Letter To The Editor: Former Student Supports Chatham BOE

To the Editor:

I grew up in Chatham, NJ and currently live in Boston, MA. Last year, news travelled here about two mothers expressing outrage about an informational video on Islam being shown in a social studies class at my former middle school. The mothers made the accusation that the school district was attempting to indoctrinate children. I followed the news of the school board meetings and the arguments presented, but then the issue seemed to quiet down. Until now. I have now heard that almost a year later a lawsuit has been filed by one of the mothers, making the case for her first amendment rights. By way of this letter, I am writing to exercise my own first amendment rights: this lawsuit is bogus, a waste of time and money, and it should be dismissed as ignorant and racist.

As a student at Chatham Middle School, learning about racial and ethnic cultures from across the globe and their respective religions had an incredibly positive impact on my education and the way I interacted with others. Being Jewish in a town that is predominantly Christian, I was aware of the many churches surrounding me and the one small synagogue; there were certainly no mosques. Learning about my religion in social studies as part of a wide-reaching curriculum normalized my Jewish upbringing. I no longer felt that I existed in the margins of my education.

Students in Chatham are lucky to have educators who not only meet but consistently exceed expectations, and for this reason I find the accusations surrounding this so-called proselytizing insulting and disturbing. Teachers carefully and thoughtfully compile curriculums that are inclusive and informative. The rhetoric being used that attempts to discredit teachers who have devoted their careers to educating students is both demeaning and dangerous. It encourages exclusion and leads to discrimination.

The Chatham Public Schools prepared me well for my post-secondary education, and I have gone on to receive a graduate degree in Education. Now that I study education daily, I am keenly aware of the importance of diversity and inclusion, even on a micro level. If students do not see themselves represented in their classrooms, their self-worth is compromised. They feel undervalued and profoundly misunderstood by their school, their teachers, and, perhaps most crucially, their peers. Incorporating diverse topics, viewpoints and cultural practices not only curtails social isolation, it can create an extraordinary community of deep thinkers who appreciate and revere each other’s unique and valuable stories.

Teaching about religion is not the same as indoctrination. I know this because as I learned about many different religions in middle school I never once felt swayed in my faith. The distinction between education and indoctrination is essential, and this lawsuit is clear evidence of what happens when it is misunderstood. Education is at its core an opportunity to expand one’s mind; let’s not deny our students the chance to learn by promoting misinformation.

I am proud to have gone through the Chatham schools and I urge and support the Chatham School Board and the community to continue to fight back against this kind of thinking. Let’s demonstrate that the Chatham community does not tolerate narrow-mindedness or veiled hatred, and expose this lawsuit as the Islamophobic propaganda that it is. Affirm that education is meant to be staunchly comprehensive and all-encompassing. Teach Christianity. Teach Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism. But also, importantly, teach Islam. Not only is it crucial in our current landscape of divisiveness and mistrust, but it is key for students in understanding their own identities. Knowing who they are and how they relate to others around them allows students to recognize what their place is in this diverse world: their privilege, their power, and the disadvantages that people face because of the color of their skin, the culture they were born into, and the religion that they were raised with. In turn, students will notice and value the complexities of others, which may one day lead to a world of more tolerant, accepting and compassionate citizens.

Sophie Blumert

Chatham High School Class of 2011