The
Brevard County School Board committee tasked with reviewing the book
presented its findings today and said concerns about the textbook's
alleged "pro-Islam" bias proved unfounded. The supplement offers
additional lessons that teachers can use, including videos, news
articles and websites.
SEE: Fla. Textbook Committee Formed in Response to Anti-Islam Hate to Offer Solutions Todayhttp://tinyurl.com/m63yfja
CAIR-FL
representatives met earlier this month with Brevard County school
officials to share the Muslim community's concerns and to review the
supplement approved by the Brevard County School Board Teachers
Committee.
Based
on the review of the proposed supplemental material, CAIR-FL found that
the teachers had adopted a balanced educational approach.
"The
supplemental materials seem to incorporate an unbiased and academically
rigorous approach to teaching that will help students connect with and
understand key issues and trends in recent global history," said CAIR-FL Community and Government Relations Director Ghazala Salam,
who met with school officials. "We commend the teachers for remaining
neutral and exercising sound judgment in selecting resources that
utilize a comprehensive and accurate approach, despite the stereotypes
and anti-Islamic rhetoric promoted by the textbook's critics."
Salam noted that the anti-Islam hate group ACT! for America is responsible for this and similar manufactured controversies in school systems in Florida and nationwide.
CAIR Islamophobia Backgrounder: ACT! for America and 'Brigitte Gabriel' http://tinyurl.com/p3cc7qn
CAIR-FL Joins Students, Dems, Moderate GOPers in Opposing Censorship of Textbook on Islam (Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECsZGyTWGbw
Other school systems have rejected anti-Islam propaganda by voting to keep the current textbooks in use with no supplements.
CAIR recently assisted the Muslim community in Alabama
in its challenge to an ACT! for America anti-Islam campaign targeting
textbooks in that state. The Alabama State Board of Education last week
dismissed allegations that 11 textbooks on the state's new list for
social studies material are too pro-Islam.
SEE: Alabama Conservative Group Not Giving Up Fight Against Alleged Pro-Islamic Textbooks http://blog.al.com/wire/2014/01/birmingham_conservative_group.html
"While
we do not believe that concerns of known hate groups like ACT! for
America should be given serious consideration, we are pleased to see
that the school board has decided to offer a supplement that includes
even more accurate information on Islamic history to reinforce the
textbooks," said CAIR-FL Executive Director Hassan Shibly. "The more students know about the diverse faiths and cultures that make up the fabric of our society the better."
Shibly
said he is pleased that anti-Muslim bigots have failed to censor
textbooks and that academics, students and school boards from Volusia to Alabama have rejected "baseless concerns fueled by misinformation and xenophobia."
CAIR
is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization.
Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage
dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build
coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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