Sunday, April 03, 2005

Encouraging Sensitivity to Differing Religious Expressions

As more Muslim children become visible in U.S. public schools, the need to enhance religious tolerance and accommodate differing religious expression has become increasingly essential in the school setting. Strategies to accomplish these goals were addressed in Saturday's session "Muslims Are Americans, Too: Embracing Global Education in the 21st Century."

Yasmeen Qadri, professor of education at Valencia Community College, encourages students to embrace commonality.

"The model I wish to present begins with making students aware of their American citizenship," said Yasmeen Qadri, professor of education at Valencia Community College, Orlando, Fla. "I encourage students to see the commonality with their fellow students in being American citizens."

Embracing their common U.S. citizenship breaks down barriers and helps children understand why some children may dress differently and why they do certain things to honor their religious customs, Qadri said.

"This kind of dialogue is helpful for students because it helps build bridges across the different customs," Qadri said. Ahmed Bedier, communications director for the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Tampa, Fla., discussed the First Amendment and the Equal Access Act of 1984 that protect religious expression in institutions that receive federal funding, such as school districts.

"In making decisions as educators, you cannot discriminate against students' practice of religion or fail to accommodate their religious expression needs," Bedier said.

The First Amendment protects students' rights to religious expression, such as prayer, fasting, religious observance, special clothing or special dietary needs. The Equal Access Act affirms the right for student-initiated religious activities in public schools.

Common excuses for failing to accommodate students' special religious needs, Bedier said, include, "if we accommodate you, we have to accommodate everyone" or "our policy forbids it" or "other students have never requested such a thing." "It's a right for our children to observe our holidays just as other children have the right to observe Christmas," he noted.

"Also, policies are made to be amended according to circumstance, and just because one student doesn't recognize a religious observance, that's their business, but if another student does, that's their right."

Read articles from the Educational Leadership issue "The World in the Classroom," including Susan L. Douglass' article "Teaching About Religion."

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