Teaching Children about Islam Not Overtly Religious

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals surprises who? -- no one -- with this decision:

A Contra Costa County school was educating seventh-graders about Islam, not indoctrinating them, in role-playing sessions in which students used Muslim names and recited language from prayers, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a lawsuit by two Christian students and their parents, who accused the Byron Union School District of unconstitutionally endorsing a religious practice.

"The Islam program activities were not overt religious exercises that raise Establishment Clause concerns,'' the three-judge panel said, referring to the First Amendment ban on government sanctioning a religion.

Hat tip: Michelle Malkin. Read the SF Chronicle article here.

This has got to be a joke, right? Some phrases from the curriculum instruct students...

You will be a member of a caravan starting from a trading center based around an Islamic city. The task of each caravan group is to be the first group to complete a pilgrimage to Mecca...
***
As you portray Muslims in ISLAM, try using phrases in speech such as "in sha Allah" or "God willing."
***
Owing to the sensitive nature of imitating another's form of prayer, your group will not be asked to directly simulate this activity. However, you should show understanding of the meaning of several religious sayings that ilustrate Islamic beliefs. Therefore, each member should analyze at least one verse from The Qur'an and memorize five proverbs listed on the POPULAR PROVERBS handout.

NOT OVERTLY RELIGIOUS? I'll buy that when they implement a similar "curriculum" that involves making a pilgrimage with your family to Jerusalem, portraying Christians by trying phrases such as "Amen" or "So be it," and analyzing and memorizing Bible verse.

And when the 9th Circuit Court rules that helping students learn what Christians believe and encouraging students to recite Christian prayers is not the "government sanctioning religion."


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