California Parents File Complaints Over Teachings about Islam

July 6, 2002

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On July 6, 2002, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that "a Christian law firm is suing a San Francisco Bay Area school district, alleging it violated the Constitution with its way of teaching the Islamic religion to students. At issue is a world history lesson conducted at Excelsior School in the Byron Union School District... in October 2001. In a seventh-grade class, students reportedly were required to participate in various exercise simulations including selecting a Muslim name, wearing traditional Muslim clothing, [and] memorizing Islamic prayers... Byron Superintendent Peggy Green... said the district is 'not teaching religion,' but instead 'teaching the California state-mandated standards with state-adopted textbooks.'" The suit outlined that the "problem with Byron's lesson on Muslims and Islam was that it was the only one that used simulation exercises."