The ACLU is ready to attack any Public Christian activity, where are they at times like this’
Carver Elementary – San Diego Public School Bows To Sharia
June 12, 2007 – San Francisco, CA – PipeLineNews.org – Those having doubts that New York Department of Education’s proposed Arabic school – Khalil Gibran International Academy – will inevitably turn into a madrassah should consider how a similar experiment in the San Diego Unified School District is turning out.
In September Carver Elementary school [kindergarten - eighth grade] accepted nearly 100 students from a failed charter school which served a Somali Muslim constituency.
The school population now numbers approximately 400.
Though these kids are now being educated within the wall of Carver, they have not been incorporated into the main student population and operate as a school-within-a-school, segregated elite with special privileges.
The controversy became a matter of public record when a substitute teacher Mary-Frances Stevens made a report to the local school board in which she claimed that Carver’s Muslim children were being led in Islamic prayer by a teacher’s aide. Steven’s, who subbed at the school on March 8 stated that the lesson plan she was given included the allotting of one hour for prayer.
The teacher’s allegation of religious indoctrination led to an investigation.
In true multicultural fashion, the school has gone to extreme lengths to accommodate its new students; the curriculum features the teaching of Arabic – the language of the Quran – single gender classes for girls as well as organized prayer…for Muslims only.
A new dhimi class schedule – expressly designed to kow tow to Carver’s new students – was instituted. It created an extra 15 minute recess period as part of an hour set aside so that Carver’s Muslims can pray en-masse while in class. Additionally, the school cafeteria menu no longer serves pork or other foods which conflict with fundamentalist Muslim diet restrictions [halal].
Even Carver’s “winter holiday” celebration has not escaped the wrath of this brand of extreme multiculturalism, ripping the heart out of what was formerly the Christmas holiday by injecting extraneous cultural artifacts; as the San Diego Union Tribune notes:
“The school’s winter holiday celebration featuring multicultural performances was a big hit. African-American, American, Muslim and other traditions were celebrated.
“Carver has always been sensitive to the different cultures and always looked at the variety of cultures we have as an enrichment, not a problem,” teacher Pamela de Meules said.” [source "District wants to provide options," by Helen Gao http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/education/20070412-9999-1m12carver.html]
Confronted by an apparent double standard which elevates Muslims over Christian and Jewish students, school principal Kimberlee Kidd attempted to explain, “I think there are so many misconceptions.”
The actions taken by Carver’s officials have made them agents whereby Sharia [Muslim religious law] has been extended into a region of the public domain where heretofore an ACLU interpretation of church-state separation has prevailed.
On that note, the local ACLU is still “considering” its options in this matter’don’t hold your breath.
The unequal treatment on display at Carver is manifest, especially when seen in the light of how requests by Christians who have petitioned to have their prayer needs accommodated are routinely denied by public school officials. It goes without saying that public school cafeteria menus have seldom if ever been modified to accommodate the religious needs of Orthodox Jews who also must not eat pork.