Being Muslim in HSE Schools

"Muslim communities are targeted because of their faith, a fact
that is often compounded by ethnicity, gender, or immigration
status," said Cristina Finch, head of Tolerance and Non-
Discrimination Department at the OSCE Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights.  "Notably, Muslim women are
often targets of hostility on multiple grounds, such as gender,
ethnicity and religion."

Wafa’ Safi-Hassan is science teacher at Hamilton Southeastern High School.  She is also the sponsor of the HSE Muslim Student Association.  This week’s entry was organized and edited by the MSA students.  It was written in conversation with Muslim students across the district, so it is representative of more than just the Muslim students in our high schools.

From Wafa’ and the MSA: We Need Your Support

Recently, the MSA sat down with Muslim students from across the district and asked them these two questions: “What are your experiences in HSE Schools, and what do you want your teachers to know?"

HSE Muslim students face
 this reality.

Muslim in HSE

Our world today has become more and more polarized.  Politics and the media separate and sensationalize, creating tension and even violence.  One result is that this unfortunate trend has led to an increasingly negative attitude toward Muslims.

Muslim students in Hamilton Southeastern Schools are acutely aware that violence and hate crimes against Muslims have increased dramatically in the past few years.  For example, in 2015, the FBI reported a 67% increase in hate crimes against the Muslim community.

Sadly, this attitude and even hatred is sometimes seen in our own schools.  As a result, Muslim students face challenges that may not be visible to others; however, they greatly affect our day-to-day experience.

"I always strive to be my best self because that
is what I was raised as a Muslim to do.  By
giving the best of myself, I give the world the
best impression of Muslims and who we really
are."  --Fatima Hassan

In order to build better understanding, we would like to share our experiences.   Our hope is to create a clearer understanding about our struggles and to let teachers and administrators know that their actions help Muslim students feel safe and feel as if we are an important part of what makes HSE Schools a truly special school district.

The Tension between Free Speech and a Safe Classroom

After talking with Muslim students all across the district, we discovered that all of us have faced a situation at one time or another where peers make racist or offensive comments during a class discussion or debate.  Real-life examples reported to us by students in our district include negative comments such as, “All Muslims hate Christians,” “All Muslims belong to ISIS,” and “Muslims do not know how to assimilate to ‘our’ culture.”  This last statement, of course, insinuates that Muslims are not part of American culture as well.

"We are no different from anyone
else.  It's as simple as that.  Just
treat us equally." --Sarah Ali

In our experience, these kind of statements are often followed by a silence that is painful and awkward.  At times, our non-Muslim peers defend us and rebut the negative comments, but our experience has been that teachers rarely do so.

To be clear, we do not want to inhibit freedom of speech or thought.  In Hamilton Southeastern Schools, open discussion and independence are important. Students, especially in higher level classes, should be and are encouraged to speak their minds and debate.  Healthy debates are essential for student growth, because it allows one to see another's perspective. 

It is important, however, to teach students that they must remain respectful while sharing those opinions.  We recognize this is not easily regulated, but when opinions and comments become disrespectful and offensive, we need teachers to step in and help.

The situation is even more difficult with younger students. We have heard stories from our siblings regarding political views that are shared in class. These young students are too young to be able to express how they feel to a teacher or even to have fully developed their own points of view.  They are not likely to be able to express concern or help others take into consideration what Muslim students or their families are facing outside of school.  These young students, especially, need the support of teachers.

What is Said and What is Not Said

Teachers, we need your help. 

It is essential for teachers to understand that what they say and what they do not say in front of their students can have a major impact. 

"I am proud to be a Muslim.  I love my hijab.  It
embodies who I am as a person." --Noor Abdullah

We know that teachers are trained and that they believe that no student should experience a teacher making politically charged comments or openly expressing negative views about Muslims. We are thankful for teachers who fully support this commitment to self-monitoring of their speech.  We hope that they will continue to consider the importance of what they say in our classrooms about religion. 

As important as what is said, or perhaps even more important, is what is not said.  We need our teachers to speak up for all students, including Muslim students. If negative comments or inaccurate comments are made, we need teachers to engage and educate. 

We know that our teachers went in to education to help students—all students.  So our hope is that teachers will take time to consider how frightening the world can be right now for Muslim students and recognize the necessity of making our schools a safe place for everyone, including their Muslim students.  We hope that they will continue to improve their effectiveness at intervening and redirecting conversations when necessary, and that they will help all students to understand the harmful effects of negative comments against any religion.

Thank you, teachers, for taking the time to learn more about us, about our individual talents and gifts, and about those things that can get in the way of our education. The world can feel like a frightening place, but your understanding and support makes a real difference.

Respond to the students in the Muslim Student Association through Wafa' Safi-Hassan at wsafi@hse.k12.in.us

As we come to the end of our school year, the HSE Teaching and Learning Team would also like to thank all of you for a year of learning and growth.  Thanks for all you do to make HSE a great place for all students. 

Have a wonderful week.

Your HSE Teaching and Learning Team

• Jan Combs, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning
• Stephanie Loane, Director of Elementary Education
• Tom Bell, Director of Special Education
• Jeff Harrison, Director of Educational Technology
• Phil Lederach, Director of Secondary Education