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SCHOOL PROGRAM TO PREVENT HATE CRIMES AND HARASSMENT Resources and Tips for Preventing Hate Crimes and Harassment of Students of Muslim and Middle Eastern Background Overview With tens of thousands of children of Middle Eastern and Muslim background attending school, ING is concerned about the current climate they may face due to current world events and related media coverage of such events and the ongoing war on terrorism. Research studies show that there is a rise in discrimination, harassment, and hate crimes during times of conflict involving people from a particular ethnic or religious group. During the Gulf War in 1991 and in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, there was a peak in such incidents in schools across the country, which affected thousands of innocent children. According to surveys as well as a month-long research study by a local reporter in the San Francisco Bay Area (see article: Suffer the Little Muslims), such incidents have continued to be a problem in schools.* Common Types of Discrimination or Harassment Since 9/11 1. Racially and religiously motivated teasing and name-calling that often went unchecked by school administrators. Common slurs include referring to students or their parents as "Bin Laden," and students as "killer," "terrorist," "camel jockey," and "sand nigger." 2. Harassment and degrading comments made in unmonitored areas, such as school buses, hallways, bathrooms, school parking lots, cafeterias, locker rooms and libraries. These actions are generally not monitored or addressed. 3. Discrimination or harassment against Muslim girls wearing a headscarf (hijab) such as being called "rag heads" and having their scarves pulled off. 4. Classroom discussions about the war on terrorism or the Iraq War often focus on "us" and "them", relegating students of Arab and Muslim background to a position of "the enemy," having to defend themselves or their families. 5. Classroom discussions often lacks sensitivity towards innocent civilians of Middle Eastern or Muslim background who have died in Iraq or Afghanistan. Recommendations to Prevent Hate Crimes and Discrimination We request teachers and school administrators to exert a special effort to: 1. Be aware of, understand, and empathize with the challenges that students of Middle Eastern and Muslim background face during times of conflict involving the Middle East or Muslim countries or people. Many feel overwhelmed by events and embattled in school, feeling that they need to either justify or explain events. Some may exhibit fear of coming to school or being academically punished for their views. They may feel embarrassed, humiliated or degraded by statements or responses to current events and may generally feel that their own feelings do not matter. 2. Be sensitive in classroom discussions relating to the war on terrorism or any other conflict concerning people of the region. Be supportive in words and deeds of a collective and inclusive environment in the classroom and school, and avoid discussions that may associate a student with "them". 3. Implement a zero tolerance policy for any form of discrimination or hate in the school or classroom, whether perpetrated by students or staff, and provide well-defined instructions and procedures for implementation of this policy. 4. Acknowledge and address personal views on current events which may compromise the school's or staff's academic responsibility to be objective and neutral in education. For example, school staff cannot appear to endorse a particular political point of view. Teachers, in particular, should allow for questions and differences of opinion, which must be grounded in civil discourse and mutual respect. 5. Address the issue of prejudice and its roots in the classroom or even school wide through discussions, posters, assemblies or other forums. Encourage students to relate and discuss their own experience with discrimination. 6. Invite guest speakers into classrooms or for assemblies to address common stereotypes and misconceptions about Muslims. Sponsor cultural diversity workshops for teachers and faculty as well. To schedule an ISB certified speaker for your district, school, or classrooms, simply complete the online speaker request form. A Safe Learning Environment for All Students These issues not only impact students of Middle Eastern and Muslim background, but also students of Sikh, Hindu, or other religious or ethnic backgrounds who may be confused with Arabs or Muslims, or who may be targeted because it presents an opportunity to those who harbor feelings of animosity or prejudice towards certain groups. Discrimination and harassment of any group is unacceptable and should not be tolerated. School should be a place of learning and cooperation for all students, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. Teachers and school administrators can be proactive in building such a place, by creating a safe, comfortable and supportive environment for all students, and preventing hate before it starts. Resources and Tips Please feel free to download these fact sheets to distribute to your schools teachers, administrators and other staff. Teacher Resources Fact Sheet: What happened to students of Middle Eastern and Muslim background during the Gulf War? (download PDF) Tip Sheet 1: The potential impact of personal views on current events related to the war on terrorism and the Middle East (download PDF) Tip Sheet 2: Understanding concerns and problems of students of Middle Eastern and Muslim background during times of political conflict (download PDF) Tip Sheet 3: Suggestions for preventing potential harassment of students of Muiddle Eastern and Muslim background (download PDF) Education Administrator Resources School practices for supporting faculty and students in reducing potential discrimination or harassment towards Middle Eastern or Muslim students (download PDF) San Jose Police Department Informational Bulletin for Schools Links to Additional School Resources for Preventing Hate U.S. Department of Education. Preventing Youth Hate Crime: A Manual for Schools and Communities, October 1998. Teaching Tolerance, A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Be Prepared. Partners Against Hate. Educators Against Hate Resources. National Youth Violence Prevention Center. Elements of Effective School Violence Prevention Plans. National Association of School Psychologists. Promoting Tolerance and Peace in Children: Tips for Parents and Schools. Crisis Management Institute. Guides to Help Teachers, Parents and Children Cope with Terrorism Issues. Published Articles by American Muslims Learn about the impact of the Iraq War from the perspective of three volunteers who are members of the Islamic Speakers Bureau. The War on Our Streets/Curbing Hate at Home Imran Maskatia, San Francisco Chronicle - March 21, 2003 Schools Must Beware of Harassment of Arab Students Farhan Syed, San Jose Mercury News - March 27, 2003 Prevent Hate in Schools Uzma Husaini, Oakland Tribune - March 29, 2003 * Adapted with permission from "Protocols for Addressing Issues Concerning Public School Students of Middle Eastern/Arab/Muslim Background When Catastrophe Has Occurred", September 14, 2001, by Sharifa Alkhateeb, Muslim Education Council. Previous Level Links . . .  Request an ISB Speaker Resource Kit for Teaching About Islam and the Muslim World Letter to K-12 Administrators, Educators and Staff Letter to Social Studies and History Teachers Professional Development and Classroom Presentations Tips for Teaching About Islam in the Context of Social Studies and World History Teaching About Religion: Do's and Don'ts Book Reviews and Analyses of 7th Grade Literature Ramadan and Eid Arts and Crafts Kit for Grades K-6 Calendar of Important Islamic Dates Ramadan Information Sheet Hajj Information Sheet Islamic New Year Information Sheet Educational Resources We Recommend Interfaith Speakers Bureau ING Blog |
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