Religion

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts) Thu Feb 14, 2019, 07:23 PM Feb 2019

Christian student challenged a school history lesson on Islam and lost in court

From the article:

A

s a high school junior, Caleigh Wood refused to complete a history lesson on “The Muslim World” that she said forced her to embrace Islam in conflict with her Christian faith — and the Constitution.
A federal appeals court this week disagreed, saying school officials in Southern Maryland had not violated Wood’s First Amendment rights because the curriculum did not endorse a particular religion “and did not compel Wood to profess any belief.”....

“Religion is an integral part of history. You can’t ignore it,” said Scott, who argued the case at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. “The key is to teach it from a secular perspective — and not to proselytize.”

14 replies

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Highlight:

Christian student challenged a school history lesson on Islam and lost in court (Original Post) guillaumeb Feb 2019 OP

good. barbtries Feb 2019 #1

The statement that taking the course amounted to a forced conversion guillaumeb Feb 2019 #5

Not really any winners here Major Nikon Feb 2019 #10

This statement is sloppy exboyfil Feb 2019 #2

According to article, the school district's content manager testified that it was inappropriate. marylandblue Feb 2019 #3

Good. elleng Feb 2019 #7

Describing it as "sloppy" is being far too polite on your part. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #4

Doing such is entirely appropriate, elleng Feb 2019 #8

It went far beyond sloppy. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #9

It's not an improper spelling Major Nikon Feb 2019 #11

guillaumeb has shown a consistent willingness to jump on other people's typos. trotsky Feb 2019 #12

Normally I wouldn't give a shit, but... Major Nikon Feb 2019 #14

lets make a list of all things this kid does that are violations of alleged xtian msongs Feb 2019 #6

Good, religious bigots lose again. n/t trotsky Feb 2019 #13

barbtries

(29,956 posts)

1. good.

Reply to guillaumeb (Original post)

Thu Feb 14, 2019, 07:45 PM

Feb 2019

bringing a lawsuit that just screams i want to be ignorant should lose. hope they don't appeal of course, since this SCOTUS might reverse the decision. blargh

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)

5. The statement that taking the course amounted to a forced conversion

Reply to barbtries (Reply #1)

Thu Feb 14, 2019, 08:27 PM

Feb 2019

is illogical.

Major Nikon

(36,911 posts)

10. Not really any winners here

Reply to barbtries (Reply #1)

Thu Feb 14, 2019, 09:42 PM

Feb 2019

Taxpayer dollars had to be spent on lawyers defending against that nonsense. A real win would have been the government’s ability to recoup legal costs.

exboyfil

(18,038 posts)

2. This statement is sloppy

Reply to guillaumeb (Original post)

Thu Feb 14, 2019, 07:54 PM

Feb 2019

and I would like to see the reference supporting it. It seems a very difficult thing to demonstrate.

“Most Muslim’s [sic] faith is stronger than the average Christian.”

You would also have to see the context for the statement about Islam. Christianity has comparable statements that should have been in the assignment for that religion.

marylandblue

(12,344 posts)

3. According to article, the school district's content manager testified that it was inappropriate.

Reply to exboyfil (Reply #2)

Thu Feb 14, 2019, 08:16 PM

Feb 2019

The school stopped using it and provided training to teachers on content development.

elleng

(136,880 posts)

7. Good.

Reply to marylandblue (Reply #3)

Thu Feb 14, 2019, 08:51 PM

Feb 2019

Am pleased they've done it, as I live nearby (AND 'managers' should ALWAYS be rational; sadly, they're not always such.)

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)

4. Describing it as "sloppy" is being far too polite on your part.

Reply to exboyfil (Reply #2)

Thu Feb 14, 2019, 08:26 PM

Feb 2019

In full, it reads:

One was a slide contrasting “peaceful Islam” with “radical fundamental Islam” that included the statement: “Most Muslim’s [sic] faith is stronger than the average Christian.”

First, we have the improper spelling of Muslims' as Muslim's.

Second, we have a statement with nothing offered in evidence to support it.

And absent a link to the test, and context, the reference to the shahada seems puzzling.

But I see nothing wrong with generally offering a brief overview of different faith traditions as part of a history curriculum.