US school under fire for asking students to make Islamic State propaganda posters
Assignment was intended to help students grasp the goals of terrorist groups and the methods they use to gain support
PHOTO: ABC NEWS
A school in Utah has been criticised by parents for assigning ninth-grade students to make Islamic State (IS) propaganda posters.
The teacher “wanted the students to understand how propaganda can be wrong and lead people incorrectly,” Nebo School District spokesperson Lana Hiskey told the Associated Press.
Anonymous hacker group uncovers Islamic State threat against WWE event in US
Salem Junior High School received many complaints from parents over the assignment which was intended to help students grasp “the goals of terrorist groups and the methods they use to gain support,” according to a worksheet cited by AP. Parents fear that their children would research terrorist propaganda online and end up on a federal terrorist watch list.
CBS affiliate KUTV posted pictures of the assignment worksheet which listed ‘8 Reasons Young Muslims Join ISIS’ and asked students to create a "neat, coloured, professional" poster. The worksheet also included a note from the teacher, saying, “If you are uncomfortable with this assignment you may speak to me about an alternative assignment.”
Muslims defend Islam from being hijacked by ISIS
One parents whose daughter received the assignment said it was an inappropriate class project, especially after the Paris attacks claimed by IS which killed 130 people and injured hundreds more.
“We shouldn’t be talking about how ISIS recruits, we should be discussing the events of what they have caused to figure a way of how to deter that and how to help better the world. I thought this isn’t right, not right now,” said the parent, Annie Langston, according to ABC News.
'Not in my name': Muslims hold peace rallies in Italy
Nebo School District spokesperson Hiskey has informed that the school officials reviewed the assignment which came as students were discussing the Middle East, terrorism and propaganda and it ‘has been withdrawn’.
“We’re grateful when parents have a concern, that they will call the school and let the principal know immediately. There were just over 60 students involved in this assignment and we’ve had four phone calls or communication with parents that had concerns,” Hiskey said.
“We don’t want students going on the internet and looking up terrorist things. This was a classroom project and it’s been withdrawn and she’s talked to the students and let them know that was not the intent,” Hiskey added.
The school administration also took to Facebook to announce that the assignment had been withdrawn.
Seven-year-old donates $20 in savings to vandalised mosque in Texas
[fbpost link="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=910477402375016&id=533537040069056"]
Hiskey further said that there were no plans to take disciplinary action against the teacher, who has not been named, AP reported.
This article originally appeared on Washington Post
The teacher “wanted the students to understand how propaganda can be wrong and lead people incorrectly,” Nebo School District spokesperson Lana Hiskey told the Associated Press.
Anonymous hacker group uncovers Islamic State threat against WWE event in US
Salem Junior High School received many complaints from parents over the assignment which was intended to help students grasp “the goals of terrorist groups and the methods they use to gain support,” according to a worksheet cited by AP. Parents fear that their children would research terrorist propaganda online and end up on a federal terrorist watch list.
CBS affiliate KUTV posted pictures of the assignment worksheet which listed ‘8 Reasons Young Muslims Join ISIS’ and asked students to create a "neat, coloured, professional" poster. The worksheet also included a note from the teacher, saying, “If you are uncomfortable with this assignment you may speak to me about an alternative assignment.”
Muslims defend Islam from being hijacked by ISIS
One parents whose daughter received the assignment said it was an inappropriate class project, especially after the Paris attacks claimed by IS which killed 130 people and injured hundreds more.
“We shouldn’t be talking about how ISIS recruits, we should be discussing the events of what they have caused to figure a way of how to deter that and how to help better the world. I thought this isn’t right, not right now,” said the parent, Annie Langston, according to ABC News.
'Not in my name': Muslims hold peace rallies in Italy
Nebo School District spokesperson Hiskey has informed that the school officials reviewed the assignment which came as students were discussing the Middle East, terrorism and propaganda and it ‘has been withdrawn’.
“We’re grateful when parents have a concern, that they will call the school and let the principal know immediately. There were just over 60 students involved in this assignment and we’ve had four phone calls or communication with parents that had concerns,” Hiskey said.
“We don’t want students going on the internet and looking up terrorist things. This was a classroom project and it’s been withdrawn and she’s talked to the students and let them know that was not the intent,” Hiskey added.
The school administration also took to Facebook to announce that the assignment had been withdrawn.
Seven-year-old donates $20 in savings to vandalised mosque in Texas
[fbpost link="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=910477402375016&id=533537040069056"]
Hiskey further said that there were no plans to take disciplinary action against the teacher, who has not been named, AP reported.
This article originally appeared on Washington Post