Islam could be removed from schools

KINGSPORT, Tenn. — Under a proposed plan, seventh-grade students in Tennessee would by 2019 no longer spend much time learning about the history of Islam, the teachings of Muhammad and the religion’s connections to Christianity and Judaism.

An entire section on Islam currently taught in social studies classes has been removed from the state Board of Education’s draft, which went online for public review Sept.

15, the Kingsport TimesNews reported. Most of the sections involving Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and other religions have remained in the draft in some form.

With the proposed deletion of the “Islamic World, 400 A.D./C.E. — 1500s” section, students would no longer be learning about the Quran or the differences between the Sunni and Shiite branches of the religion.

The new standards would be more manageable and “age-appropriate,” said Laura Encalade, director of policy and research at the State Board of Education.

“It’s still part of history,” Susan Lodal, the Kingsport Board of Education vice president, said of Islam. “We’re just not teaching it to our children.”

Some Muslim history remains in the seventh-grade draft standards, including in the “West Africa: 400-1500s C.E.” section, where students would be expected to learn about Malian king Mansa Musa and his pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Department of Education is not involved with the new standards proposal and will not be involved until new standards are adopted, said spokeswoman Chandler Hopper. At that point, the department will put out guidance to school systems on the new standards, he said.

Public comment is open through Oct. 28. A Standards Recommendation Committee will make the ultimate recommendation for new social studies standards to the board in early 2017, with implementation taking place in the 2019-20 school year.

“It’s still part of history. We’re just not teaching it to our children.”

— SUSAN LODAL, THE KINGSPORT BOARD OF EDUCATION VICE PRESIDENT