Virginia School District Closed Today After Commotion Surrounding Arabic Calligraphy Lesson

[CopyBoy]

At Riverheads High School in Virginia last week, World Geography teacher Cheryl LaPorte wanted to introduce students to Arabic calligraphy, so she had them copy a phrase to show off its “artistic complexity”:
The problem is that the phrase — which was never translated on the assignment itself — actually said “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.”

Did the teacher know that? It doesn’t sound like it.

Do we know where the assignment came from? Not yet, but it also includes lessons on Judeo-Christianity.

Was it an attempt to indoctrinate students? If it was, it was a pretty pathetic one since no one told the kids what the phrase said.

patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/12/18/virginia-school-district-closed-today-after-commotion-surrounding-arabic-calligraphy-lesson/

 

[Crusaderbear]

Stuck on stupid…in this day and age, you need to research before using anything in your classroom - I teach in Virginia you really have to make sure you don’t pr esent anything controversial! I really find it hard to believe she didn’t know what the phrase meant and didn’t even think about it enough to make sure it wasn’t something bad. Just saying.

Another question - anybody know if there are any restrictions on non-believers writing that phrase? Like the prophet art or desecrating the Koran?