Edward Dowling, Morgantown
I was dumbfounded to read in a recent letter to the editor (DP-May 24) that the staff at Mountain Ridge Middle School (in Gerrardstown) was trying to convert students to Islam. After I pried my jaw off the floor, reattached it to my face, I did what Rich Penkoski, a parent did, I called Principal Ron Branch to find out just what in the heck was going on. Turns out nothing.
The brouhaha is about a social studies course that, among other things, introduces students to the five major religions. They’ve already covered Judaism and Christianity — yes, Christianity. Currently, they’re learning about Islam. Next is Buddhism, followed by Hinduism.
The package that was sent home was not Islamic propaganda in the guise of a “calligraphy” assignment. Students were free to read it or not, no penalty either way. The same with those dealing with the other four religions.
So, for all the concerned parents, take a breath, brew up a cup of chamomile tea and relax. The principal and the person teaching the course are not planning to force boys to grow beards, and girls to wear burkhas.
Terry Hagedorn and I both agree that parents should be able to send their kids to a public school and not be afraid that a teacher will try to convert them to a faith different than their parent’s.
However, it’s a good thing to learn about other cultures. It makes us less prone to believe negative stereotypes.
Most people are good at heart. If we drop our preconceptions and see each other with clear eyes, we realize that we have more in common than we think.
We are disinclined to jump to conclusions and prejudge people preventing us from seeing each other as brothers and sisters trying our best to make the world a better place for all its citizens.
