Teachers, students: Religion, but not proselytizing, belongs in Huntsville's public schools (updated)

Cherise Albright, the gifted specialist at Huntsville's Academy for Academics and the Arts and also teacher of comparative religion, explains the goal of incorporating religion into history, social studies and literature classes during a forum on religion in public schools held Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, at Faith Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Ala. (Kay Campbell / KCampbell@al.com)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Finding common ground in a country full of diversity is one key to integrating religion into public schools, said the Rev. Frank Broyles as he introduced a panel of speakers on religion in the schools Sunday morning, Feb. 10, 2013, at Faith Presbyterian Church in Huntsville.

About 60 people, both members of Faith Presbyterian Church and visitors, held a lively discussion based on presentations by Cherise Albright, who teaches comparative religion at Huntsville City School's Academy for Academics and the Arts; Bob Campbell, who helps advise students active in First Priority, a before-school Christian prayer circle, and young people from the Huntsville Islamic Center.

“The First Amendment is not about the separation of church and state, which too often is seen as a barrier, but about the role of religion and values in our civil society,” Broyles said.

There are federal and state guidelines in place already to encourage and support the inclusion of religion in social studies and literature classes, teacher Cherise Albright said. In Alabama, for instance, comparative religion is mandated to be part of the eight grade social studies topics.

“It’s about the exchange of ideas, about cause and effect, about what changes over time,” Albright said. “We’re trying to teach children how to have conversations about differences.”

It’s a lesson some of their parents need, too, she said.

“Some teachers are scared to teach this because they’re liable to get a phone call from a parent who cusses them out just because I said something she didn’t agree with,” Albright said. “But we’re trying to teach how to be kind to others when we ask questions. Our students learn about Islam from someone who really knows about Islam, not from someone who is scared of Islam.”

Maha Khan, a senior at Bob Jones High School in Madison, Ala., and a Muslim, talks about reactions from other students to her faith during a forum on religion and public schools held Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, at Faith Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Ala. (Kay Campbell / KCampbell@al.com)

Talking, not converting

Learning that it’s possible to talk about religion without trying to convert others is one place to start, said Aladin Beshir, a leader at the Huntsville Islamic Center and frequent speaker on the topic of Islam.

“I am not trying to convert anyone,” Beshir said, stirring a warm chuckle from the audience.

Life for Muslims has gotten more difficult since 9/11, the Muslim teenagers agreed.

“When I went to school in Scottsboro, I was called a terrorist,” said Mahad Amjad, who is now a student at Huntsville’s Randolph School.

“But now my (non-Muslim) friends are able to laugh about that. There’s peace between us. Things have changed in the last five years. People are understanding more.”

Religious differences are no barrier to friendship, said Maha Khan, who emigrated to the U.S. with her parents from Pakistan three years ago. Khan is now a senior at Bob Jones High School in Madison.

“I have made a lot of good friends, even though they don’t share my religion,” Khan said.

Bringing values that have been informed by one's faith into the classroom is one way to fight the rising chaos in society, said Bob Campbell, who said he taught school for 32 years and who continues to work with First Priority programs in Huntsville, a before-school Christian prayer club organized by students.

“We have got to stop talking about diversity so much as our commonalities,” Campbell said. “Any teacher who goes into the classroom and does not believe it’s part of the teacher’s responsibility to shape the character of the students doesn’t understand what teaching is all about.”

Teaching about religion and making sure that students who wish to pray are given equal opportunities to do that are part of what current U.S. law protects, Broyles said. Broyles recommended "Finding Common Ground: A First Amendment Guide to Religion and Public Schools" as a guideline for parents and teachers interested in understanding how religion and faith can be part of public school life. The guide gives ideas and resources for incorporating religion without straying into the dangers of proselytization during school hours.

After all, many in the audience agreed, it's about protecting the rights of all, not just the majority.

“I vowed to protect – with my life, if necessary – the rights of Americans," said one man who identified himself as a former soldier. "And that means all Americans, no matter what you believe.”

Take the poll: How much religion belongs in public schools?

Story updated Feb. 10, 2013, 6:20 p.m., to correct Bob Campbell's connection with First Priority.

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