FAIRFAX, Va. - A Fairfax County school is looking to expand, and not everyone is happy about it. The Islamic Saudi Academy has faced claims in the past that its religious curriculum teaches intolerance.
| Intolerance? No. Murderous hatred and jihad are the correct terms. |
The academy says it has revised its text books, and now it wants to expand its campus. A final public hearing is being held on the issue on Monday night.
| Show us your textbooks and supplementary materials, and all curricula... and standard test scores. Let's see of you meet Virginia education requirements. Then we'll talk. |
The Islamic Saudi Academy wants to put up another school building on its sprawling campus off Popes Head Road in Central Fairfax County. That would increase the number of students who'd be attending classes there by 300. The campus has been home to 200 children from kindergarten through the third grade.
The Islamic Saudi Academy wants to make this a first through 12th grade campus with a total of 500 students. People who live near the school and oppose the expansion plans say they worry about the added traffic. "We went down and counted all the cars -- it is frightening," said Beth Parker, a Fairfax County resident. Others say they oppose the Saudi Academy's expansion plans because they say the school teaches hate.
An academy official says they've been in the community for 25 years, and they have never caused any trouble. They also say they would create a turn lane at the school's main entrance to help ease any added traffic. |