Texas proposed school standards blasting ‘brutal’ Islam spark battle
A proposed modification to Texas’s high school social studies standards has generated controversy by including content about “the Prophet Mohammed’s brutal military campaigns.” The Texas Board of Education, which is controlled by Republicans, approved an amendment that introduces guidance on Islam-related history, delaying a final vote on the broader high school standards until September. Activists have urged Texans to contact board members to oppose these standards, which some critics say are biased and unfairly portray religious groups, particularly Islam.
The Texas chapter of American Muslims for Palestine criticized the standards, claiming they present an unbalanced view of history and are anti-Palestinian. They call for the removal of biased language and for the standards to reflect accurate past scholarship. The proposal has sparked broader cultural debates, including Texas’s efforts to include displays of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, which is currently under court consideration.
The originator of the controversial language,Republican board member Brandon Hall,initially proposed more explicit content about Islamic history and violence,but this was rejected. The controversy also involves issues surrounding the group American Muslims for Palestine and its alleged connections to foreign terrorist organizations, which the group denies.The changes to the curriculum are set to go into effect in 2030.
A proposed change to Texas‘s high school social studies standards is sparking outrage by requiring teaching about “the Prophet Mohammed’s brutal military campaigns.”
Texas’s Republican-controlled Board of Education passed an amendment that included the Islam-related history guidance on Thursday while postponing a further vote on high school standards until September, according to multiple reports. Activists encouraged Texans to contact board members to advocate against the standards before a Friday meeting scheduled to address other social studies proposals, such as the inclusion of biblical stories for study.
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“This is not an objective or balanced presentation of history,” the Texas chapter of American Muslims for Palestine said in a Thursday Instagram post about the standards, calling them “Anti Palestinian.”
“It is one of several examples of inaccurate and biased language in the proposed standards that unfairly singles out one faith,” the post says. “Texas students deserve social studies standards that educate — not stigmatize.”
The post linked to a page showing a way to contact board members, saying they should “eliminate inaccurate and biased language throughout the proposed Social Studies [standards], and ensure the standards reflect sound historical scholarship and treat all religions and cultures fairly.”
Republican board member Brandon Hall, a pastor in Parker County, originally proposed the critical teaching about Islam. His stance reflects a broader cultural push by conservative Texans as the state battles in court to require a Ten Commandments display in classrooms. A federal appeals court ruled in favor of Texas in April, potentially pushing the issue to the Supreme Court.
The board rejected an earlier version of Hall’s language that went further, which had described “the Prophet Mohammed’s brutal military campaigns against Jewish and Christian tribes” and Islamic slavery, The Dallas Morning News reported.
American Muslims for Palestine has repeatedly come under fire over leading members’ past ties to foreign terrorists, though the group denies supporting such radicals. AMP’s Instagram post was also shared by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which the Department of Justice and a federal judge linked to Hamas in the 2000s. Texas designated CAIR a terrorist organization in November, echoing the United Arab Emirates.
The changes to Texas’s social studies curriculum would take effect in 2030.
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