Group Requests Permission to Distribute Quran in Public Schools
— A Muslim organization has applied to the Waterloo Region District School Board in Canada to send a copy of the Quran home with any Grade 5 student whose parents indicate they would like one.
A representative of the Islamic Information Center at the University of Waterloo approached the former chair of the board, Kitchener trustee Mike Ramsay, with the request about a month ago.
Ramsay said he made sure that the group got all the information it required to make the written application.
“That particular request will come before the Board in the fall of 2011 for approval of distribution of the Quran in the 2011-12 school year,” said the board’s education director, Linda Fabi, in an email.
Fabi couldn’t be reached for comment Friday, and neither could the Muslim representative who spoke to Ramsay.
If trustees approve, the Islamic Information Center would be using the exact same distribution process as Gideons International has for the past 64 years in Waterloo Region.
Every year, the Gideons have sent a copy of the Christian New Testament, plus the Hebrew Bible books of Psalms and Proverbs, home to families of Grade 5 students who sign a permission form for the household to receive one.
The school board doesn’t use the books for classroom instruction. It only acts as a channel through which the books are sent home.
The board distributes the permission forms and the books. The forms have to be produced by the Gideons and the distribution must happen before or after school hours.
And also, the material — described as “non-instructional religious material” — is supposed to be reviewed ahead of time to be sure it doesn’t try to convert people to another religion, and to be sure it doesn’t denigrate any groups protected by human rights legislation.
But increasingly, this practice has become deeply controversial.
Some trustees, members of the public, religious leaders and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have criticized it as an improper role for public schools in a diverse society. They also say the board didn’t follow its own policy in some areas.
After contentious debate, trustees recently voted 6-4 to continue allowing the distribution of the Gideon book.
The permission slips are expected to be sent home from school on Monday.
With distribution of the Quran also now possible, “the debate will be very interesting,” said Ramsay, who had voted for the distribution of the Gideon books.
Some opponents of the practice had argued that the policy was unfair because not all religious groups can afford to give away so many books. The Gideons are a global group that has given away millions of Bibles.
But this latest application shows that “other groups appear to have the resources to make the distribution happen,” Ramsay said.
He said he would do what he could to make distribution of the Qur’an happen this school year, if possible.
Ramsay said he isn’t familiar with the Quran, but intends to review it.
“I hope it’s in English,” he said.
Source: The Record
Ramsay said he made sure that the group got all the information it required to make the written application.
“That particular request will come before the Board in the fall of 2011 for approval of distribution of the Quran in the 2011-12 school year,” said the board’s education director, Linda Fabi, in an email.
Fabi couldn’t be reached for comment Friday, and neither could the Muslim representative who spoke to Ramsay.
If trustees approve, the Islamic Information Center would be using the exact same distribution process as Gideons International has for the past 64 years in Waterloo Region.
Every year, the Gideons have sent a copy of the Christian New Testament, plus the Hebrew Bible books of Psalms and Proverbs, home to families of Grade 5 students who sign a permission form for the household to receive one.
The school board doesn’t use the books for classroom instruction. It only acts as a channel through which the books are sent home.
The board distributes the permission forms and the books. The forms have to be produced by the Gideons and the distribution must happen before or after school hours.
And also, the material — described as “non-instructional religious material” — is supposed to be reviewed ahead of time to be sure it doesn’t try to convert people to another religion, and to be sure it doesn’t denigrate any groups protected by human rights legislation.
But increasingly, this practice has become deeply controversial.
Some trustees, members of the public, religious leaders and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have criticized it as an improper role for public schools in a diverse society. They also say the board didn’t follow its own policy in some areas.
After contentious debate, trustees recently voted 6-4 to continue allowing the distribution of the Gideon book.
The permission slips are expected to be sent home from school on Monday.
With distribution of the Quran also now possible, “the debate will be very interesting,” said Ramsay, who had voted for the distribution of the Gideon books.
Some opponents of the practice had argued that the policy was unfair because not all religious groups can afford to give away so many books. The Gideons are a global group that has given away millions of Bibles.
But this latest application shows that “other groups appear to have the resources to make the distribution happen,” Ramsay said.
He said he would do what he could to make distribution of the Qur’an happen this school year, if possible.
Ramsay said he isn’t familiar with the Quran, but intends to review it.
“I hope it’s in English,” he said.
Source: The Record
