Parents Upset Over Islam Unit in Schools MERGED

[PregnantPornStar]

I do agree that it wasn't appropriate to have children write out that particular phrase. I know that no matter what there would be someone who would find a reason to get upset about anything related to Islam, but I think it would have been better if a different phrase was used.

I am often frustrated when I see people getting upset over kids in a public school objectively learning about different religions. Objectively is key here? However, as clarified in the quoted post below, this wasn't objective. It doesn't matter that the teacher didn't make this lesson. 1) It was still created and approved by someone and 2) The teacher should understand what she is teaching. I don't know enough about the situation, but I feel it is rather dishonest and lazy to expect kids to do part of a lesson that you don't fully understand yourself. So, had a different phrase been used, would the teacher have even bothered to take the opportunity to make sure the kids understood what they were writing. This all goes back to the fact that the exercise really wasn't incredibly beneficial and could have simply been explained by saying "calligraphy was complicated" if that was the point....

I would have been one of those parents that flipped their shit if I found out that my kids had written out the Islamic Confession of Faith.   Words have meaning.  THOSE words have meaning.  All it takes to convert to Islam is to recite the confession of faith.  That's it.  So don't tell people they are overreacting.     People have been hurt or killed  in the past if they did not recite that statement and renounce their former religions.   That teacher could have used any line of the epic Arabic poetry that has been produced, but she chose the Statement of Faith.   She managed to disrespect everyone in this.

This has disrespected everyone. It has disrespected the secular students who are being forced to declare their faith, or to any non-Muslim student who has no desire to confess their faith as a Muslim. I. Fact, look at it this way. What if a lesson expected students to somehow state "Jesus is Lord" and if a Muslim student and family were offended and/or upset? How would this conversation go?

For some added info, there could be multiple reasons parents were upset. I think it needs to be noted that shahadas are not exclusive being a confession of faith but also used on flags. I think both are fair concerns. Getting upset about your kid learning about a world religion (especially a rather large and influential one) is stupid, but this isn't exclusive to learning about a world religion. In this case, it is justified.

http://www.quilliamfoundation.org/blog/misappropriating-the-black-flag/

http://www.religionfacts.com/shahada

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahada#Use_on_flags

My son spent his week in Kindergarten learning about different holiday traditions from around the world. Most were Christmas in different counties. Entire classrooms were set up themed as certain countries and they got to experience the holiday and learn about different traditions. All of the traditions were essentially secular. They also learned about Hanukkah and Kwanza. This included a passport, complete with stamps and "flights".

He loved it. Had they learned the nativity story, at his age, I would have likely been upset. Had they been singing religious Christmas songs I would have cringed. Had they said prayers, I would have been pissed and threw a fit.

[Shadoewolf]

This doesn't appear to be a choice made by the teacher.  From the posted photo, this came directly out of the textbook and often if teachers don't follow the curriculum there's issues with administration. And honestly if curriculum is such an issue, then there is homeschooling and private academies. I can't believe these parents bullied the district into closing, but I could see the people in my town doing the same thing.

My daughter had do an assignment last year on how Jesus related to a novel they were reading. In public school. I only complained when she asked for an extra few days on the assignment so she could become familiar with the Bible passages and was told no by the teacher and given a bad grade because the assignment was "late and incomplete". The assumption was she would know the Bible and the references. After a long conversation with the principal she was allowed to re-do the paper. I don't mind my children learning about other religions and their teachings, the better to understand people as a whole.

[Whoosh]

4 hours ago, Mercer said:

I think it's important for kids to learn about major world religions, and I would have no issue with my hypothetical kids being asked to do a calligraphy assignment using a piece of religious text from any religion if that was the best fit for learning about the culture they were studying.

That said, I'm uncomfortable with this assignment because the shahada is an extremely meaningful declaration in the Islamic faith, which I do not share but which I do respect. I feel like using it as basically a copying assignment by people for whom it doesn't have personal meaning does not show proper respect.

I'm not worried that writing it will indoctrinate students. Actually quite the opposite - I'm worried that treating it as nothing more than a pretty religious phrase to do a calligraphy sample of divorces it so much from context that the students miss out on gaining an understanding of why it's so important to many people.

I wasn't going to comment, as I figured my personal opinion here might be unpopular and really doesn't matter much.  Also, I readily admit that I do not know enough about the specific practices and beliefs of the Islamic faith to feel I am the best (or even a reasonable) person to state the thoughts I was having.  That said, after seeing the actual assignment and then reading what Mercer had to say, I decided to toss in my 2 cents, though probably everything I am saying has been expressed in some form by others.

I would say that the assignment itself says why this assignment is flat out inappropriate and (in my opinion) should be seen as inappropriate from all sides or angles.  From the assignment:  "Calligraphy - the art of writing - is sacred to Muslims....  Here is the Shadaha, the Islamic statement of faith..."

So, what's the assignment?  Basically it is "Here is something sacred to a group of people.  Realistically, the purpose and meaning of the text I am showing you (historically and currently), is to profess belief in and adherence to a very specific faith in a sacred way.  I want you to copy these sacred symbols without knowing what they mean to learn that the fine motor skills required are HARD!"

To me this is just remarkably disrespectful to absolutely everyone, though I don't believe this assignment, in and of itself and standing alone, would actually have the effect of actually indoctrinating anyone into the faith.  I think it would be good if every person of any type of faith would take a moment to think of a sacred ritual from their own faith which is carried out as a profound expression of that faith and consider whether an assignment similar to this that incorporates that sacred ritual devoid of any meaning would seem even remotely appropriate.

I am of the belief that children should be taught about various belief systems and faiths and that this knowledge is actually remarkably important in a lot of ways.  I also think that it is great to incorporate teaching about various religions and cultures throughout the curriculum.  I don't think this is the way to go about it at all.  I doubt there were bad intentions on the part of whoever created this sample assignment, but it is quite hard for me to understand how multiple people failed to see a problem here.

[laPapessaGiovanna]

If the aim of the assignment was to make students understand the strong ties between Arabic calligraphy and art and religion why not showing pictures of the Alhambra (there are many other places too, this is the first that came to mind) and let children choose an image to copy (or to make a research on it trying to distinguish the words and the stylized drawings and their meaning) providing each image with information about the meaning, the style, the materials etc? And about the fact that Alhambra is in Spain, well there's a big piece of world's history behind this (that's why IMHO it's easier to study this sort of things during history or history of art courses) I suspect that such a lesson would have made happy our colourists too 

 

[Imagine20]

As a Muslim, I don't like that they used the shahada in this way. It's such a sacred thing that crumpling it up and throwing it out can be seen as disrespectful. I don't know what that teacher was thinking. If the lesson was Arabic calligraphy, why couldn't it be of random, benign words like love or family? 

Closing down school for this is ridiculous, though.

[louisa05]

3 hours ago, Imagine20 said:

As a Muslim, I don't like that they used the shahada in this way. It's such a sacred thing that crumpling it up and throwing it out can be seen as disrespectful. I don't know what that teacher was thinking. If the lesson was Arabic calligraphy, why couldn't it be of random, benign words like love or family? 

Closing down school for this is ridiculous, though.

The teacher was thinking "I am required by the mandated curriculum to hand out this pre-prepared worksheet on this day in order to pass my evaluations and keep my  job". 

As has been said several times over, public school teachers today in the U.S. do not have a lot of control over curricular choices and this was not created by this poor teacher. 

But hey, continue with the "vilify the teacher" party. 

[Ali]

31 minutes ago, louisa05 said:

The teacher was thinking "I am required by the mandated curriculum to hand out this pre-prepared worksheet on this day in order to pass my evaluations and keep my  job". 

As has been said several times over, public school teachers today in the U.S. do not have a lot of control over curricular choices and this was not created by this poor teacher. 

But hey, continue with the "vilify the teacher" party. 

This is so true. So many teachers in the United States have very little or no control over the curriculum. They are told what to teach. They are not treated like professionals and then criticized for everything wrong with education.

[SpoonfulOSugar]

As an educator, albeit not currently practicing, I have lots of thoughts about this.  Fair disclosure - I've written material, albeit in a vastly different realm, and I know how remarkably difficult it is to write page after page and ensure accuracy and be creative and also meet the standards and objectives.

I.  On a FB page devoted to supporting the teacher (closed group so I will paraphrase) a 9th grade student from the school posted that, in fact, this was an optional assignment which earned a sticker.  Get the required number of stickers, and your lowest grade is dropped.  This student also clarified that the Qu'ran was passed around the room once, and that no one was required to try on the hijab.  

II.  As regards alternatives like using the internet to research Arabic calligraphy, two things:  1) when this material was developed, the internet was not nearly the robust environment it is today and 2) if the teacher did change the assignment, she would not have the protection of "pre-prepared material" which is almost her only saving grace right now.

Could the materials be updated?  Certainly.  But that takes time and resources on the part of the authors AND it requires a substantial investment from a district to buy new materials.

III.  Here's an interesting op-ed from today's WaPo.  It has some apparent factual errors about the case in VA, but it also asks some pertinent questions:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/12/18/teaching-about-religion-in-public-schools-can-be-risky-but-its-worth-it/

IV.  Words do have meaning - but only the meaning we imbue them with.  I used to illustrate this by asking students to draw their interpretations of "toboggan" "chitlins" and "chair."  (A New England toboggan looks nothing like a Southern toboggan: New England children rarely have any concept of chitlins at all, much less how to draw them; and chairs come in every shape, size and design.)  Given that the Arabic calligraphy had no text attached to it, it was much more an abstract design than any English concept.  I think an issue of respect for sacred text can be made much more easily than that students were being tricked into making a inadvertent sacred pledge.

V.  For context, here are some additional materials from the same book.  (I was not able to screenshot full pages, so I apologize for the size and number.)  If words is the issue - seems to me agnostics and atheists have much more to be mad about than Christians . . . . 

 

https://books.google.com/books/about/World_Religions.html?id=yvWOeHRBt50C

[HerNameIsBuffy]

9 hours ago, SpoonfulOSugar said:

As an educator, albeit not currently practicing, I have lots of thoughts about this.  Fair disclosure - I've written material, albeit in a vastly different realm, and I know how remarkably difficult it is to write page after page and ensure accuracy and be creative and also meet the standards and objectives.

I.  On a FB page devoted to supporting the teacher (closed group so I will paraphrase) a 9th grade student from the school posted that, in fact, this was an optional assignment which earned a sticker.  Get the required number of stickers, and your lowest grade is dropped.  This student also clarified that the Qu'ran was passed around the room once, and that no one was required to try on the hijab.  

II.  As regards alternatives like using the internet to research Arabic calligraphy, two things:  1) when this material was developed, the internet was not nearly the robust environment it is today and 2) if the teacher did change the assignment, she would not have the protection of "pre-prepared material" which is almost her only saving grace right now.

Could the materials be updated?  Certainly.  But that takes time and resources on the part of the authors AND it requires a substantial investment from a district to buy new materials.

III.  Here's an interesting op-ed from today's WaPo.  It has some apparent factual errors about the case in VA, but it also asks some pertinent questions:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/12/18/teaching-about-religion-in-public-schools-can-be-risky-but-its-worth-it/

IV.  Words do have meaning - but only the meaning we imbue them with.  I used to illustrate this by asking students to draw their interpretations of "toboggan" "chitlins" and "chair."  (A New England toboggan looks nothing like a Southern toboggan: New England children rarely have any concept of chitlins at all, much less how to draw them; and chairs come in every shape, size and design.)  Given that the Arabic calligraphy had no text attached to it, it was much more an abstract design than any English concept.  I think an issue of respect for sacred text can be made much more easily than that students were being tricked into making a inadvertent sacred pledge.

V.  For context, here are some additional materials from the same book.  (I was not able to screenshot full pages, so I apologize for the size and number.)  If words is the issue - seems to me agnostics and atheists have much more to be mad about than Christians . . . . 

 

https://books.google.com/books/about/World_Religions.html?id=yvWOeHRBt50C

Thank you for sharing this.  To be honest I don't think a school district has any business asking kids how they feel about each of the Ten Commandments, which ones they could live by, and f they should only apply to Jews or everyone.

Some of this stuff is matter of fact and some of it is intrusive IMO.  No kid should have to discuss their religious beliefs for a school assignment.

Religions of the world should absolutely be taught but I think these are very poor teaching materials that cross some lines.  

[Imagine20]

17 hours ago, louisa05 said:

But hey, continue with the "vilify the teacher" party. 

The point of my comment was that the shahada should never be used like that, ever. 

I apologize for accidentally vilifying the teacher. 

Being a Muslim in the US is very stressful.  My husband and I are already called terrorists or ISIS terrorists on a regular basis and are stared down or followed each time we go grocery shopping. My emotions do get the better of me online because these assignments aren't just about the subject matter of the school work.  It's about the reaction by parents and the public which is just adding fuel to the fire and making things worse. 

[PregnantPornStar]

I understand the teacher didn't create this assignment. That does not make her any less responsible for fully understanding what the assignment is. Maybe she did and she didn't care? Is she flat out required to use this portion of the assignment? Could she have handled it differently or substituted another option? Is it that rigid?

If so, the parents should express concern as it should be changed. Someone screwed up by allowing this to be part of the curriculum and if there are costs associated with changing it, that is the schools fault for screwing up to begin with.

[Walking Cat Bed]

I think that using an image/excerpt that is considered particularly sacred for this assignment is in poor taste. If the book had the Nicene Creed instead, it would still be in poor taste. There's a better way to learn about religious beliefs, art, and their cultural significance. 

I don't see it as indoctrination, but I don't think it was done well. 

[louisa05]

3 hours ago, PregnantPornStar said:

I understand the teacher didn't create this assignment. That does not make her any less responsible for fully understanding what the assignment is. Maybe she did and she didn't care? Is she flat out required to use this portion of the assignment? Could she have handled it differently or substituted another option? Is it that rigid?

If so, the parents should express concern as it should be changed. Someone screwed up by allowing this to be part of the curriculum and if there are costs associated with changing it, that is the schools fault for screwing up to begin with.

On 12/18/2015 at 5:22 PM, SpoonfulOSugar said:

 

3 hours ago, PregnantPornStar said:

I understand the teacher didn't create this assignment. That does not make her any less responsible for fully understanding what the assignment is. Maybe she did and she didn't care? Is she flat out required to use this portion of the assignment? Could she have handled it differently or substituted another option? Is it that rigid?

If so, the parents should express concern as it should be changed. Someone screwed up by allowing this to be part of the curriculum and if there are costs associated with changing it, that is the schools fault for screwing up to begin with.

Yes, she probably was required to use it. 

Early this month, I subbed in first grade at a small school with four first grade classrooms. At the beginning of the day, another first grade teacher brought in the "Holidays Around the World" packet for me as they had just been printed. She showed me which page every first grade teacher was to do with their kids that day and that I needed to do in the block of time on the plans designated as such. She showed me the website I had to use with the page, the story book to read and instructed me on exactly how to teach the material. Because every single first grade classroom was doing the same thing. After that, she showed me how to do the craft activity that went with it. Which every single first grade classroom was making that day. She was also able to help me find the materials for the math lesson as it was, of course, the exact same math lesson she would be teaching. At the exact same time. 

I have this same experience frequently on any grade level and in any subject area because that is how curriculum is designed now and how teachers are expected to teach. 

[HerNameIsBuffy]

30 minutes ago, louisa05 said:

Yes, she probably was required to use it. 

Early this month, I subbed in first grade at a small school with four first grade classrooms. At the beginning of the day, another first grade teacher brought in the "Holidays Around the World" packet for me as they had just been printed. She showed me which page every first grade teacher was to do with their kids that day and that I needed to do in the block of time on the plans designated as such. She showed me the website I had to use with the page, the story book to read and instructed me on exactly how to teach the material. Because every single first grade classroom was doing the same thing. After that, she showed me how to do the craft activity that went with it. Which every single first grade classroom was making that day. She was also able to help me find the materials for the math lesson as it was, of course, the exact same math lesson she would be teaching. At the exact same time. 

I have this same experience frequently on any grade level and in any subject area because that is how curriculum is designed now and how teachers are expected to teach. 

That's really unfortunate.  I've known some teachers who were amazing in their ability to reach the kids with their lessons - teaching well is such a gift and I don't know why they wouldn't want to tap into the talent of their teachers.

Im not saying teachers shouldn't avail themselves of material if it's good...but they should be given the flexibility to teach as they deem best for their students as long as it meets the curriculum.

[Ali]

13 minutes ago, HerNameIsBuffy said:

That's really unfortunate.  I've known some teachers who were amazing in their ability to reach the kids with their lessons - teaching well is such a gift and I don't know why they wouldn't want to tap into the talent of their teachers.

Im not saying teachers shouldn't avail themselves of material if it's good...but they should be given the flexibility to teach as they deem best for their students as long as it meets the curriculum.

Yes, it really is unfortunate. This takes away the opportunity for teachers to be creative or use ideas off of Pinterest.  Teachers should also have the discretion to go at the pace that is appropriate for their class. Sometimes more time needs to be spent on certain concepts. This is especially true for mathematics.

[louisa05]

13 minutes ago, HerNameIsBuffy said:

That's really unfortunate.  I've known some teachers who were amazing in their ability to reach the kids with their lessons - teaching well is such a gift and I don't know why they wouldn't want to tap into the talent of their teachers.

Im not saying teachers shouldn't avail themselves of material if it's good...but they should be given the flexibility to teach as they deem best for their students as long as it meets the curriculum.

I totally agree. And much of the curriculum for younger grades (Up to 5th or 6th at least) is almost scripted. Teacher does/says A, students respond B, if they do not respond with B, teacher does C and so on...The math lessons I teach when subbing in primary are all like this which is easier for a sub, but if the kids don't get it...well, there is not much time or flexibility to reteach in ways that will help them. One district has computerized lessons for several subject areas in K-4 where teachers put up a lesson on a Smartboard and click through it in order rather than actually teaching themselves. 

In secondary, there is some leeway in discussion or methodology, but there are still prescribed lessons and material for each unit. If two teachers in the building are teaching tenth grade English, it is expected that the students will cover the same material on the same day and complete the exact same assignments. 

This stuff is one reason I never want to teach full time again. 

[laPapessaGiovanna]

I'm quite shocked reading this @louisa05. Teachers study for years,  often hold multiple degrees to follow a curriculum ad litteram. It doesn't make sense,  professionals should be able to do their job,  if you don't like how they do hire another teacher or put your child in another school.  If everything a teacher is allowed to do is follow the curriculum I can understand why the homeschooling movement is so strong in the USA, since there's no value added by the experience and the skills of a professional.

[urban teacher]

Welcome to what No Child Left Behind has left in its place and what Common Core continued. Teaching has become so micromanaged that it stopped being fun for me. My paperwork went from an average of 8 pages a student to 25.. It's one reason why I'm wanting to change educational policy.

[samurai_sarah]

On 19.12.2015 at 1:41 AM, AreteJo said:

I would have been one of those parents that flipped their shit if I found out that my kids had written out the Islamic Confession of Faith.   Words have meaning.  THOSE words have meaning.  All it takes to convert to Islam is to recite the confession of faith.  That's it.  So don't tell people they are overreacting.     People have been hurt or killed  in the past if they did not recite that statement and renounce their former religions.   That teacher could have used any line of the epic Arabic poetry that has been produced, but she chose the Statement of Faith.   She managed to disrespect everyone in this.

Words have meaning.

Thanks for some fascinating information! I hadn't know that either. The way I read the German news link was that parents had indeed threatened the school. And that is an overreaction, in my opinion. Someone else said that didn't actually happen, and the school district closed preemptively. Without further context that seems like another overreaction.

The more I think about it, the best way to deal with this situation would have been to call a PTA meeting, invite members of the Muslim community - if not already members of the PTA, and open a dialogue to address the issues at hand. Including the information that you provided, adherence to the curriculum and what can be done to rectify the situation.

[Maggie Mae]

4 hours ago, laPapessaGiovanna said:

I'm quite shocked reading this @louisa05. Teachers study for years,  often hold multiple degrees to follow a curriculum ad litteram. It doesn't make sense,  professionals should be able to do their job,  if you don't like how they do hire another teacher or put your child in another school.  If everything a teacher is allowed to do is follow the curriculum I can understand why the homeschooling movement is so strong in the USA, since there's no value added by the experience and the skills of a professional.

Not to mention that some classrooms in the US are very crowded. One teacher for 30+ students? I can totally understand why people opt-out and enroll their kids in private schools or even homeschool. 

[SpoonfulOSugar]

This was posted in the "SupportLaPorte" Facebook group, but is from a public FB page.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=911393942230372&id=116451925057915&fref=nf

Quote

 

There's something I NEED to get off my chest.

The world, as I knew it, has completely changed in the last few weeks. I know this seems like a really dramatic statement, and yet somehow the words feel like an understatement compared to my reality.

The last few weeks I've had so much I've wanted to say.. But I've held back. I needed time. I had so much to process. And when I wanted to speak, I was unsure what to say.. And whether it was time to say it.

But there's something I NEED to get off my chest.

To my non-Muslim readers.. Friends.. Fellow parents and teachers.. Your children need your permission to love Muslims. I'm going to repeat this one more time:

Your children NEED your permission to love Muslims.

I want to tell you a story. When I was a 5th grade teacher in the public school system, I met a mom during a routine parent/teacher conference. After we moved on from the pleasantries, she interrupted me and said, "Before we begin, I have to tell you something. I just wanted you to know, L loves you. She really loves your class, and she talks about you all the time. I just wanted you to know that."

A little taken aback, I modestly smiled and thanked her, preparing to move on, when she interrupted me again. "No, I don't think you understand exactly what I mean. You see, when we first met, at the 'meet the teacher' night before school started, my sister saw that you were going to be L's teacher. She was very upset and told me to have her switch teachers. But I didn't. My sister has been telling L a lot of bad things about you, and L has been asking me what to do. She told me, "I know ___ wants me to hate her and to move out of her class.. What should I do?" I told L, YOU have to decide for yourself. How do you feel about Ms. Siddiqui?"

"So you see," she said to me, "That's why I wanted you to know.. L loves your class.. She decided to love you, and she's chosen to stay with you. You mean so much to her, I just wanted you to know that. She chose to love you."

Even now as I remember this woman and the words she said, tears fill my eyes. This little girl.. I never paid much attention to how eager she was to see me.. How much she rushed to be the first one in every morning so she could have time with me. I never realized how much turmoil she faced at home, and how MUCH it MEANT for her to love me.

A Muslim.

So this is why I tell you.. Regardless of whether you talk about current events, or the words coming out of the mouths of political candidates these days.. Your children may not articulate it to you, but you need to know.

They NEED your permission to love Muslims.

B/c the truth is, they're getting a lot of other messages. I have heard countless stories of bullying going on in schools. Friends who are saying horrifying things to their muslim FRIENDS.

They NEED your permission to love Muslims.

So as you tuck your kids into bed at night.. Or maybe over the breakfast table in the morning, I need you to do something. I need you to give your children permission to love Muslims. Permission to respect them, despite differences in beliefs and faith. I need you to give your children permission to stand up for them.

And stand with them.

I've thought a lot about L lately. And moreso, I've been thinking about her mom. What an amazing soul she has.. How brave she was, to stand against the wave of hate that filled her community.. And what an amazing gift she gave her daughter..

Permission to love..

‪#‎Illstandwithyou‬ ‪#‎permissiontolove‬

 

 

[ShepherdontheRock]

Aight, so I'm late to this, but was discussing it with my family last night. My mother and father told me they would have been more upset that the teacher assigned what they felt was a "waste of time" type assignment. They always viewed being assigned art projects when writing a paper would suffice or being assigned coloring in maps/diagrams for homework as a waste of time. 

Since the public schools in my area LOVED to assign kids way too much homework I kind of had to agree with them.

[2manyKidzzz]

My three children went to school in Virginia, although Northern Virginia. Their curriculum in World Religions went unnoticed by me as far as anything controversial. My boys would not have been tempted to convert to any religion despite any assignment, I wouldn't think. I do think it is wise to keep assignments in World Religions carefully " neutral" as in not assigning a phrase such as was done which could be construed as controversial. This would be prudent for all faiths that are taught. It is important for young people to learn that there are many religions which serve people in many ways. But people are  very sensitive in this area, and I can't believe this assignment didn't cause problems previously when taught if it was something that  would cause a problem at all. 

I would only be upset if my child were upset about an assignment like this. I would then contact the teacher and request that another assignment be done, because I don't think young people should be stressed by religion while this young. Enough stresses in life already. 

[2manyKidzzz]

On a lighter note, I just found out that one of above said children, while taking a college course  wrote a paper about a  visit he paid to a mosque. He said he also considered converting to Islam. Which he most certainly did not. 

Course like this really annoy me. We paid for this. College course. Why not an indepth study of comparative religions? Or, maybe, he was smart and picked this easy course. I think that is the answer. 

So, the other side to studying religion. The fun filled version.