History Alive! Textbook

Submitted by Cindy Ross (United States), Dec 7, 2007 at 11:40

I am the parent of a seventh grader attending a public school in Marin County California. I recently accidentally caught part of a news program on Fox about parent complaints about History Alive in Lodi California. It piqued my interest because that is the text that my son is using for history.

I have to admit that I was willing to dismiss the initial report, until I read the text and found it was far worse in terms of religious indoctrination, proselytizing and bias, etc., than presented in the Fox program!

Subsequently, I met with the superintendent and a school board trustee to express my concerns that History Alive teaches Islam in a religious manner inappropriate for a public school. I also mentioned that it contains anti-Semitic (and anti-Christian) content, and includes repeated references to Jerusalem and "Palestine" in a manner that I believe is designed to promote "anti-Zionist"/anti-Israel sentiment relative to the present situation in the Middle East.

I am concerned at the subtle hostility being directed my way now from officials at the school and school district, and am also afraid that it is creating an adversarial situation that will negatively impact my own child. Is there anyone who can put me in touch with Janie White, or any other folks in Arizona, California or elsewhere that can lend some support to my effort to get this text pulled from the classroom?

Thanks!

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