Lawmakers Counter Islamic Teaching in Tennessee

Parents across Tennessee are complaining of Islamic indoctrination in the new middle school social studies curriculum and so their elected representatives are reacting, prompting a review by the state Board of Education.

“In all of the homework my children have ever brought home, I have never seen the level of detail about other religions. I was completely speechless.”
-- Laura Jones, Freedom Middle School parent

"It is reprehensible that our school system has exhibited this double-standard, more concerned with teaching the practices of Islam than the history of Christianity. Tennessee parents have a right to be outraged and I stand by them in this fight."
-- U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.

"Many of our children are not being taught the Ten Commandments in school, but instead the Five Pillars of Islam and the 'Prophet' Muhammad as a sovereign to Jesus Christ. . . . Tennesseans have seen the radical side of Islam, and many have grown skeptical of this 'peaceful religion.'"
-- Tenn. state Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden

For background, read Tennessee Students Taught Muslim Prayer of Conversion



-- From "Parents question study of Islam in 7th grade" by Nancy Amons, WSMV-TV4 (Nashville, TN) 9/8/15

One parent told Channel 4 she believes something is out of balance when students can’t say God or pray in school, but they can spend several weeks learning about Islam.

She said her daughter is expected to know the Five Pillars of Islam but not the Ten Commandments. [Parent Laura] Jones said it’s causing confusion in her Christian-oriented home.

More than 20 pages of the seventh grade social studies textbook for the Franklin Special School District are devoted to studying Islam. That amounts to three weeks of instruction time in the classroom.

The state adopted new standards for social studies last year requiring every seventh grader to learn about Islam. They will be tested on it during standardized testing, no exceptions.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Pastor: Wilson students being brainwashed with Islam" by Andy Humbles, The Tennessean 9/11/15

Pastor Greg Locke of Global Vision Bible Church [in Mt. Juliet, TN] filmed the video in front of West Wilson Middle School, which was posted on his Facebook page. The video was also on the Parents of Wilson County Schools page.

Wilson County Schools Director Donna Wright responded on the district’s Facebook page and called Locke’s claims blatantly false and stated his video was done to intentionally incite parents and the community.

Locke, contacted Friday, did not back off statements in the video and felt curriculum has gone too far teaching fundamentals of Islam while Christianity is glossed over. He also stated students are being taught different religions worship the same God.

Locke also called a scheduled test on Islamic curriculum for Friday, Sept. 11, as a “slap in the face,” and said in the video he told parents "you need to tell your kids take an F for the class because I’d rather fail in man’s class and get an A plus in God’s class and we need some kids that have some character and stand up.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Education commissioner talks Islam in schools issue" by Tim Hodge, The Daily Herald (Columbia, TN) 9/13/15

Local schools have the freedom to tailor teachings as long as they align with state standards, but altering the curriculum to remove religious studies would put students at a disadvantage during test time, education officials said.

“The department (of education) helps with the training on those standards, and the assessment of those standards, and then the locals, whether that’s the principal level or the teacher level, are making decisions around the curriculum that’s used, instructional practices and strategies that are used,” [Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Candice] McQueen said. “Certainly, we are setting that expectation, but how’s it done, what instructional practices are used, what strategies are used, what curriculum is used is absolutely a local decision.”

Because of the recent uproar over the Five Pillars of Islam being taught in schools, state social studies standards will be reviewed in January 2016, instead of 2018 as originally slated.

Educators and state officials will examine whether the instruction is appropriately balanced and review teaching standards, McQueen said. She anticipated the process will last through the spring.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Lawmakers fear Islamic 'indoctrination' in TN classes" by Dave Boucher, The Tennessean 9/10/15

. . . Parents in Maury, Williamson and other counties have expressed concerns about the class. They say their children were required to memorize the five pillars of Islam and to write "Allah is the only God" as part of an assignment, according to several local and national media reports.

Elizabeth Fiveash, director of legislative affairs for the Tennessee Department of Education, sent an email to lawmakers Tuesday in response to concerns about the curriculum. In her email, obtained by The Tennessean, she acknowledges the "Islamic World" is covered in seventh grade. But she notes Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism and Shinto are also covered in various courses throughout middle school and high school.

"The section on 'Ancient Israel' isn't called the 'Jewish World,' " Rep. Tilman Goins, R-Morristown, wrote in an emailed response to Fiveash.

"If a study of a geographic region such as 'The Middle East' were to discuss the major religions found there, so be it! But until there is a section on India referred to as 'The Hindu World,' I do not believe this favoritism toward Islam should be allowed to continue to exist."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Florida School Teaches Islam Including Prayer Rugs

Ron Wagner, a parent of Lyman High School in Longwood, FL who says he's "not religious," complained that his 10th grade son was forced to make an Islamic prayer rug and recite “There is no god, but [Allah]. Muhamad is the messenger of [Allah].”  The school's curriculum director stood by the assignment, and claimed that a printing error was to blame for omitting 100 pages of Christian and Jewish history while including portions of the Koran.

“The Pillars of Islam are benchmarks in the state curriculum.”
-- Dr. Michael Blasewitz, Seminole County Schools

“We see how radicals have kidnapped this religion and presented it as their own version of Islam. We need something that . . . will dispel these horrendous and malicious distortions of one of the great world religions.”
-- Daniel Alvarez, Department of Religious Studies, Florida International University

UPDATE 11/21/15: U.S. Schools Force Islamic Terrorist Singing, ISIS Recruiting Poster Drawing

UPDATE 9/7/15: Tennessee Students Taught Muslim Prayer of Conversion

UPDATE 4/18/15: Students Required to Pretend Being Muslim in Wisconsin

UPDATE 4/19/15: Celebrate Islam Day Canceled at Ohio School

UPDATE 6/11/15: School Staff to Mosque for Islamic Training in Pennsylvania

For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:

Massachusetts Students Forced To Learn Muslim Conversion

Colorado School Visits Mosque, Enforces Sharia Law for Girls' Dress

Islamic Group Caught Converting Students in Seminole County

And read myriad examples of public schools favoring Islam.

Atheists, Satanists Force Bible Ban in Florida

Christian Behavior Banned from Seminole County School Football

Seminole County Teacher Forbids Kindergartner from Bowing Head Over Lunch

Click for FOX News report

-- From "School district under fire for Islamic teachings" by George Brown, WREG-TV3 (Memphis, TN) 2/10/15

It’s isn’t so much that Wagner is against Islam that the district was focusing on one religion, heavily.

“There’s a difference between teaching of the significance or the impact of a religion and teaching the specific tenets of a religion,” Wagner said.

Dr. Blasewitz said the missing pages about Judaism and Christianity are the result of a manufacturing defect, but did not say whether the district will request new books.

Before walking out on the interview, Dr. Blasewitz said students learn about other religions in earlier grades.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Dad protests Islamic lessons at school" posted at WFTV-TV9 (Orlando, FL) 2/9/15

"Students were instructed to recite this prayer as the first Pillar of Islam, off of the board at the teacher's instruction," Wagner claims.

Wagner, who is not religious, said he had no idea the public school was teaching so extensively about religion until he spotted a text on his son's phone from a teacher reminding him to complete a prayer rug assignment and study an Islam packet.

Inside of the book is a chapter dedicated to the "Rise of Islam," including prayers and scriptures from the Quran. What's more disturbing for Wagner is that the first 100 pages discussing Judaism and Christianity are missing. The district blames a manufacturer defect in 68 books that are only a year old.

[Dr.] Blasewitz got frustrated and stormed out when 9 Investigates asked whether the district is considering changes to the curriculum. [See full raw video interview.]

"You're just going to walk away from our interview when we're trying to get information," said investigative reporter Daralene Jones.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "FIU unveils its Center for Muslim World Studies at COSMOS [fifth annual Coalition of South Florida Muslim Organizations’ community appreciation] dinner" by Paradise Afshar, Special to the Miami Herald 2/9/15

“I think we all agree that it’s now time to go beyond the Middle East, as a focus of our current scale program, and to look at Islam on a global scale,” said Florida International University Provost Kenneth Furton. “And so I’m pleased to announce that we’re launching an initiative to establish the Center for Muslim World Studies.”

“This new center will explore the diversity and complexity of Islam worldwide, and will also highlight the interconnections between Islam and globalization,” Furton said.

The intention is for the Center to address three main themes: the global Muslim diaspora, interfaith dialogue, and Islam and security.

The Center for Muslim World Studies is in the initiative phase as it seeks the minimum $5 million endowment required by the university to establish a new center. The money is intended to ensure that the center will continue in perpetuity, according to David Skipp, associate director for advancement for FIU’s School of International and Public Affairs.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read President Obama Compares Christians to Islamic Terrorists

Mass. Students Forced To Learn Muslim Conversion

“Allah is the greatest. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah. I bear witness that Muhammad is his prophet.”
-- Islamic creed, prayer of conversion

Parents are livid that the public school in the Boston suburb of Revere, Massachusetts is requiring all students to study the prayer that Islamic terrorists force Christians to cite in order to become Muslim, lest they be killed as infidels.  The school superintendent will not yield, saying that teaching Islam is required in history class.

For background, read Public School Trip to Mosque in Massachusetts, Students Pray

UPDATE 2/10/15: Florida School Teaches Islam Including Prayer Rugs

UPDATE 1/30/15: Teaching Girls to Wear Muslim Hijab in California School

UPDATE 1/9/15: Colorado School Visits Mosque, Enforces Sharia Law

In addition, read Minnesota School Admits Pro-Muslim/Anti-Christian Bias and also read New York Schools Observe Muslim Holidays (but Christmas?) and read the myriad examples of public schools favoring Islam.

However, Citizens Force Islam Indoctrination Out of Ohio Middle School

-- From "Some Revere parents upset over Islam in curriculum" posted at WHDH-TV7 (Boston) 10/22/14

A section of the textbook describing the beliefs of Muslims says, "I bear witness that there is no God but Allah."

But some parents said they did not want their kids learning anything about Islam.

"No religion should be taught at school. In their paper it says Allah is their only God. That's insulting to me as a Christian who believes in just Jesus only," said [parent] Anthony Giannino.

The superintendent of Revere Public Schools wrote the parents a letter explaining that it is simply part of the history in that section of the curriculum . . .

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Massachusetts Father Mad Just Because Public School Teaches ‘There Is No God But Allah’" by Eric Owens, Education Editor, Daily Caller 10/26/14

The textbook portion also reverently celebrates Muhammad’s life.

“Muhammad later tended sheep on the dry hills like many young Arabians,” the text explains. “Later he became a successful merchant and married a wealthy widow. However, he felt as though something was missing in his life, so he went on a retreat.”

The founder of Islam was “upset about the cruelty of his people,” the text also optimistically explains. They “killed baby girls.” They “treated their slaves unkindly.” And “Muhammad had a strong sense of right and wrong.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read the Obama administration position on Islam: the "religion of peace"

Islam Favored over Christianity: Florida Textbook

The Brevard County Public Schools is defending its use of a history textbook that declares Muhammad is the “Messenger of God” and teaches that Muslims follow jihad as a duty.  The textbook does NOT present Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and makes no mention of the Resurrection.

“They promote Islam at the expense of Christianity and Judaism. It blew my mind to see the kind of propaganda, the pro-Islam information that’s in this book – at the expense of Christianity and Judaism.”
-- William Saxton, Chairman, Citizens For National Security

For background, read Studies Show American School Textbooks Biased in Favor of Islam

For further background, read Teaching Islam in Georgia Schools Challenged and also read New York Educators Dis Christianity, Favor Islam as well as Prayer Back in Wisconsin School - Muslim Prayer, That is

In addition, read Public School Teaching Islam Closed by Minnesota



-- From "Florida school under fire for pro-Islam, anti-Christian history book" by Cheryl K. Chumley, The Washington Times 7/29/13

“The book has a 36-page chapter on Islam but no chapters on Christianity or Judaism,” said Rep. Ritch Workman, in Townhall, about the Prentice World History textbook. “It’s remarkably one-sided.

Mr. Workman said the textbook, which has been on the Brevard County schools’ approved course list for three years, also rewrites the history of Islam. He looked through it and found the authors “make a very obvious attempt not to insult Islam by reshaping history,” Townhall reported.

“If you don’t see it from the eyes of a parent, kids are going to take this book as gospel and believe that Christians and Jews were murderous barbarians and thank God the Muslims came along and the world is great,” he said, as Townhall reported.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.



From "Lawmaker says Brevard school textbook favors Islam" by Mackenzie Ryan, Forida Today 7/25/13

The textbook, which has been used in Brevard for the past three years, devotes a chapter to Islam, with sections including the rise of Islam and the building of the Muslim empire. Conversely, Christianity and Judaism do not have their own chapters and instead are referenced in paragraphs embedded in other sections.

School board members Amy Kneessy and Andy Ziegler promised to review the textbook, which is published by Pearson, a well-known printer of textbooks.

Pearson spokeswoman Susan Aspey said the company and its authors adhere to "the highest editorial standards when creating course materials, which undergo a rigorous review process."

Robin Miller, who is going into her second year teaching at Eau Gallie High, said she noticed that the book referenced Islam more than Christianity when she used it in class, but received no complaints from students or parents.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "School Defends Textbook Calling Muhammad 'God’s Messenger'" by Todd Starnes, FoxNews.com 7/31/13

“An analysis of one textbook cannot provide a balanced understanding as to what the students in Brevard Public Schools are learning throughout their academic careers,” spokeswoman Michelle Irwin [Brevard Public Schools] said in a statement.

She also pointed out the book was among those approved by the state of Florida and that parents as well as community members were given the opportunity to review the textbook before it was adopted.

School Board member Amy Kneessy told Fox News she had a chance to read the textbook and she was especially troubled by the section about how Muslims treat women.

The textbook said under Islamic law women are spiritually equal, although they may have different roles and rights.

The textbook published large passages from the Koran, but failed to include any Scripture from the Bible. . . .

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read President Obama Praises Islam for Making America What It Is as well as Muslim Beheads Christians in New Jersey per Koran

Parents Fight Calif. Gay Agenda Indoctrination

California pro-family organizations have been approved by the State to begin a petition drive for a 2012 ballot referendum to overturn the latest assault on children -- the recently enacted "gay history" law that forces all public schools to present sexually deviant behavior as beneficial for society.

For background, read 'Teaching Gay History' Law for California

UPDATE 7/17/12: Referendum effort falls short with less than 1/2 million signatures

UPDATE 9/1/11: Black churches mount campaign to repeal gay history law



-- From "Opponents of Calif gay history law seek referendum" by Judy Lin, Associated Press 7/26/11

Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB48 earlier this month, making California the first state to mandate teaching of gays and lesbians in public school curriculum. The requirement takes effect in the 2013-14 school year.

Paulo Sibaja (see-BAH-ha), a spokesman for the group Stop SB48, says California schools should be focused instead on improving student performance and lowering the high school dropout rate.

Proponents will need to gather more than 500,000 signatures from registered voters by Oct. 12 to qualify for the next statewide ballot.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "EQCA to fight SB 48 referendum" by Cynthia Laird, Bay Area Reporter 7/28/11

Hoping to prevent a referendum repealing the state's new Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful Education Act from reaching the ballot, Equality California and about 40 other [pro-homosexual] organizations will join forces to mount a decline to sign campaign, officials said Wednesday, July 27.

Roland Palencia, executive director of Equality California, sent an email alert to about 400,000 people Tuesday.

The alert asks for contributions to reach a $50,000 immediate goal, volunteers to work with coalition partners, and to report signature gatherers.

"Governor Brown refused to listen to the calls of pro-family voters asking him to veto SB 48," stated Karen England, executive director of the Capitol Resource Institute and its affiliated Capitol Resource Family Impact.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Families toss wrench in 'gay' indoctrination plan" by Bob Unruh, World Net Daily 7/23/11

An official with one of the organizations working on the plan, Brad Dacus of Pacific Justice Institute, told WND the filing puts the law on hold until it is determined whether Californians want to vote on the plan.

The law requires schools to teach "gay" and "lesbian" involvement in history, but only from a positive perspective. It bans any statement, fact or information that would reflect "adversely" on those who choose an alternative sexual lifestyle.

A WND/Wenzel Strategies poll just weeks ago revealed an overwhelming majority of Americans say elementary school is no place to promote the homosexual lifestyle. Even among liberals there is the strong belief that such lessons should be left outside the door of the classroom.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Texas Evolution Textbook Debate Continues

The Texas State Board of Education has given its final approval [sort of] to supplemental high school science materials after a brief flare-up over some lessons teaching the principles of evolution.

For background, read Intelligentsia Fear Critique of Darwin in Texas Schools



-- From "Texas Ed Board compromises on evolution materials" by Jim Vertuno, Associated Press 7/22/11

The board's social conservatives compromised with supporters of evolution and agreed to have state Education Commissioner Robert Scott continue working with the publisher to find an acceptable middle ground.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "SBOE Gives OK to Science Supplements" by Morgan Smithan, Texas Tribune 7/22/11

. . . the board is considering a list of recommended vendors for the supplemental materials that will update textbooks to the science standards it adopted in 2009, which include the requirement that students learn “all sides” of scientific theories like evolution and natural selection.

After a battle appeared to be brewing between the board's left and right factions on contested language on evolution in one publisher's biology lessons, members found a compromise: let the education commissioner decide.

Initially, David Bradley, a member of the board's social conservative bloc, expressed displeasure at handing over the the board's authority to the commissioner [Robert Scott].

Scott, who attended the meeting, told members he'd accept the responsibility. "My goal would be to try and find some common ground," he said. "I cant promise either side that they will be happy."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Click headlines below to read previous articles:

Liberals Fear Texas Social Studies Textbook

Texas Textbooks Spark National Debate

Texas Puts American History Back Into School

Louisiana Rejects Science Debate in Textbooks

Rejecting a citizen outcry for accurate science education, the Louisiana Board of Education has approved purchase of new high school biology textbooks (to replace the current outdated books) with new books that continue to present the unsubstantiated 'fact of human evolution.'


-- From "Education board considers new biology textbooks" by The Associated Press 12/7/10

Opponents of the books say they fail to explain the many scientific challenges to evolution, teach the subject dogmatically without criticism and contain inaccuracies.

Supporters of the new books say they shouldn't include disclaimers about the theory of evolution, and they argue that critics are trying to force religious issues into science classrooms.

A panel of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted 6-1 Tuesday to approve the new books. The full board will take up the matter Thursday, but Tuesday's vote had a majority of the board backing the textbooks.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Panel approves textbooks" by Mike Hasten, Monroe News Star 12/8/10

Louisiana last purchased high school science and biology books eight years ago. Teachers told the panel that numerous scientific discoveries have been made in the past eight years and students are being denied access to the latest information.

A crowd of people at the meeting wanted books that at least mention creationism or intelligent design or say that evolution is not a fact. An almost equal group promoted teaching pure science [sic].

"These books are extremely weak on actually examining evidence of the claims being made in the books," said Lennie Ditoro, an associate of the Family Forum. She said the problem with the books is that evolution is "taught dogmatically, and the evidence that challenges it is completely ignored."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Educators and church officials debate new science books" by Tyana Williams, WAFB TV-9 (Baton Rouge, LA) 12/7/10

They said it wasn't a debate about creationism versus evolution, but at times that's what it turned into. Tuesday morning, the State Board of Education heard hours of testimony on why they should or should not approve new science textbooks.

Committee chairman Dale Bayard questioned one of the speakers, asking "Is there any data that man originated from primates?"

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Christian Schools' Textbooks Inferior: Supreme Court

On Tuesday, the United States Supreme Court rejected the appeal of the Association of Christian Schools International who had sued the University of California when it refused to accept the high school credits of students in history, science, literature classes based on the standard curricula used in the Association's 800 schools.

". . . religious speech in religious schools is less protected than commercial speech, flag burning and pornography."

-- From "Christian schools denied appeal in credit-for-religion case" by Dianna Narciso, Examiner 10/13/10

The University of California objected to the credit as the courses did not meet their standards. In history classes, for example, students at the Association's schools were told the Bible is "the 'unerring source for analysis' of past events," according to one of the experts who testified against the association in the original 2008 lawsuit.

Several expert witnesses testified then that the Association's standards were woefully unacceptable and it was not surprising that the University of California prevailed. But the Association cried foul, claiming their students were being discriminated against because of their religious beliefs.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Christian schools lose appeal bid in UC case" by Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer 10/13/10

The justices, without comment, denied a hearing to the Association of Christian Schools International . . .

UC requires certain high school courses for admission and says it reviews their content to make sure they cover subjects that incoming students need. University officials said some of the Christian schools' classes in biology, history, English and religion didn't pass the test - a conclusion that the schools blamed on discrimination.

The association's 800 high schools in California teach "standard course content" and "add a religious viewpoint in each subject ... as an integral part of their reason for existence," the group's lawyers said in their Supreme Court appeal.

. . . the university had rational grounds for denying college preparatory credit for the courses, U.S. District Judge James Otero said in a 2008 ruling.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco upheld his decision in January. A three-judge panel said the evidence showed that UC has approved other high school courses with "religious content and viewpoints," and classes that used religious textbooks, as long as they met academic standards.

The case is Association of Christian Schools International vs. Stearns, 09-1461.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Correcting Textbook Pro-Islamic, Anti-Christian Bias

Texas public schoolchildren risk getting tainted with a pro-Islamic/anti-Christian bias in their textbooks, according to a resolution the State Board of Education will consider next week that is likely to further inflame emotions already running high across the country.

UPDATE 9/23/10 NY Times: Mideast royal family of Dubai invested in Boston textbook publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

UPDATE 9/25/10: Texas Board of Ed. passed resolution requiring publishers to drop "pro-Islam/anti-Christian bias"

UPDATE 9/24/10 - Board member interview video:


-- From "State board of ed considers Islam in textbooks" © 2010 The Associated Press 9/15/10

The State Board of Education plans to vote next week on a resolution calling on textbook publishers to limit what they print about Islam in world history books.

"Diverse reviewers have repeatedly documented gross pro-Islamic, anti-Christian distortions in social studies texts," reads a preliminary draft of the resolution, which would not be binding on future boards that will choose the state's next generation of social studies texts.

The resolution concludes by warning publishers the "State Board of Education will look to reject future prejudicial social studies submissions that continue to offend Texas law with respect to treatment of the world's major religious groups by significant inequalities of coverage space-wise and by demonizing or lionizing one or more of them over others."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Board takes up books' take on religion" by Gary Scharrer, Austin Bureau, The Houston Chronicle 9/15/10

Lawrence Allen Jr., D-Houston, the board's only Muslim member, warned Wednesday that board approval of the resolution will bring more unwelcome national attention to Texas.

The resolution contends that current textbooks glorify Islam with "superlatives" while downsizing Christianity with "pejoratives."

Support for the resolution appears to be coming mainly from the board's seven social conservative members and reflects the same sort of tension evident when they developed new science curriculum standards last year and social studies curriculum standards earlier this year.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

NY Educators Dis Christianity, Favor Islam

State testmakers played favorites when quizzing high-schoolers on world religions -- giving Islam and Buddhism the kid-gloves treatment while socking it to Christianity, critics say.

-- From "HS test 'slams' Christianity, lauds Islam" by Yoav Gonen, Education Reporter, New York Post 8/24/10

Teachers complain that the reading selections from the Regents exam in global history and geography given last week featured glowing passages pertaining to Muslim society but much more critical essay excerpts on the subject of Christianity.

The most troubling passage came from Daniel Roselle's "A World History: A Cultural Approach," observers said.

The passage reads: "Wherever they went, the Moslems [sic] brought with them their love of art, beauty and learning. From about the eighth to the eleventh century, their culture was superior in many ways to that of western Christendom."

Meanwhile, an excerpt listing the common procedures used by Christian friars to introduce the religion in Latin America stated that "idols, temples and other material evidences of paganism [were] destroyed," and "Christian buildings [were] often constructed on sites of destroyed native temples" -- and built with free Indian labor, to boot.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Texas Puts American History Back Into School

The Texas State Board of education overhauled its existing social studies and history curriculum [Friday] by a majority vote, much to the chagrin of educators and political activists across the country.

-- From "In Texas, social studies textbooks get a conservative make-over" By Brad Knickerbocker, Staff writer, Christian Science Monitor 5/22/10

In a move that has potential national impact, the Texas State Board of Education has approved controversial changes to social studies textbooks – pushing high school teaching in a more conservative direction.

The Dallas Morning news reports that the curriculum standards adopted Friday by a 9-5 vote along party lines on the elected board have “a definite political and philosophical bent in many areas.”

Students would learn about the “unintended consequences” of Title IX, affirmative action, and the Great Society, and would study such conservative icons as Phyllis Schlafly, the Heritage Foundation, and the Moral Majority.

There’s also more emphasis on religion’s role in US history. This was evident in the opening prayer at Friday’s meeting in Austin by education board member Cynthia Dunbar made "in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ … [on behalf of] “a Christian land governed by Christian principles.”

Supporters of the changes see them as correcting liberal views imposed when Democrats controlled the state education board.

But as the Monitor’s Amanda Paulson reported this week, critics are dismayed at what they see as an attempt to push conservative ideology – even if it flies in the face of scholarship – into textbooks.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Texas textbook controversy: outdated or back on track from politically correct derailment?" by Melissa Thayer, Independent Examiner 5/22/10

One of the changes that has caused a stir is that during a high school government class the students were asked to compare and contrast the judicial language of the separation of church and state with the wording in the First Amendment. An Associated Press writer chose to use the wording "watered down the rationale".

The board also rejected the use of the secular terms B.C.E. and C.E. for distinguishing historical periods and will use the normal terms B.C. and A.D. in the textbooks. The people who claim that those terms are "religious" should consider the case of the Byron Union School District in California who incorporate fasting and other religious practices into their World History and Cultures studies on Muslim culture. Parents who were upset that their children were adopting a Muslim name, fasting and being required to learn Muslim prayers sued the school district and after a long process, finally the Supreme Court rejected the appeal in 2006. The instructional material is still available for the classes.

The amendments to the curriculum include referring to the United States of America's government as a "constitutional republic" instead of a "democracy". In [Arne] Duncan's concern that children will be "shielded from the truth", one wonders if the Secretary of Education [Duncan] has read the wording of the foundational documents of America where the word "democracy" is, in truth, absent.

Author and scholar Diane Ravitch has already said that textbook and test publishers have been censoring the content of educational materials to screen out topics and ideas that might be considered traditional or controversial or offensive. Children have been being taught a filtered form of history instead of the truth.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

ABC News Goes Anti-Palin & Anti-Christian re: American History

Everywhere you look, the mainstream media ignorantly repeats the liberal talking points recently heard in the Texas school textbook controversy. Here's today's ABC News report; below is a rebuttal to Chicago Tribune bias.

-- From "Sarah Palin's 'Christian Nation' Remarks Spark Debate" by Teddy Davis And Matt Loffman, ABC News 4/20/10

Is America a Christian nation?

Sarah Palin said on Friday that it's "mind-boggling" to suggest otherwise.

Palin spoke Friday evening to 16,000 evangelical Christian women at the Women of Joy conference in Louisville, Ky. Speaking about the separation of church and state, Palin said that the founding fathers of the United States were "true believers" and that George Washington "saw faith in God as basic to life."

But two groups dedicated to the separation of church and state are now speaking out against her, arguing that she is misreading the founders' intent.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "U.S. history includes our faith" by Laurie Higgins, Illinois Family Institute, writing in Chicago Tribune 4/8/10

University of Chicago law professor Geoffrey Stone recently wrote an op-ed titled "The crazy imaginings of the Texas Board of Education," which sought to warn an unsuspecting America that there is "a coterie of Christian evangelicals who are attempting to infiltrate our educational system to brainwash our youth." His fretful missive was prompted by the Texas Board of Education's efforts to restore balance to the teaching of American history after decades of successful "progressive" efforts to erase from history and the minds of children the place of Christianity in the founding of America.

The Chicago Tribune decided to publish this piece on Easter. I can only ask: Really — on Easter Sunday?

It has become so commonplace to read denigrating comments about Christians that the offensiveness of such comments barely registers on our tolerance meters.

Stone's apparent concern for historical accuracy might be more credible had he included these quotations:

"The fundamental truths reported in the four gospels as from the lips of Jesus Christ … are settled and fixed moral precepts with me."

— Abraham Lincoln

"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian Nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers. "

— John Jay, co-author of the Federalist Papers; first chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proof I see of this truth that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel."

— Benjamin Franklin

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Texas Textbooks Spark National Debate

Christians on the Texas School Board have drawn the scorn of liberal indoctrinators across America, but the Texans' position resonates with the majority of parents.

UPDATE 3/30/10: Texas legislature holds hearings

See previous background reports.

-- From "Poll: Majority of Americans Believe Their Kids' Textbooks Place Political Correctness Above Accuracy" by Joe Schoffstall, CNSNews.com 3/11/10

A new Rasmussen Poll shows that 60 percent of Americans with children in elementary schools say most school textbooks are more concerned with presenting information in a politically correct manner than in accuracy.

In a national survey conducted March 6-7, 1,000 adults were asked: “Are most school textbooks more concerned about accurately providing information or about presenting information in a politically correct manner?”

Only 28 percent thought textbooks were more concerned with presenting information accurately.

Among all Americans polled, even those without children, the same percentage -- 28 percent – said they believe that accuracy is paramount, while 55 percent disagreed and said most textbooks are more concerned about political correctness. Eighteen percent of those polled were undecided.

Only 31 percent of the adults polled said most school history textbooks portray American history accurately, while 43 percent said they believe that most of their children’s history books are inaccurate. Twenty-six (26) percent are not sure.

When asked if parents should be able to transfer their children to another school if they disagreed with the material presented at their current schools, 61 percent said that should be allowed, while 27 percent disagreed, and 12 percent said they were not sure.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Liberals Fear Texas Social Studies Textbook

A solid conservative majority on the Texas Board of Education has the liberal establishment in a tizzy as a new American History textbook will include the actual Christian heritage of the country's founding.

-- From "How Christian Were the Founders?" by Russell Shorto, New York Times 2/14/10

. . . the members of what is the most influential state board of education in the country, and one of the most politically conservative, submitted their own proposed changes to the new social-studies curriculum guidelines, whose adoption was the subject of all the attention — guidelines that will affect students around the country, from kindergarten to 12th grade, for the next 10 years.

Public education has always been a battleground between cultural forces; one reason that Texas’ school-board members find themselves at the very center of the battlefield is, not surprisingly, money. The state’s $22 billion education fund is among the largest educational endowments in the country. Texas uses some of that money to buy or distribute a staggering 48 million textbooks annually — which rather strongly inclines educational publishers to tailor their products to fit the standards dictated by the Lone Star State. California is the largest textbook market, but besides being bankrupt, it tends to be so specific about what kinds of information its students should learn that few other states follow its lead.

The Christian “truth” about America’s founding has long been taught in Christian schools, but not beyond. Recently, however — perhaps out of ire at what they see as an aggressive, secular, liberal agenda in Washington and perhaps also because they sense an opening in the battle, a sudden weakness in the lines of the secularists — some activists decided that the time was right to try to reshape the history that children in public schools study. Succeeding at this would help them toward their ultimate goal of reshaping American society. As Cynthia Dunbar, another Christian activist on the Texas board, put it, “The philosophy of the classroom in one generation will be the philosophy of the government in the next.”

[Gail Lowe, chairwoman of the board, said,] “Many of us recognize that Judeo-Christian principles were the basis of our country and that many of our founding documents had a basis in Scripture. As we try to promote a better understanding of the Constitution, federalism, the separation of the branches of government, the basic rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, I think it will become evident to students that the founders had a religious motivation.”

Some conservatives claim that earlier generations of textbooks were frank in promoting America as a Christian nation. It might be more accurate to say that textbooks of previous eras portrayed leaders as generally noble, with strong personal narratives, undergirded by faith and patriotism. As Frances FitzGerald showed in her groundbreaking 1979 book “America Revised,” if there is one thing to be said about American-history textbooks through the ages it is that the narrative of the past is consistently reshaped by present-day forces. Maybe the most striking thing about current history textbooks is that they have lost a controlling narrative. America is no longer portrayed as one thing, one people, but rather a hodgepodge of issues and minorities, forces and struggles. If it were possible to cast the concerns of the Christian conservatives into secular terms, it might be said that they find this lack of a through line and purpose to be disturbing and dangerous. Many others do as well, of course. But the Christians have an answer.

Their answer is rather specific. Merely weaving important religious trends and events into the narrative of American history is not what the Christian bloc on the Texas board has pushed for in revising its guidelines. Many of the points that have been incorporated into the guidelines or that have been advanced by board members and their expert advisers slant toward portraying America as having a divinely preordained mission.

One recurring theme during the process of revising the social-studies guidelines was the desire of the board to stress the concept of American exceptionalism, and the Christian bloc has repeatedly emphasized that Christianity should be portrayed as the driving force behind what makes America great.

To read this entire, very lengthy article, CLICK HERE.

TN Public Schools Plan to Teach the Bible

Thursday, the Tennessee Board of Education approved guidelines on how to teach the Bible in public high schools. The curriculum is in response to 2008 legislation, which authorized the state to create a course for a "nonsectarian, nonreligious academic study of the Bible."

-- From "TN tells high schools how to teach the Bible" by Jaime Sarrio and Bob Smietana, The Tennessean 1/29/10

State officials said they tried to develop principles that are safe from court challenges, but others believe a state-approved Bible course could violate church and state separation, depending on who is teaching the course.

Hedy Weinberg, director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, said it appears the state was sensitive to concerns that the classes would be used to proselytize. But there are few details on how the classes will be run.

The course is an elective, meaning high schools can choose whether to offer it to students as a social studies credit, and students can decide whether to take it. Before the state-approved curriculum, school districts could develop and offer their own courses on the Bible, and according to state social studies specialist Brenda Ables, some of these classes have been offered for years.

Ables said state officials looked to other states with Bible courses, including Texas, Alabama and Georgia, when developing curriculum and determining what legal pitfalls to avoid.

Bible courses in Knox County have been popular with students and problem-free, Ables said, but she doesn't expect to see a huge increase of schools in Tennessee that will offer the course.

Students will learn the content of the Bible and its historical context.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Texas Board of Ed Questions American History

Debate is raging over the setting of new social studies standards: Indoctrination of political correctness vs. teaching historical fact to 4.7 million Texas students

-- From "Social studies book panel has hands full" by Gary Scharrer, Austin Bureau, The Houston Chronicle 11/23/09

. . . does Sikhism, the world's fifth most popular religion, deserve more mention, as some adherents advocate?

Have too many women and minorities been included in proposed curriculum standards to appease political correctness? Or are worthy women and minorities lacking in class materials?

What were the religious influences on the Founding Fathers?

. . . “Do you want history presented as a patchwork of minorities and women versus white males — or as a constantly improving homogenous American society working through its problems?”

“History can only be so many pages. Teachers can only get through so much material in a year,” said board member Terri Leo, of Spring. “History has to be historically significant to be included in the history textbooks.”

Some board members want students to learn more about the religious influences on the Founding Fathers. Critics say that is OK as long as the board does not try to suggest the founders set out to develop a Christian nation with laws and government based on a fundamentalist reading of the Bible.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

For background info, click here for previous article.

Maine Fines Christians for Criticizing Islam

A Christian organization in Maine has filed a lawsuit to challenge a bureaucratic decision to impose a $4,000 fine for its "criticism" of Islam, expressed in a mailing to supporters.

-- From "Maine fines group for criticizing Islam" by Bob Unruh © 2009 WorldNetDaily 10/1/09

The issue developed following a Christian Action Network [CAN] fundraising letter several months ago. The letter exposed "how some public schools were promoting Islalm by providing instruction on the Five Pillars of Islam and the Quran," according to the complaint against the state.

"The [CAN] letter pointed out that some schools have provided a 'prayer room' for Muslims and one textbook that told seventh grade students they 'will become Muslim.' The letter listed Gov. John Baldacci as a person who is over the public schools and someone to whom the recipients of the letter should voice their opinion," the complaint said.

State officials then alleged the letter contained "an inflammatory anti-Muslim message" and used the governor's name without his permission and canceled the group's registration, imposed a $4,000 fine and said it no longer could send out letters.

Christian Action Network officials said the letter was dispatched to expose Islamic advocacy in public schools and ask citizens to sign a petition to their governor opposing the programs.

The accusations then came from the state Department of Professional and Financial Regulation. "The correspondence contained an inflammatory anti-Muslim message," state officials proclaimed.

"The state of Maine believes our letter is offensive to Muslims and they want us to shut up or pay up. They are accusing us of 'hate speech' without directly calling it 'hate speech.' They want to set a legal precedent which other states can follow for suppressing free speech they find offensive," [Martin Mawyer, CAN president] said.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Countering Secularists' Stripping Jesus from History

Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday that all of Europe . . . must acknowledge its Christian heritage as it copes with rising immigration from other cultures and religions.

Texas schoolchildren should know how God and religion greatly influenced the country's Founding Fathers more than 230 years ago, say some of the experts reviewing the state's social studies curriculum.

-- From "What did Founding Fathers believe?" by Gary Scharrer, Austin Bureau, The Houston Chronicle 9/28/09

To characterize the origins of this country as a Christian nation would be wrong, said Steven Schafersman, who routinely attends SBOE meetings as president of Texans Citizens For Science.

He is among several who argue that many of the Founding Fathers actually were deists — they believed in God as creator, who permits the universe to operate according to natural laws rather than continued intervention. As such, they did not believe the Bible or Jesus were divine.

Peter Marshall, one of six “expert reviewers” appointed by the State Board of Education to help write the new standards, argues that children cannot get an accurate portrayal of U.S. history without knowing about the religious motivations and Bible-based world view of the original settlers and Founding Fathers.

“You can't properly tell American history unless you teach the biblical motivations of the people who discovered the country, like Christopher Columbus; the people that settled it, like the Pilgrims and Puritans; the people who formed government, like the Founding Fathers,” said Marshall, a Presbyterian minister and president of the Massachusetts-based Peter Marshall Ministries. “My point in all of this is that children of this nation need to be taught the truth about the biblical world view. The influence of the Bible and the Christian faith is absolutely gigantic in American history.”

State Board of Education member Cynthia Dunbar, R-Richmond, said it is hard to predict the board's involvement in deciding the religious content of the history standards. In her book, One Nation Under God, Dunbar argued that Founding Fathers created “an emphatically Christian government.”

“Personally, while I disagree that many of the Founding Fathers were deists and had no use for Christianity, I think the personal faith of the Founding Fathers is not the right issue,” she said. “The important issue was their prevailing understanding of the framework of law — more specifically, their understanding and agreement with the common law and the underlying basis for civil jurisdiction.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Pope urges Europe to remember Christian heritage" by Victor L. Simpson, The Associated Press 9/27/09

The second day of Benedict's pilgrimage to this highly secular country [Czech Republic] was marked by a joyous open-air Mass that drew tens of thousands of pilgrims and a sober message for the entire continent.

"History has demonstrated the absurdities to which man descends when he excludes God from the horizon of his choices and actions," Benedict said.

The pope warned that technical progress was not enough to "guarantee the moral welfare of society."

"Man needs to be liberated from material oppressions, but more profoundly, he must be saved from the evils that afflict the spirit."

Later Sunday, in talks with leaders of other faiths and branches of Christianity, Benedict broadened his message to all of Europe.

"As Europe listens to the story of Christianity, she hears her own," the pope said during the meeting at Prague's medieval Hradcany Castle. "Her notions of justice, freedom and social responsibility, together with the cultural and legal institutions established to preserve these ideas and hand them on to future generations, are shaped by her Christian inheritance."

Europe's religious roots, he said, "supply the continent with the spiritual and moral sustenance that allows her to enter into meaningful dialogue with people from other cultures and religions."

Under communism, the church was brutally repressed. The regime, which seized power in 1948 in what was then Czechoslovakia, confiscated all church-owned property and persecuted many priests. Churches were then allowed to function only under the state's control and supervision.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

For more about Texas school textbooks, read about the recent decision on the existence of Christmas, and teaching the Bible in schools, and the curriculum battle over Darwinism and evolutionary theory.

Texas Educators: Christmas Still Exists

Citizens complained after 'experts' recommended replacing Christmas with teaching of Diwali (Hindu/Buddhist), so the Texas State Board of Education announced that social studies textbooks will continue to include mention of Christmas.

-- From "Board decides to keep Christmas in textbooks" by Gary Scharrer, Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau 9/18/09

The board will not approve the new curriculum standards for public schools until next year, but wanted to assure constituents they will not accept a recommendation to yank Christmas.

The board met with consultants and educators appointed to develop new curriculum standards for textbooks covering history, government, sociology, economics and geography for the next decade.

Board members also signaled their intent to restore Rosh Hashanah as an example of a Jewish observance, in addition to Yom Kippur.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

American Educators' P.C. Propaganda of Islamic Terrorism

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.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.