By BI: Memorial Elementary School is being criticized for giving a controversial homework assignment on ‘Islamic terrorism’ to third-graders. Concerned parents said they are concerned that terrorism is too heavy a topic to be teaching children ages 8 and 9. (But they shouldn’t be because Islamic terrorism is a very real threat to their children, even in school. See ‘Beslan’ below)
Kens5 The worksheet assignment was sent home with students Monday. The instructions ask students to fill in the blanks using words like “Islam,” “terrorist” and “hijack.”
The Beslan school massacre of early September 2004 in Russia lasted three days and involved the capture of over 1,100 people as hostages (including 777 children), ending with the death of over 380 people.
The crisis began when a group of armed Islamic separatist militants occupied School Number One (SNO) in the town of Beslan, North Ossetia (an autonomous republic in the North Caucasus region of the Russian Federation) on 1 September 2004. At least 334 hostages were killed as a result of the crisis, including 186 children, with a significant number of people injured and reported missing.
Some of the Surviving children at Beslan
The Dead Children at Beslan
Parents said their children are not mature enough to understand the killings and violence associated with terrorism. But New Braunfels ISD released a statement saying the lessons focus on how the country has persevered after the September 11th attacks. It said the assignment is in line with the Texas Education Agency standards for third-grade level students.
“NBISD feels it is important to teach the history of what happened on 9-11 and our teachers utilize different resources to share the historical significance of this tragic day.
Grandparent Sharon Grimm said she encourages the lessons, calling it a necessity to teach students.
“These are the things that are happening. They’re seeing it on TV. They’re hearing it,” she said. “It’s all part of learning and growing up (and) understanding we’re not in a perfect world.”