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Europe
Holland launches curriculum on Islam
2007-09-13
"It is aimed at integrating Islam in Dutch society," ISBO interim director Yassin Hartog told reporters. "The values we convey are similar to those of the Dutch constitutional state."
As of the current school year all Dutch primary schools will have access to an official teaching curriculum about Islam for pupils aged four to 12. The new curriculum, the first of its kind in the Netherlands, was officially presented in the As Soeffah primary school in Amsterdam on Monday.

The method was developed by the Foundation for Teaching Methods (SLO) and the Board of Islamic Schools Organisation (ISBO), an umbrella organisation of 42 Muslim schools in the Netherlands. This school year all 42 ISBO schools as well as four other Islamic schools in the Netherlands will begin to use the new study material. Public primary schools can also request that the textbooks be used, in accordance with the wishes of parents.

The ISBO stresses that the teaching method is aimed not only at children studying at Muslim schools, but also at Muslim and non-Muslim children at public schools. The new teaching method is seen as particularly important because Muslim teachers have so far been compiling their own teaching material.
Previously, textbooks were authored by conservative religious leaders from other parts of the world.

In 2002, the Dutch intelligence service said in a report that it was worried about the influence of fundamentalist Muslim organisations on Dutch Muslim schools. The report encouraged former education minister Maria van der Hoeven to develop an official Dutch teaching curriculum about Islam. The new Dutch material consists of four text books for grades 1-8, set in the context of Dutch society.

"It is aimed at integrating Islam in Dutch society," ISBO interim director Yassin Hartog told reporters. "The values we convey are similar to those of the Dutch constitutional state."
So long, Holland, and thanks for all the stroopwaffel. It was nice knowing you.
The new method reportedly teaches children to renounce the idea of Muslim exclusivism. Instead, it gives insight into the position of Islam among other faiths. The textbooks contain information about the Muslim prophet Mohammed, explain the basics of being a proper Muslim and various Muslim customs and ideas. The textbooks also deal with issues like the Hadj or pilgrimage to Mecca, the month of Ramadan and the head covering for women and girls. "Our textbooks do not tell children: all Muslims wear head covering," Hartog said, "We say: Muslim girls wear head scarves, but may also choose not to."

The ISBO said it is already preparing the next part of the series, which deals with topics including sexuality and homosexuality.
Posted by:Seafarious

#11  I'm not clever enough to be cynical, twobyfour. I leave that to you-all. Anyway, between us we've got the spectrum covered, so that's ok
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-09-13 21:04  

#10  It's the first step (hopefully) of taking the Muslim school curriculum away from the Wahabbis

TW, I wish I could share your optimism. I only see a slippery slope of non-muslims' "integration".
Posted by: twobyfour   2007-09-13 19:29  

#9  It's the first step (hopefully) of taking the Muslim school curriculum away from the Wahabbis who have owned it up till now. It appears optional for the non-Islamic schools which, if it the material doesn't appear on exams, won't likely bother -- in my experience there is practically an infinite amount of supplementary teaching materials available, on any subject a professor can think of to publish. My darling math professor sister-in-law, f'r instance, was looking into developing an entire series of primary grade level math supplements using the Pokemon cards. I was involved in pulling together lesson plans for a variety of subjects using our elementary school's five acre nature preserve. Having and using are two very different things in the Ed biz.
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-09-13 12:02  

#8  Paging Ayaan Hirsi Ali, paging Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

Your home nation needs you.
Posted by: BA   2007-09-13 10:09  

#7  Because of budget limitations, two children will have to share a single suicide vest. Oh the humiliation!
Posted by: Titus Hayes5692   2007-09-13 10:02  

#6  The textbooks contain information about the Muslim prophet Mohammed, explain the basics of being a proper Muslim and various Muslim customs and ideas.

Such as child rape, forced genital mutilation, slave-taking and endless war.
Posted by: Excalibur   2007-09-13 09:07  

#5  "The values we convey are similar to those of the Dutch constitutional state."

The only difference is that we're in charge. And women cover their faces. And we beat you if you don't pray to allan. But that's all. Oh, and if you don't convert you pay us money. And there isn't any voting. But that would be it. Oh, and imams make all the legal decisions based on the koran.

But those are the only differences.
Posted by: PlanetDan   2007-09-13 07:55  

#4  Muslims are bound by "sunna" or an absolute obligation to follow the example of their "prophet." And they are prohibited from divergence ("bidah") from the path ("sirah").

Peace to a Muslim means nothing but a stage of war preparations, leading to inevitable bloody conflict.
Posted by: McZoid   2007-09-13 06:43  

#3  damn I hear a Hot air sucking sound, were in for an atomic grilling.
Posted by: Red Dawg   2007-09-13 01:39  

#2  Four legs good.

Two curly toed slippers, better.
Posted by: Seafarious   2007-09-13 00:26  

#1  The new method reportedly teaches children to renounce the idea of Muslim exclusivism. Instead, it gives insight into the position of Islam among other faiths.

Musliculturalism. Wonderful, enjoy it while you can.
Posted by: Besoeker   2007-09-13 00:23  

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