HOW should Islam be taught in private Christian schools?

Question

I grew up in Metropolitan DC. I dated a Muslim. I had Muslim neighbors. I had Muslim classmates. I taught some Muslims in Virginia. Now, I live in Iowa where there are very few Muslims, and I teach at a Christian school. I have some concerns about how these children are being exposed to Islam. The children have been taught to fear, and in some cases, HATE Muslims. Apparently the children are being taught that it's not a sin for Muslims to kill non-Muslims. Oh, and there are other negative things the children are learning. The outcome truly scares me, as I heard one of the students say, "I don't associate with Muslims...I mean terrorists." Another bluntly stated that, "Islam is a BAD religion."
Does this worry you? I'm against the way these children have been taught about Islam. How do I counteract? I want the children to learn about and accept the culture, not to begin hating the religion!

Answer 1

A Christian school is just that Christian. Why would you want to teach children about false doctrines.

Better yet, if you're not Christian why are you teaching in a Christian school? We send our children to Christian schools because we want them exposed to God's word.

Christian schools are doing nothing different than what Muslims schools teach their children. Why the double standards for Christians?

I think you should be reported for going against Christian doctrine in a "Christian" school. Better yet, if you don't like Christian doctrine go to the plenty of public schools that are more diverse and anti Christian, you'd probably feel happier in one of them.

Answer 2

This is a very fine line that you walk. I don't say that as some sort of anti-Islam statement, or to tell you that you don't need to walk it. Quite the opposite. I believe the subject DOES need to be brought up in schools, especially Christian schools.
If the kids are already spouting this hate filled philosophy, then they're probably getting it from home. Therefore the likelihood of what I am about to suggest will probably not happen.
But perhaps you could talk with the principal and the other "powers that be" of the school and see if you can have a religious diversity week. A 6-weeks which includes the study (and comparison - if the children are old enough to comprehend it) of at least the other two Abrahamic religions, as well as perhaps Buddism or something like it. During that time the kids learn about Judaism, Islam, and Buddism in the classroom through research projects, and interviews (if possible). Perhaps spending one week on research of Judaism, then during the second week spend Monday and Tuesday discussing the results, Wednesday planning pertenant questions and such for a Jewish guest speaker on Thursday, then on Friday a sort of "debriefing" and culture party with food and decorations that are typical in the Jewish culture. Then follow the same two week format for Islam, and Buddism. That way it wouldn't be pinpointing Islam - so you might get more parent buy in, the students would be able to learn for themselves (with your guidlines) the history, culture, beliefs, and issues of not only Islam, but other religions that are often misunderstood because of misinformation that is widely circulated.

** I say Buddism because it's the only non-Abrahamic faith that I could think of that's mild enough where there may be school and parent buy in. However, you could also include a Christian religion that has a culture that is often misunderstood, like the Amish, the Mennonites, the Mormons, or something like that.

Answer 3

Religion is a controversial topic, and hard to be subjective. It depends on the person who is teaching the topic, and the students will see through their eyes. To teach the kids about the Muslims culture and history, is fine, but the religion is not a good idea. It works for both sides. The Muslims wouldn't want to learn about the religion of other faiths, and so others wouldn't want to learn their religions in schools. There is the proper place for those subject, and it is not the school. In school they can learn the History, and Culture, but not the religion, and that is not exclusively for the Islam religion only, but all.

With all due respect to the Muslim people. There are some 'bad' things in Islam. That is why it is best to teach the kids about the people, the Muslims people, but not the religion. The religin itself is not perfect, nothing is perfect. All religions have something that are not so great, or completely clear to us, and that is why we are still asking questions, and wondering what it means. sadly.

Answer 4

I see you asked the same question twice. How much do You know about Islam? I gather not much! Either way. In Islam you can't separate the two, Islam and Muslims are one and the same. In their religious life, as in their private life, there are one. They live by it in every aspect part of their life, private, political, religious, all of it. Teaching about the society differ than teachin about the religion it self. It wouldn't be a bad idea to teach about the people and their history and culture, but not the religion. Same as we want the separation of the Church with the government, same should be aplied to the Islamic religion. People should hate anyone based on whatever reason, including their faith. With education about the people themselves, we can reach an understanding and better knowledge of others, it doesn't have to be the religion itself. If you start teaching the religion, that will deter the main point, and it will complicate things than solve them. First, the kids should learn how alike we all are, and then if they wish to learn more about the religion, then they can do that in the proper place on their own. Did you know that some Middle Eastern countries, in a Catholic private schools, they teach both religions to the kids, but they are taugh their own religion not the others. The Christian learn about Christianity, and the Muslims learn about Islam. When the time come for that class, they separate the kids, and each learn their own religion. Some other Middle Eastern, Muslim countries. It is forbidden to teach all the kids anything about the Christianity. Did you know that! We learn something new everyday. don't we!

Answer 5

Go to school dressed in traditional clothing and explain the truth about Islam. Or see if you can get a few REAL Muslims in class for the day and let the students ask them questions. Or see if you can take your class on a field trip to a local mosque or Muslim communtiy for a day.

Answer 6

My suggestion is to formulate a comparative religion class, that means also teach about Paganism, Buddhism and Hinduism, some christians may not like that idea, and it could get you fired, because of the mentality of said christians.

Answer 7

I was thrown out of a christian school for visiting a Wiccan website.

There's nuthin you can do, their minds are closed forever.