The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed an investigation by Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) into a reported Islamophobic presentation offered to students earlier this week by a history teacher.
The teacher at Woodlawn High School in Baltimore, Maryland, reportedly offered students a presentation on “Sharia Law” that parrots harmful stereotypes and falsely claims in part that Muslim men can beat their wives, Muslim women cannot drive a car and cannot speak to males who are not relatives, and that Muslims can lie “to advance Islam,” among many other falsehoods and distortions of Islamic beliefs. The biased and inaccurate materials appear to be taken from anti-Muslim Internet sites.
The school’s principal, Jamel Jernigan, has confirmed to CAIR that an investigation has been launched through the Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Investigations and Record Management. CAIR has also contacted BCPS’ Department of Equity and Cultural Proficiency to better understand the failure of processes that enabled this incident to occur and seek measures to prevent this from happening again.
In a statement, CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“We welcome this investigation into what can only be viewed as an attempt to create misunderstandings and hatred of the faith of Islam and to endanger the safety and well-being of Muslim students. It’s especially troubling that this incident occurred near the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks today, when Arab and Muslim children in public schools may face increased scrutiny, discrimination, and bullying.
“Educators are authority figures who exercise influence over children. These children are entrusted into their care by families to help them learn and grow, not be indoctrinated with false, misleading information that sows fear and hatred. These types of actions can irreparably harm that trust in teachers and the educational system if they are not adequately resolved.
“CAIR is urging BCPS officials to address this incident swiftly with the seriousness it deserves, and take appropriate action based on the results of their investigation, including a public apology, comprehensive staff training from trusted sources, and appropriate corrective action against this teacher to help prevent this from happening again.”
The Washington, D.C., based civil rights group is also seeking clarity into the revised process by which curriculum content is approved for use by educators. The presence of harmful, Islamophobic content in the classroom poses many dangers:
- Reinforcement of Stereotypes: Such content can perpetuate negative stereotypes about Muslims and Islam, fostering an environment of prejudice and misunderstanding among students.
- Marginalization of Students: Muslim students may feel alienated or targeted in an environment that promotes Islamophobia, impacting their sense of belonging and mental well-being.
- Impediment to Critical Thinking: When curricula include biased or inaccurate information about Islam, it hinders students’ ability to think critically and understand diverse perspectives.
- Promotion of Intolerance: Exposure to Islamophobic ideas can lead to increased intolerance and hostility, not only towards Muslims but also towards other marginalized groups.
- Impact on Interpersonal Relationships: Such content can strain relationships among students, fostering division rather than encouraging dialogue and mutual respect.
- Civic Consequences: A curriculum that promotes Islamophobia can contribute to broader societal issues, including discrimination, social unrest, and the erosion of democratic values.
- Educational Inequity: It undermines the principles of equity and inclusion in education, denying students the opportunity to learn about and appreciate cultural diversity.
Addressing these issues requires careful curriculum evaluation, inclusive teaching practices, and promoting accurate representations of all cultures and religions.
CAIR offers an updated “Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices” guide contains information on Muslim religious practices, dietary needs, as well as tips on curriculum issues and family life sex education in K-12 settings.
SEE: CAIR’s Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices
CAIR’s New Jersey chapter recently released an updated Back-to-School Resource Guide for public school students and educators in grades K-12. The 2024-25 school resource guide provides Muslim students and their parents or guardians as well as educators with tools to address a wide range of topics that touch the daily lives of Muslims in classrooms.
Last month, CAIR announced new civil rights data on issues impacting Muslim and Arab communities in Maryland. That data highlights a troubling trend in reports of discrimination, free speech violations, hate bias incidents and bullying, among other concerns. CAIR documented 413 cases of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian complaints, incidents and requests for assistance statewide in Maryland between January – June 2024
From January to June 2024, CAIR documented 4,951 incoming bias complaints nationwide, a 69 percent increase over the same period in 2023.
SEE: New CAIR Data Shows Anti-Muslim, Anti-Palestinian Hate Remain Elevated in First Half of 2024
Earlier this year, CAIR’s national office released its 2024 civil rights report, which revealed the highest number of complaints it has ever received in its 30-year history. Titled “Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate,” the report documented 8,061 complaints. Nearly half of all complaints received in 2023 were reported in the final three months of the year.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kim Syuardi, ksyuardi@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com