Judge Tosses Suit Claiming Chatham Schools Promoted Islam

CHATHAM, NJ — A federal judge tossed a lawsuit Nov. 12 against that claimed the School District of the Chathams class tried converting students to Islam. The dismissal comes nearly four years after a mother of a seventh-grade student objected to lessons focusing on Islam and brought her complaints to Fox News.

U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty dismissed Libby Hilsenrath's complaint "with prejudice," giving her no option to refile it.

"I am acutely aware that this is public, not parochial, education," McNulty said in his 30-page opinion. "Religion, however, is a fact about the world, and no study of geography and cultures is complete without it."

McNulty said he is "by no means unsympathetic" to parents' concerns with the children's exposure to potential religious indoctrination. He also believes a line must be drawn between teaching about religion and teaching religion, but Chatham schools didn't cross that line, he said.

Hilsenrath claimed her son was required to view materials and complete assignments that contained the religious teachings about Islam — presented as "facts" rather than beliefs — in his World Cultures and Geography class.

She sued several parties, including the district, the Board of Education, Superintendent Michael LaSusa, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Karen Chase, Chatham Middle School Principal Jill Gihorski, the school's supervisor of social studies and two teachers.

The district made the following statement:

"The Judge’s decision is a complete vindication of the Board, District Administrators, and its teachers to whom the education of the children living in the School District of the Chathams is entrusted. Informed of the dismissal, Superintendent Michael LaSusa and the Board expressed their sincere gratitude to Judge McNulty for the time, skill and attention given to the decision granting defendants’ motion for summary judgment in this case."

Hilsenrath's son was enrolled in the mandatory course during the 2016-17 school year. The aim of the course was to "develop a broad understanding of the world and its people."

The course devoted a unit to each of the world's major regions, which included lessons on religions commonly practiced in each region. This included lessons on Islam during a unit on the Middle East and North Africa.

The lawsuit focused on two YouTube videos as part of the materials. Hilsenrath claimed one of the videos, "5 minutes introduction to islam," was a "conversion video, replete with biased, chastising statements."

She also claimed a video called "The 5 Pillars of islam" shows a Muslim child trying to convert a non-Muslim child. The cartoon was made to "purposely appeal to those of an impressible age," she said.

The judge said the board's evidence shows the lessons and instructional materials were "merely educational, not to favor or disfavor a religion."

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to josh.bakan@patch.com.

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter . You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store. You can also follow the Chatham Patch Facebook page.