CAIR: Mich. School District Apologizes for Bible Study Forms

Permission slips for Bible study classes handed out to students

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michigan chapter of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) said today that a
Detroit-area school district has apologized for handing out permission slips
for Bible study classes to elementary school students.

CAIR-MI sent a letter to Roseville Public Schools after receiving a complaint
from two parents of children who attend Huron Park Elementary School about
distribution by teachers of permission slips for the Bible classes at a local
Baptist church.

To see the permission slip, go to:
http://www.cair.com/Portals/0/pdf/Roseville-Public-Schools.pdf

In his letter to the school district, CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid
wrote in part:

"School staff and teachers are not to serve as advocates for one particular
religion or congregation within a religion by passing out slips inviting
parents to give permission for their children to attend religious instruction.
. . According to the United States Supreme Court, the First Amendment clearly
requires that public school students and their parents are never given the
impression that their school/school district prefers a specific religion over
others or sanctions religion in general."

A school district official today apologized to CAIR-MI for the distribution of
the permission slips and said district principals will discuss the issue at an
upcoming meeting.

"We thank school district officials for taking quick and appropriate action
once this violation of religious neutrality was brought to their attention,"
said Walid.

He said CAIR offers a booklet, called "An Educator's Guide to Islamic
Religious Practices," that is designed to help school officials provide a
positive learning environment for students of all faiths.

SEE: An Educator's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices
http://www.cair.com/Portals/0/pdf/education_guide.pdf

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization.
Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue,
protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that
promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, 248-559-2247,
E-Mail: dwalid@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper,
202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications
Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787 or 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations

Dawud Walid, CAIR-MI Executive Director, +1-248-842-1418, +1-248-559-2247,
dwalid@cair.com, Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR National Communications Director,
+1-202-488-8787, +1-202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com, or Amina Rubin, CAIR
Communications Coordinator, +1-202-488-8787, +1-202-341-4171, arubin@cair.com