Wellesley superintendent apologizes for letting students on field trip pray at Islamic mosque

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Wellesley’s superintendent of schools apologized today after Wellesley Middle School students were allowed to pray at an Islamic mosque during a May field trip.

"It was not the intent for students to be able to participate in any of the religious practices,” Superintendent Bella Wong wrote in a letter being sent to parents later today. “I extend my sincere apologies for the error that occurred and regret the offense it may have caused.”

Wong said the field trip to the Roxbury-based Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center — which faced opposition during its construction — was part of a social studies course called “Enduring Beliefs and the World Today,” that includes introductions to a number of religions. During the course students visit a mosque, synagogue, attend a gospel performance, and meet with Hindus.

“These activities provide experiences for our students that enhance their understanding of the curriculum,” Wong wrote in the letter. “The purpose of the field trip was for students to observe a place of worship.”

In the letter, Wong said students required parental permission to go on the field trip during which “a representative of the Mosque told students they were welcome to join in the prayer that was occurring.”

The trip gained wider attention after the Boston-based group Americans for Peace and Tolerance released a video on Sept. 16 showing five middle school students praying during the trip. A parent who chaperoned the field trip allegedly shot the footage of the trip included in the video.

“Today, Americans for Peace and Tolerance released a video showing 6th graders from Wellesley, MA as they rise from prostrating themselves alongside Muslim men in a prayer to Allah,” the group wrote on their website. “Teachers did not intervene. Parents have not been told.”

The video claims the permission form for the trip said that students would only observe and not participate in the prayer event. It also highlights male and female students separated during the prayer claims historical information presented during the visit by representatives of the mosque as inaccurate.

“In various parts of the country, public schools are allowing Muslim extremists to promote Islam to our children,” the Americans for Peace and Tolerance wrote on its site. “Something’s broken here. Our leadership is failing. It’s now up to ordinary citizens to fix it.”

Members of Wellesley’s school committee forwarded comment to School committee chair KC Kato who said she was supporting Wong’s position.

"I’m supportive of [Wong’s] letter and I’m supportive of the educational program which we provide,” she said.

Wong said prior to the video being released her department hadn’t received complaints regarding the field trip though one family declined to allow their child on the trip.

“Apparently someone wasn’t happy and it just took some time for it to come back to us," she said.

Following the incident, Wong said teachers were told students shouldn’t have been allowed to pray.

“We’re giving better guidance to our teachers. I don’t know if they’ll do [the field trip] differently but it won’t necessarily be because of this,” she said. “I support the field trip, I support them being able to go to observe; I do think allowing kids to participate in the prayer crossed the line.”

http://www.wickedlocal.com/wellesley/news/x1869671749/Wellesley-superintendent-apologizes-for-letting-students-on-field-trip-pray-at-Islamic-mosque

[Karonya and Adel 8]

“In various parts of the country, public schools are allowing Muslim extremists to promote Islam to our children,” the Americans for Peace and Tolerance wrote on its site. “Something’s broken here. Our leadership is failing. It’s now up to ordinary citizens to fix it.”

irony: "Americans for Peace and Tolerance"

[Dan J 277]

“In various parts of the country, public schools are allowing Muslim extremists to promote Islam to our children,” the Americans for Peace and Tolerance wrote on its site. “Something’s broken here. Our leadership is failing. It’s now up to ordinary citizens to fix it.”

irony: "Americans for Peace and Tolerance"

I think they would be in the running for the most ironically named organization.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I think they would be in the running for the most ironically named organization.

Islamic Thinkers Society wins every time.

[Jenn! 918]

When I read the topic titlwe I thought that the superintendent was apologizing to the community at the mosque for allowing non-Muslims to pray there.

This story stinks.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Weighing in on this one as a product of Calgary (public) Board of Education.

Although they did allow reading from Bible (in elementary school Assembly), and handed out New Testaments to all sixth-graders in 1970's, never once did I see them organise a field trip to any worship-centre.

IMO, only the following should organise such field trips:

• religion-based school boards (such as Calgary Catholic Board of Education) to worship-centres of that religion only
• private religion-based schools--as religion-based school boards

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I'm not surprised they didn't visit a Christian church.

[Jenn! 918]

I'm not surprised they didn't visit a Christian church.

where do you think the gospel performance was?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

where do you think the gospel performance was?

Which Church was it? I doubt it was a church. If it was a church they would have said so.

"visit a mosque, synagogue, attend a gospel performance, and meet with Hindus"

So they visited a mosque, a synagogue saw a gospel performance (could be anywhere) and met with Hindus (could be anywhere too),

Any questions you silly goose?

[Jenn! 918]

Which Church was it? I doubt it was a church. If it was a church they would have said so.

"visit a mosque, synagogue, attend a gospel performance, and meet with Hindus"

So they visited a mosque, a synagogue saw a gospel performance (could be anywhere) and met with Hindus (could be anywhere too),

Any questions you silly goose?

Of course you're seeing some anti-Christian conspiracy. But you're pulling it out of your a$$, as usual.

[Peikko 1,575]

Weighing in on this one as a product of Calgary (public) Board of Education.

Although they did allow reading from Bible (in elementary school Assembly), and handed out New Testaments to all sixth-graders in 1970's, never once did I see them organise a field trip to any worship-centre.

IMO, only the following should organise such field trips:

• religion-based school boards (such as Calgary Catholic Board of Education) to worship-centres of that religion only
• private religion-based schools--as religion-based school boards

I tend to agree, although I do not have a problem with schools looking at religion from a social context and discussing the main tenets of each one - and possibly having a representative of each of the recognized faiths giving a personal perspective by coming into the school - although I am not sure if that would be considered proselytizing?