WATCH: (Scroll Down For Video) A school in Virginia has defended its decision that required its students to practice calligraphy by writing a Muslim statement of faith, “There is no god but Allah.”
The assignment says it is meant to give the students “an idea of the artistic complexity of calligraphy.” Herndon said she felt the assignment tried to indoctrinate her child into the Islamic religion.
“There was no trying about it. The sheet that she gave out was pure indoctrinate in its origin,” said Herndon.
Augusta County School Superintendent Dr. Eric Bond said, “Neither these lessons, nor any other lesson in the world geography course, are an attempt at indoctrination to Islam or any other religion, or a request for students to renounce their own faith or profess any belief. ”
He went on to say the lesson “attempts objectively to present world religions in a way that is interesting and interactive for students.”
One student we spoke with says she didn’t feel comfortable completing this assignment, even if it just was for calligraphy. “If it was, why couldn’t we just learn to write ‘hello,’ ‘goodbye’… you know normal words, not that,” said Laurel Truxell, a student in the class.
The school maintains the lesson is consistent with the Standards of Learning in Virginia.
Read More: Students practice calligraphy by writing “There is no god but Allah”
