying they would not adopt the curriculum. I also stated that my concerns still remained, and would remain, until the issue regarding enrichment was addressed. I asked Ms. Burden to make a new statement to parents, to calm their valid concerns, that the Arab World Studies Notebook lesson plans would not be used as enrichment.

After Ms. Burden spoke several long words about nothing, I had to re-ask the question. She told me she would not make a new statement regarding its use as enrichment.

There you have it. The only thing the parents of Tulsa area schools accomplished, in the fall of 2004, was giving short lived grief to the administration of their trusted schools.