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History Alive! The Medieval World

Reader comment on item: "History Alive!," Scottsdale Schools, and a Reader's Comment at www.danielpipes.org

Submitted by Cindy Ross (United States), Feb 16, 2008 at 09:58

Earlier this month I filed a formal challenge to the History Alive! The Medieval World textbook used at White Hill Middle School in Marin County, California. Although there are several reasons, my primary concern is that curriculum material is presented via the HAMW text (and accompanying Interactive Student Notebook) in an overtly religious manner that not only is inappropriate for a public school, but does not comport with actual state standards for seventh grade history relative to study of the civilizations of Islam.

Recently, I came across an article I forwarded to the school district regarding "Dawa" in public schools. In case you are not familiar with the term, Dawa means, "to invite non-Muslims to accept the truth of Islam":

Click here: DawaNet—to link • to serve: Dawa in public schools:

"The Bottom Line. We should use every opportunity to sensitize non-Muslim peers and school staff to Islam and to establish an environment in which everywhere a non-Muslim turns, he notices Islam portrayed in a positive way, is influenced by it and eventually accepts Islam with Allah's guidance, Insha Allah (if God wills)."

Apparently some of the staff at the school are under the impression that I do not want my own child learning about different cultures or religions. Nothing could be further than the truth. However, while I believe that everyone should have the right to practice (or not) their religion freely and without persecution, I also believe it is unacceptable for children to be exposed to religious proselytizing at school. Our children should not only not be "influenced" -- wittingly or not -- to accept Islam (or any other religion), they should be protected from such "influence" in our public schools.

Cindy Ross

Submitting....

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Reader comments (11) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
help my sons elementary school uses history ailive!!!!!! [20 words]camie meintserDec 9, 2010 16:16180820
_History Alive!_ used in Missoula, Montana schools [167 words]An angry MontananMar 17, 2009 21:53152422
You can't teach about God [90 words]John ChalusMar 8, 2009 13:49151862
History Alive textbook propaganda invading rural communities [182 words]Mark WalkerNov 29, 2008 14:29144106
Kids need a global perspective [61 words]JackieFeb 5, 2009 14:10144106
You can't teach about God [108 words]John ChalusMar 8, 2009 13:56144106
History Alive! The Medieval World [285 words]Cindy RossFeb 16, 2008 09:58120343
"History Alive!" is Back. Now in California Middle Schools for the 2006 School Year! [84 words]Let_Us_ReasonSep 11, 2006 02:4255509
Don't Believe the Hype [50 words]Concerned CitizenNov 9, 2006 00:4955509
And now "History Alive!" is in California ELEMENTARY Schools for the 2007 School Year! [329 words]Liberty_or_DeathNov 1, 2007 15:3855509
What Elementary School in California? [22 words]Where Our Nation ThrivesNov 1, 2007 20:4555509

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