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Learning more about Islam
FRAMINGHAM -- Not a day goes by that something from the Muslim world does not make the headlines, but many in the United States, including school teachers, have sparse knowledge of the culture and history of Islam. Forty teachers from around the state are spending the week at Cameron Middle School to build their knowledge about Islam so they can return to class this fall to teach the subject that is now required under the state's history curriculum frameworks.
| Are they required to teach other religions as well? |
The teacher workshop, called "The Genesis and Genius of Islam," covers a variety of topics, from the founding of Islam, to the expansion and achievements, to how the religion changed. The weeklong course is hosted by Primary Source, a Watertown-based group that runs teacher workshops on history and humanities. ... Primary Source began offering courses about Islam for teachers three years ago. The classes have become popular due to current events and because Islam must be covered under the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks for history. The workshop has been paid for by grants from the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities and the Virginia-based Mosaic Foundation, Cunningham said, as well as money paid by school districts that belong to Primary Source. Mosaic Foundation is an organization founded by wives of Arab ambassadors to the United States. According to its Web site, member countries include Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Syria.
| Ah, yes. Anyone want to wager on who funds the biggest share? |
The money was well spent, said David Tebaldi, executive director of Massachusetts Foundation for Dhimmitude the Humanities. "It's just an incredibly important topic at all times, but especially at this time," Tebaldi said. "The more we know about the Islamic world the better, as far as I'm concerned."
The Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities will continue its Islamic education sponsoring a series of book discussions open to the public, which are led by scholars who study Islam.
| Only ones promoting it, I'm sure. |
Posted by: Steve 2004-08-17 |
