BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
A group of Jewish parents and students are suing the Palo Alto Unified School District for taking a class on a field trip to a mosque.
Palo Alto High School students were allegedly encouraged to wear Muslim religious attire, including hijabs for the girls, and given Qurans as gifts to take home.
They were taught that Islam in particular promotes social justice and were photographed inside the mosque without parent permission, the lawsuit said.
“The district failed to maintain religious neutrality, failed to ensure equal treatment among faiths, failed to protect student privacy and failed to vet, supervise, and monitor religiously divisive outside speakers during the school-sponsored event,” said the lawsuit, filed on Friday in federal court.
The lawsuit was filed by 10 parents, community members and current or former students along with an advocacy group called Community Members for Religious Neutrality in Public Schools.
Eight of 10 people suing are Jewish except for Pawan Deshpande, a Hindu parent from Los Altos, and Dinsha Mistree, a Zoroastrian parent from Sunnyvale.
The rest are Paly parents Jafi Lipton and Josh Lehrer, former student Sahsa Ava Lehrer, Jewish community member Linor Levav and four anonymous plaintiffs.
The trip in question was in fall 2025 to the Muslim Community Association’s mosque in Santa Clara.
The trip was part of Paly’s social justice pathway, a three-year program that focus on addressing social problems.
Controversial speaker
Students were “exposed” to Zahra Billoo, “a controversial speaker known for publicly documented hostile and discriminatory statements regarding Jews and sharply ideological political views.” the suit said.
Billoo is executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR.
“Billoo was allowed unfettered access to students to advocate personal religious and political views without balancing perspective or adequate supervision,” the suit said.
The lawsuit was filed by attorney David Rosenberg-Wohl against the district and Principal Brent Kline, alleging the field trips are “coercive school-sponsored religious activity.”
District representatives didn’t return a request for comment on Wednesday.
How could such a thing happen in Palo Alto!? Doesn’t PAUSD care about our young students not to subject them to such falsities as part of their “education” (indoctrination)? This was a reprehensible incident that must not be allowed to recur.
Parents try to teach our youth truth and good moral values and then the public schools (which we PAY FOR) take the children out on a “field trip” like THIS!? Of course the administration and school district board of trustees are legally responsible to answer for this but What inddividuals, teachers or ? are specifically responsible for arranging to do this to the students? Hoping that somebody will find out “the rest of this story” for us (though, of course, it will all come out in court). Thanks!
Brent Kline. That’s how it happened. That man is bad news.
He is, but I don’t think this is on him. SJP was ana amazing program for my son, it saved his HS career in some ways, but in this instance the faculty may have been too trusting.
Parents might want to see where they are SENDING their kids before they end up complaining about something that they willed for their child to participate in.
and other people need to quit indoctering other peoples children. this was done behind the parents back, why you ask? cause they knew it was wrong.
Julie, you are a clueless “useful idiot” as there is no genocide in gazastan. Have you ever been to Israel or the Middle East? Learn the facts before you spout your nonsense drivel.
And I hope they FIRE the teachers and bunch of them that allowed such decisions. Where are our school systems headed. We need to FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT
I read the lawsuit, and it’s a bunch of different people from different religions (Hindu, Zoroastrian) who are upset about the district favoring one religion over the others. Aren’t schools supposed to be free of religious indoctrination?
True. The primary issue is more about Zahra Billoo, from CAIR who spoke to them. She has been open in supporting those in Gaza. The parents who support genocide and apartheid have an issue with her being there.
Agree with you that learning about others is a good thing. Women of many religions wear a headscarf, particularly when in a place of worship. No red flags here except for those who want to ‘get back, at those who don’t support bombing innocent people in Gaza.
That’s a blatant lie, she’s a notorious antisemite with a history of antisemitism. It’s disgusting that children would be a exposed to a known bigot like her.
Agreed Andrew. There is plenty of online data directly from her to show that she crosses the line, regularly, from simply pro-Palestine POV to antisemitic. My son went through the SJP program and graduated in 2024. I have another son in Paly now. I know the teachers who run this program and I like and respect them. I do think in this case they did a poor job of vetting the speaker/sponsor. CAIR is a known front for the Muslim Brotherhood. It has been well-documented in the biggest antiterrorist case ever brought within the US. Unlike what Ms. Wild posted above, they and their representatives like Zahra Billoo are not simply “supporting those in Gaza”. They intentionally infiltrate well-meaning programs like SJP in order to spread lies and propaganda. CAIR is a major reason we see what we see regularly these days on campuses – unfettered antisemitism that NEVER just stops at criticizing Israeli govt policies. Given what has now come to light about radical Islamic influence over these type of programs, I expect SJP to hold itself to a higher standard when vetting its curriculum and presenting balanced views. SJP is designed to teach our students critical thinking. We need to apply that lesson to vetting its source material or experiences and questioning whether that material is based on fact or opinion and especially propaganda.
you know why they didn’t inform the parents? because they knew it was wrong. you guys think you got the right to indocterine other peoples children? what gives you this right? would you like other people doing this to your children? its not their religion, how would your Allah look down on a muslim parent who allowed their child to be indocterined by another set of ideaologies and religion? you think nothings wrong here, cool lets send a school of muslims to go worship at a catholic church? what? is there an issue here?
The Last Time I checked. Palo Alto High School is a PUBLIC High School. Not a Madrasa. Keep the Muslim Indoctrination and Muslim Brotherhood/ CAIR $$$ out of our schools and States. Everyone who has a child in PALY should sue the district immediately! Take your Qurans back to the Middle East.
There is no genocide. There are only lies coming from Hamas terrorists. And their supporters.
smart
It is a great thing for students to learn about different religions. Wearing a scarf and taking shoes off are respectful to do when entering a mosque, just like covering shorts when entering churches or temples. These parents are just teaching their kids how to be islamophobes.
You are such a naive (dumb?!) person. What action by the school, or certain administrators/teachers would it take to change your view? Moreover, have they taken all the students to visit in a synagogue and hear their view of the world?
Your views are why humans have never ending wars. Always something to fear from “the other.” Always having to protect our own from different views and perspectives. “Defending your way of life” nonsense. The only thing you do by keeping up walls is maintain a level of ignorance. Nobody is harmed by educating themselves by experiencing another’s religion. On the contrary, they’re a better educated human. The proper response from the Jewish community shouldn’t have been a lawsuit, but a warm invitation for those same students to a synagogue.
Absolutely agree!
cair is one of the most anti us antisemitic orgs in this country. this should never have been without consent and attendance to make sure it ws not indoctrination (which it sounds like) your prejudice is obvious and noted.
Not true. To equate anti-semitism with anyone who says that genocide and apartheid are morally unacceptable is wrong.
Many people love and respect Jews and Judaism while opposing the killing and persecution of the people of Gaza and Occupied West Bank. Two things can be true at the same time.
The world knows this and it’s time to stop trying to play the victim when Zionism is the root problem.
“Here Where We Live is our Country” is a good book by Molly Crabapple to learn about how Jews opposed the Zionist movement. Eye opening. Apartheid ended in South Africa and may it end for those in Gaza and West Bank.
So Julie Wild please show me the public comments you have made criticizing Sudan, China and other truly genocidal regimes. If your outrage against Israel for the war in Gaza is selective, guess what, it’s antisemitic.
CAIR is blatantly anti-Hindu as well. They should be banned
Amen!
Hear, hear!!
You probably can’t sleep at night. Scary to be inside that mind.
Zee, what church asks worshippers cover their shorts?
Get your head out of the sand
“Truth and good moral values”? I pity the children of parents who are so afraid of an informational field trip to another place of worship that they would rather shield them from it. How are children supposed to develop their own values, individuality, and identities if they are never allowed to explore, learn, question, and understand people different from themselves?
I grew up Muslim. I’ve been to church more times than I can count and attended Jewish religious ceremonies with my Jewish best friend. None of that weakened my faith. If anything, understanding others taught me to examine my own beliefs thoughtfully before judging theirs.
What exactly are you afraid children will learn about Islam—other than what Muslims actually believe? Perhaps hearing about Islam directly from Muslims might even correct some of the misinformation and distorted portrayals that have shaped what people—including some of the individuals behind this lawsuit and, apparently, yourself—have come to believe about Islam.
A faith rooted deeply has nothing to fear from understanding another. If simply entering someone else’s place of worship threatens your convictions, perhaps the question worth asking is why.
Hi NM. I don’t think going to the mosque by itself was the issue. I’m Jewish and have been to them several times. The issue was asking students to perform acts possible against their beliefs (putting on a hijab for example) without their parents knowing, and subjecting them, without context, to a POV which is known to be extremist. We don’t know if there was something else to balance the CAIR POV in the curriculum.
Russian Orthodox Church in the Valdai area (near St. Petersburg) required that those in our Volga River tour group who were were short skirts, bermudas, etc. to wear long skirts which the church provided. No one batted an eye as everyone wanted to hear the presentation and singing inside the church. This happened around 2007 or 2008 when we traveled to Russia for two weeks. Beautiful trip during “glasnost.” (After Gorbachev visited Stanford.) As I recall, the Church of the Ascension in Moscow earlier, had a sign at the door saying to wear only “respectful clothes.” We’ve also travelled to Israel and Jordan , including Petra) with a tour company. which we loved. “Travel opens one’s mind, heart, and eyes.”
This PAUSD squabble is so petty although the school district should make sure that the attending students know what topics are being covered.
Zee, I think you’re an AI bot or you’re repeating an AI response. I say that because the line about covering one’s shorts is so odd. Have you ever been to a Christian church? How many people wearing shorts had coverings for their legs? The more important question here is: Why are Muslims using AI to participate in a conversation?
Ding ding ding ding!
As a Catholic, it is against our religious tenants to participate in any other religious practices. Parents have every right to be upset. Further, if exposure is to a Mosque, when is the trip to a synagogue and a Catholic Church? Not happening – then this is a valid civil complaint. Billoo is executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR founded by the Muslim Brotherhood – a TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.
Do you feel the same when Jehovah’s witnesses comes knocking on your door, or Bibles being distributed outside other schools?
Strange how you would say that when your own Pope has visited a mosque and spoke with warmth when discussing his visit and dialogue with Muslim clergy.
And who proposed the ‘Baby in the rubble’ at the Vatican to represent the loss of life in Gaza?
The Catholic Church leadership seem far more tolerant than you do.
I do interfaith work and am grateful that I’ve worshipped with Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
To see God’s influence in these spaces is truly inspiring. To be prohibited from that is a red flag and of concern.
Is Islam respectful of our traditions and other religions? The short answer is No. Zahra Billoo is believes Muslims are victims over hundreds of years of ‘Islamophobia’. No Zahra, people should be fearful of a religion that does not permit leaving the faith or speaking freely. People like Ms. Billoo should not be spreading her propaganda to our students. Listen to her yourself. Source YouTube approx 3m40s into video: AMP 2021 LIVE American Muslims for Palestine Streamed live on Nov 27, 2021 LIVE Segment from the 14th Annual Convention for Palestine in the US.
I am not going to argue if it is good or bad, but there is a law, and there is a separation between religion and state. And if the claim is true then PA school broke the law and has to pay ($$$ and personnel actions)
How dumb & idiotic you are
You just don’t get it
Catholics at one time were not allowed in churches of another religion. Where are their parents or even grandparents.
Certainly any kind of study of religion shouldn’t be allowed in public schools. The district board should make sure that field trips of this kind are not allowed in the future. Nonetheless, I’m not surprised at all that this happened and that it involved a mosque.
Was this a field trip for this new ethnic studies class they force kids to take?
As you can see, this field trip was “part of Paly’s social justice pathway, a three-year program that focus on addressing social problems.” The students willingly participated in this pathway, thus probably would have known they would be going to a Mosque. If the parents don’t want their kids to receive gifts as a form of expanding knowledge within the pathway they want their kids doing, the real damage within this whole situation is the fact that parents won’t give notice to the details of the education of their children. Only to make some BS excuses about how “unauthorized photography” took place. Seeing this was from a Public High School, one would be keen to think that the students have had their photographs taken on field trips before.
I disagree. I know as a former teacher at a school with a social justice program that, unless designed in the curricula and explicitly detailed with each field trip, that students and parents are not informed prior to taking the course (or course selection the previous spring) of the list of visits. Often, there’s a field trip consent form at the start of the year that gives permission to all field trips throughout the year. Unless a child comes home to share with their parent where they are off to, then there’s no reason the family would know or have a chance to consider their options. Also, students don’t want to be the only ones not participating in group activities…
This is a big deal. It’s a multifaith challenge to PAUSD’s failure to maintain religious neutrality, not just a complaint from one religious group.
Unbelievable that Zahra Billoo was allowed by PAUSD to address students. Billoo has a long record of being completely inappropriate for children. The national Women’s March removed her from its board because her public statements were at odds with its values. San Mateo County removed her as the keynote speaker at its women’s conference because of her divisive statements.
When Joe Biden announced that he had aggressive cancer, she responded that no cancer treatment could protect him from “God’s wrath,” reportedly prayed that his cancer would be “as aggressive” as “Israel’s” actions.
On October 7, 2023, while Hamas terrorists were still raping and massacring women and children, Billoo posted, “We are witnessing decolonization.” She has said that Hamas deserves a Nobel Peace Prize.
This is not a “controversial” perspective. It is a person who promotes dehumanizing, extremist, offensive opinions. Giving Billoo access to public-school students was an appalling failure of judgment. This isn’t a “controvesial” speaker – there is nothing controversial about this. PAUSD would never excuse such a speaker’s history if the targets were members of another minority community.
You are 100 percent right!
With all the antisemitism around this is the last thing that a school should do.
No wonder the parents are so outrageous.
The Muslims are trying to take over this country, and this is just one more example!
Zahra Billoo Was only removed because of Zionist vitriole and hate. I’m glad that she condemns Genocidal Israel’s Terrorism as any human should. Your lies start and end with October 7th. America is waking up.
Sorry if I missed it. Did she condemn October 7th? And what lies you referred to? About rapes and murders?
This comment should be removed – it is hate and terrorist propaganda
Larry, it sounds like you’re having a bad day. It’s a shame you have so much hate in your heart. I guess it makes more sense though, why you’d also support such a despicable personality like Billoo.
[Portion removed — Terms of Use violation. No profanity.] Hamas propaganda from 2023? I feel sad for small minds like yourself. Perhaps it’s time to go back to school and learn some world and political history regarding who actually created Hamas, and what really happened Oct 7th. Oh wait they don’t teach that in US schools, just a vanilla version of their own. Pick up a book!
Oh small minded twit please pick up a book and learn about politics before writing. Who created Hamas? If you can’t pick up a book or are not capable of reading and learning refrain from engaging in topics beyond your comprehension.
Only in Palo Alto. Just don’t go on the field trip. Parents know where their kids are going. Unbelievable.
SO not the point.
Try to read the document “An Explanatory Memorandum On The General Strategic Goal For The Group In North America” to understand your future…
Bringing students under the guise of social justice to a house of worship is an abuse of power and responsibility. If this was a religious/cultural studies class, that would be OK, assuming it includes field trips to churches, cathedrals, Sikh temples, Hindu temples, Zen meditation centers, Dharma centers, etc… But it wasn’t. Then there’s also the question of whether Islam is 1) in any way shape or form innately concerned with social justice and 2) is it even a religion? Theologian and apostate Muslim, Danny Burmawi, makes a compelling case for Islam being an Ideology, not a religion. If is substance to that conclusion, this field trip was even more egregious.
I’ve heard Kline speak at several board meetings. I’m astounded he’s principal of Paly. I think keeping him in that position is dereliction of duty on the part of the board.
I understand the criticism of the speaker chosen and without a doubt agree that a school sponsored event should maintain religious neutrality, I still think this lawsuit is rooted in Islamophobia. If a public school class were to visit a synagogue or Christian church, I highly doubt the fact that students entered a house of worship or learned about that religion would get this same reaction. As a someone who considers themself atheist and honestly someone pretty close to antitheist, I’m not defending Islam, Judaism, or Christianity. Simply put I think the same standards should apply to every religion. If the problem is the speaker’s more radical views or the school’s lack of oversight, then criticize that. However, turning a school field trip to a mosque into a lawsuit just seems absurd to me, and I really doubt this lawsuit would have happened if it were a synagogue or Christian church
The question isn’t that the students visited the mosque. That’s fine as long as they visited other religious houses. The issue is whether the school district was indoctrinating the students. If they were, PAUSD should face serious consequences. But that’s why this is in court — determine if the school district crossed the line between neutral education and indoctrination. I’ll wait for the courts to figure out that one. Meanwhile, it’s fun to see how many people are freaking out over the fact that the school was caught.
I’m pretty sure if the kids visited a Christian church or a synagogue, the reaction would be exactly the same, but from different religious groups.
This issue is that they were bullied into wearing hijabs, and forced to listen to Zahara Biloo who is a known Islamic extremist and antisemite.
Only one faith was represented. That is bias.
CAIR and Zahra Billoo hate the Jewish state of Israel and she was chosen to speak to the students?
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She and CAIR have led demonstrations that have made the Jewish and Israeli community afraid. She should not be the example students see of the Muslim faith. Dalia Ziada, Soraya Deen, and Zuhdi Jasser, brave and respectful Muslims who believe in peace and coexistence, are far more appropriate.
CAIR has been linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, a dangerous international terrorist organization dedicated to destroying the United States by corrupting government and its institutions. This is from the recent US hearings on this organization. This is not a model of social justice we want our students to follow.
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I think that a big point is being missed here. The trip was sponsored by a voluntary Paly program called the Social Justice Pathway. To quote the article :”The trip was part of Paly’s social justice pathway, a three-year program that focus on addressing social problems.”
For some reason, this article focuses on the lawsuit and not the program that sponsored the trip. This is one-sided reporting. All three of my daughters have participated in the Paly Social Justice program. It is entirely voluntary, focused on project-based learning, and examines issues through the lens of Social Justice. It is not a religious program, nor a forced activity. It is a program that tries to encourage students to be open-minded and willing to listen to alternative viewpoints.
I am not a person who comments online, but I am really disappointed in the skewed reporting-and comments. None of the comments that I read questioned why the students went to a mosque- they merely expressed outrage without knowing the full picture. Please learn a little more about the amazing SJP program at Paly before forming your opinion.
You’re just upset that the school got caught indoctrinating students. Just admit it, don’t blame the newspaper or anybody else.
Sounds like a good, well-intentioned program. But if it includes a field trip to one house of worship, it should also include a similar experience with every other major world religion.
lol at these comments of people flipping out over this. When I was in school, I visited churches and synagogues as part of our curriculum to learn. And it was never any issue. to allow children to learn about the views and values of other religions is a good thing in order to promote understanding. Of course you have people flipping out because it’s a Mosque, and Islam. Typical islamaphobic view. And Gabriel, kindly stfu. Spewing fall information and facts. Your references to the 7th and massacring and raping were debunked several times over. And what was actually proven was those exact crimes committed by the IDF. So kindly, stfu. As well as the rest of these ignorant parents and their islamaphobic bullshit. Grow up and learn to make educated informed decisions for yourselves without blinders on. Research on your own from unbiased sources.
Hamas killed 1,200 people on Oct. 7, not the IDF. Quit trying to twist the facts. Next you’ll be telling us there was no Holocaust.
Well Clay, maybe your facts are as stable as your name, as if you simply Google “How many people has the IDF killed ‘after October 7th, 2023’?”, I don’t know about you, but 67,000 seems a little bigger than 1,200. Might want to pick up a math book.
Osama B – and these 67k somehow happened randomly on their own, not as a result of vile attack that killed 1200?
Agreed.
This parents that started this lawsuit are islamaphobes! Nothing wrong in taking kids to a house of worship and learning more about a very misunderstood religion. Good that they are learning about it from the source.
Jews and Zionists are sadly so hateful , obvious why they would do this
Arabs are sadly so hateful obvious why they would do this
I am urging the moderator to remove Anna’s Kahn last sentence in her comments.
This is why, in my day, Catholic children were sent to Catholic schools and after high school if they felt they wanted to join another religion, then they were adult enough to consider that.
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This is part of the “social justice pathways” program at PAUSD several years agoMy daughter was in it and I am so upset I didn’t pull her out. She told me that the way to excel to essentially buy into the white oppressor mantra and ensure all reports her group would write emphasize that. It was beaten into their heads. I guarantee you this group has not visited a temple or church to understand other religions in a balanced way. Pure indoctrination (and at the expense of learning skills that prepare you for a career to the extent you want to pursue a career boy pertaining to DEI
How intolerant can all of you be? Your fear and bias are blinding you. Instead of judging what actually happened, some of you seem determined to treat anything Islamic as inherently suspicious.
In churches and other religious spaces around the world, visitors are often expected to follow customs of modesty, dress, silence, or head covering out of respect for the sacred space. Yet when similar customs are encountered at a mosque, suddenly they are portrayed as sinister or coercive.
Students visiting a mosque, observing prayer, learning about Islam, seeing a Quran, or voluntarily wearing a head covering is not some frightening act of indoctrination. It is exposure to another community and tradition.
If your outrage only appears when the religion involved is Islam, then perhaps the problem is not the field trip. Perhaps the problem is the prejudice through which you are choosing to view it.
I think the parents should be happy that their kids are learning about different religions. They should be open minded and let the kids learn and see how other people live. There is no indoctrination here. The kids were in social justice program and if they do not like it they should not let their kids to go to the field trip. No need to spread hate and be so unhappy.
The point is, why are they visiting a Mosque at all? It certainly has nothing to do with social justice. And why choose Billoo from CAIR to represent and actually pick a speaker (who isn’t an anti-American, hostile, angry antisemite) meet the students at a community center? That’s the point.
When was the last time students were taken to a synagogue, a Christian church, or a Hindu or Buddhist temple?
May this field trip was inappropriate for the school to do, but I don’t see how these students were harmed. Oh the horror of being exposed to another religion. Maybe they can claim PTSD. The parents are teaching intolerance.
Neal, the legal question is whether the teachers were providing a neutral discussion of the world’s religious faiths or if this constitutes indoctrination. Sounds like you’re nervous that the court will decide this is indoctrination.
Personally, parents shouldn’t go to court after signing some permission slip.
In the interest of a full education at least show the students how hundreds of millions of women are actually treated throughout the Muslim world in the more fundamentalist Islamic societies. Is that what they would consider promoting justice?
They got caught, so they’ll dial it back for a few months. Then, when nobody is looking, they’ll put the jihad back in first gear.
One thing the students will never forget is the odor that comes from 100+ Moslem men taking off their shoes to pray in their temple.
This is an absurd field trip that has no merit to social justice other than pushing some agenda. Since when does a religious group (esp Islam) equate Social Justice? Many other religious groups (including the Christian, Hindu and Jewish ones) have historically fought far harder for the equality of groups (not just of their own) than the one visited on that day. I am a retired teacher, and worked with a school that had a social justice pathway program. Not once did they visit a single space of worship. If there was intention to show the Muslim people’s struggle, then take them to a community center… And then take them to a Jewish Community Center, and a Christian Community Center, etc. You visit one, then you visit the others. Often, administration is not aware of every single activity or narrative a teacher (or program) may singularly decide to push – unless a student or parent informs them. In this case, I wouldn’t be surprised if the students had no idea why such a field trip might be inappropriate or, if they did, they didn’t want to make noise about it. The Jewish community has suffered a great deal among our communities, especially most recently, and no one can disagree with that. Simply because they do not cower does not make them less impacted. If this agenda is being pushed, then I definitely think the parents that are bringing this to light are brave and right. I wouldn’t want my own children going to visit any religious space during class time, nor would I want them to speak to a woman who has been notoriously tied to hateful, divisive and maniacal speech. Do the research, people (or read G Khoury’s summary of Billoo’s history in the comment section). And leave religion (and your opinions of it) OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. Simple as that.
Maybe you all should go to a mosque and learn directly from a Muslim how Islam and social justice are connected since you seem to be misinformed yourselves. Don’t worry- you won’t get brainwashed because it seems like that part is already done.
Muslims are required by Islam to overthrow secular governments and impose sharia. This is different from all other religions.
Field trip ehh….
So, unless the basic rules have changed, parents have to sign off on field trips for their kids. Did all the parents involved ok the trip for their kids and if so, what pushed their buttons ?
Were they misled about what the content would and who the speakers would be ?
Anyone have more insight ?
Seems a lot more questions than answers .
These parents didn’t know that their kids were going to hear a lecture from a spokesperson for Middle East terror. That’s the gist of it.
Social Justice is a matter of opinion and public schools should stick to teaching facts. I think the Social Justice program should be eliminated and ethnic studies permanently cancelled to avoid the element of bias for which PAUSD is consistently getting sued. A deal should be paid to settle the suit by eliminating politicized programs in return for dropping the financial demands. Let the students discuss politics and social justice on their own time.
The best way for kids to learn about muslims is to visit the 9/11 museum. They can study the remains of the WTC and think about the people who jumped from the 100th floor to their death because of “the religion of peace.”
Parents must have signed permission for the field trip. Why the lawsuit now. It is common knowledge that you have to cover your head and take off shoes while entertaining the mosques. I did it while visiting Hagua Sofia. What is the big deal in it. You are just respecting the other religion. I have visited beautiful churches all over the world and appreciated the beautiful architecture and history. Btw I am hindu. The reaction from parents are disheartening. Palo Alto residents should do better.
The students had a chance to go to a mosque and learn more about another culture. Just relax and learn more about other religions and cultures. It’s great that these high schoolers had this chance. Those parents should stop their hate and relax. Enjoy the world.
That would be ideal, if other religions were being studied, not just one… In a religious studies class. Which Ethnic Studies IS NOT.
A few things about this strike me as odd:
1. How did the parents not know about this beforehand… and only now have to sue?
2. What even is a “Social Justice Pathway”? They barely know basic history (my daughter is in 11th grade).
3. Honestly, I grew up in a Muslim neighborhood in Haifa with a mosque 100 meters from my house, and I visited mosques myself, including Al-Aqsa, as part of my education in Israel, so in principle this doesn’t bother me. The problem is that they didn’t take them to actually learn about Islam. They took them to meet a representative of CAIR, which is an activist organization with ties to Islamic Jihad. The gap between that and social justice is roughly polar opposite.
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The projects and the ideas are all over the place. This is a public school trying to do their best. I do not understand the basis of the law suit from a legal perspective. “Claim 49. Plaintiffs allege that they have been and continue to be injured by District’s challenged policies, customs, and practices. They, and each of them, belong to religious traditions that
practice social justice; the government’s endorsement of Islam in particular as a social justice faith denigrates their respective traditions and their identities as members of faith communities due equal treatment and appreciation within the District” – Islamic communities engage in practices that help the poor, orphans, and those who need help all the time, the entire purpose of the curriculum is to promote ideas of social justice practiced in different ways. The point of the educational program is exposure, not religious promotion. The motive of a broad liberal based education appears to have been met. Other students are taking multivariate calculus and AP Physics, that is a completely different approach, and the point, the school appears to have done nothing wrong to be honest.
But they’re not taking multivariable calculus since the district banned it. Everyone is in training to become community organizers and ad-hoc protesters to promote social justice. If they can get on the PAUSD gravy train they can become district teachers, too.
If this were a normal educational program about another religion, why were students asked to memorize portions of the quran?
Reading selections of the quran might be justified, but memorizing it? I know the muslims on this thread want to convince us that this is a normal educational experience, but the memorization part seems like indoctrination. I’m sure the parents didn’t know about the quran memorization beforehand.
Students only visited an Islamic center as part of the “Social Justice Program”. Islam based on the practices should be the last religion anyone should consider for a social justice program. Many countries that follow Islamic laws have apostasy and blasphemy as a crime punishable by death
There’s a difference between experiencing another’s culture and religion, and being “forced” to accept it or agree with it. The plaintiffs don’t seem to understand that difference.
Again, what does experiencing a religion have to do with social justice? It’s not a religious studies course.
We can live in harmony while respecting one another’s beliefs. An educational visit to a mosque can broaden understanding, just as a visit to a church, temple, synagogue, gurdwara or Zoroastrian cultural center can. People of every faith visit sacred places while traveling or even locally not to convert or worship, but to learn about their history, architecture, culture and origins.
If one faith is consistently the only one represented, however, that is a fair concern. Perhaps propose a future visit to a different religious institution. But if girls were required to disclose whether they were menstruating and told not to enter, or a head cover is required when entering wouldn’t that raise equally serious concerns—and potentially invite another lawsuit?
The same standards of dignity, privacy and inclusion must apply to every faith and every sacred space. People can remain devoted to their own faith while learning from and respecting others. Shared understanding brings us together; blame and suspicion deepen the divisions that fuel hatred and unrest.
If students were forced to pray, participate in a ritual or act against their beliefs, however, that would be a different and much more serious concern.
CAIR should be banned. Students should never be exposed to such organizations. They are blatantly anti-Hindu as well.
Do students visit a temple as part of this course??