An education expert is warning that some American textbooks present a biased view of Islam and offer a sugarcoated picture of Islamic extremism . . .
For background, read American School Textbooks Biased Against Jews, Favor Islam and also read Public School Textbooks Favor Islam over Christianity
UPDATE 9/17/10: Public School Trip to Mosque, Students Pray
UPDATE 8/25/10: New York Educators Dis Christianity, Favor Islam
UPDATE 8/26/09: Florida School Says We Must Protect Muslims from Christianity
-- From "Critic Says Islamic Extremism Gets Whitewashed in American Textbooks" by FOX News' Eric Shawn and Shira Bush 3/4/09
In numerous history textbooks, "key subjects like jihad, Islamic law, the status of women are whitewashed," said Gilbert T. Sewall, director of the American Textbook Council, an independent group that reviews history books and other education materials.
Sewall claims that publishers have been pressured by Islamic activists to portray the religion in the most favorable light, while Islamic terrorism is downplayed or glossed over.
Sewall, who authored a report on how textbooks teach and present Islam, singled out one book that he said failed to explain what the story of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
In a section discussing Islamic fundamentalism, the textbook "World History: The Modern World," published by Prentice Hall, omits direct mention of the 9/11 hijackers' religion, referring to the 19 Islamic fundamentalists as "teams of terrorists."
Sewall says the violent aspects of Islamic jihad are glossed over and that it is presented as an internal struggle or a fight for protection in books like "History Alive! The Medieval World and Beyond," published by the Teachers Curriculum Institute.
"Jihad is defined as a struggle within each individual to overcome difficulties and strive to please god. Sometimes it may be a physical struggle for protection against enemies," the book reads, noting that Islam teaches "that Muslims should fulfill jihad with the heart, tongue and hand. Muslims use the heart in their struggle to resist evil."
It's a lesson that Sewall says needs to change.
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