Education * By Dallas_Muslimah
Asalamu alaikum,
First, let me tell you a little bit about myself, I am a currently a public high school teacher in a very conservative southern "christian" district. I have ten years of teaching experience. I am 32, and I have been teaching since I was 22. Allhamdulilah, I hold a BA in Literature and Secondary Education, a Masters in Education with endoresements of a Reading Specialist for children with learning disablities, and I hold over five certifications in education. I am also looking for PHD programs to enter in to next fall. Allhamdulilah, Harvard is a prospect, as of the last acceptance letter I got.
By the way, if you are fully educated, certified, and good at what you do........there is nothing stopping you from practicing your Islam and getting a good job; hijab and all. Allhamdulilah, Allah(SWT) has been so kind to me. I taught for two years at an Islamic Private School here near where I live. I loved it, and my Islam grew, Allhamdulilah. Though, when I was told to get married, or they would not renew my contract. The school board stated that they did not want to put a single, attractive, sister in front of the high school aged boys as a teacher, and they felt that I would be a bad role model for the girls since I am educated, take care of myself, and believe that there is more to life than getting married at the age of 15. So, instead of settleing for just anyone in marriage, I left the school and applied at public school.
Allhamdulilah, Allah(SWT) blessed me with a great job, great money, and a staff of individuals who are not muslim, but encourage my Islam more so than when I was teaching at the Islamic School. During Ramadan I was given a substitute so that I could work only half days. As my principal put it, "You have night prayers to do, how will you function with little sleep and fasting? We will have someone come in and help you during that month." They also gave me a special schedule so that I don't miss Zuhr and Asr prayers. Allhamdulilah for all of Allah(SWT)'s mercies and blessings, Ameen!!!
Now, my topic and issue for you to ponder on. My dear fellow muslims, know that just because we are muslim does not mean that our children are immune to learning disablities. Many Islamic Schools DO NOT assess students, nor have the support system to deal with these students, nor are the teachers trained to work or educate these students. Learning Disabliites are not limited to Mental Retardation. It includes ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, etc. Many parents assume thier child as educationally healthy, and want them to be in an Islamic learning environment, so they enroll them at Islamic Private Schools. Yes, the schools want your money, and they want your child in their program. Though, very seldom do parents look at the programs at Islamic Private Schools. I have seen some students graduate from Islamic Private schools, and fail in college. When tested in college, they are diagnosed with a learning disablity. Then, it is too late for that student to get the help that they need to be successful. Had they been tested, and intervention established at the elementary level of their education, thost students could be far better off in their education and careers.
Know that as tax payers in the USA, you have every right to go to the school district in which you pay taxes and ask that your children be tested for learning disabliites. This is FREE to all tax payers. Some districts will give you the run around if your child is enrolled in private school, as opposed to one of the public schools. When this happens, enroll your child in the public school, get them tested, see what services they qualify for, and then at your choice, you can pull them out, and put them in the Islamic Private school if you choose. Also, it is important that when you enroll your child in Islamic Private Schools, you take your child's test results, and ask the Islamic Schools if they are equipped to handling the needs of your child. Ask questions as to the qualifications of the teachers who are educating the children, if there is staff developement to train teachers about the psychological growth of children, classroom mangagement, test scores in relation to student/teach ratios, etc. The education of our young is very important. We need our children to get the best education, so that they may grow and be of service to the Ummah. It is your responsibility as a parent to ensure that your child gets this, and is taken care of before it is too late.
I hold seminars for teachers all over the country on learn disablities, classroom management, identifying at-risk kids, etc. Though, anytime I have offered my services to Islamic Private Schools, I have been told, that they do not deal with "special" children. Well, how do you know if those kids are special or not? There is no assessment program in their schools. They just provide an islamic enviroment, and neglect the other areas of education of these children. It breaks my heart to see students who are not getting the help and intervention they deserve.
Subanallah, I taught 6th grade in an Islamic school one year. The first day of school, I noticed that I had 11 out of 20 students with learning disabliites. One was borderline retarded. Yet, because these children were never tested, and none of the teachers were trained to identify traits in these children; they went undiagnosed and untreated for more than six years. I pushed and pushed for these students to be tested. I even had diagnostians come in and assess my students. I can only imagine what the rest of the student body consisted of. The princpal told me, "Sister if we test all of our students, and some of them whose parents donate greatly to the school, and those students need special services that we can't give, we will lose a lot of money." So, this is all about money? What happened to the well-being and the education of young muslims.
I am in no way advocating public schools over Islamic Private Schools. I just feel that Islamic Private Schools should be held accountable for the education they claim to provide their students. I feel it is important that we empower them and help them to offer services to these special students. Just because a child has a learning disablity does not mean they cannot succeed or become more than what their parents aspire them to be. I know mentally retarded 7 year olds who can read on an 8th grade level. I also know 16 years old muslim children who just have ADD, and cannot read past the 2nd grade level. What does that tell you?
I would like to hear from parents. I would like to know your take on getting your child tested, and if you do send your child to a private school, has your child been tested?
Also, if I can be of any help in seminars, etc. for my muslim schools, please feel free to contact me, and I will make special arrangements for you and your staff, Inshallah.
May Allah(SWT) bless us all....Ameen,
dallas_muslimah@yahoo.com
First, let me tell you a little bit about myself, I am a currently a public high school teacher in a very conservative southern "christian" district. I have ten years of teaching experience. I am 32, and I have been teaching since I was 22. Allhamdulilah, I hold a BA in Literature and Secondary Education, a Masters in Education with endoresements of a Reading Specialist for children with learning disablities, and I hold over five certifications in education. I am also looking for PHD programs to enter in to next fall. Allhamdulilah, Harvard is a prospect, as of the last acceptance letter I got.
By the way, if you are fully educated, certified, and good at what you do........there is nothing stopping you from practicing your Islam and getting a good job; hijab and all. Allhamdulilah, Allah(SWT) has been so kind to me. I taught for two years at an Islamic Private School here near where I live. I loved it, and my Islam grew, Allhamdulilah. Though, when I was told to get married, or they would not renew my contract. The school board stated that they did not want to put a single, attractive, sister in front of the high school aged boys as a teacher, and they felt that I would be a bad role model for the girls since I am educated, take care of myself, and believe that there is more to life than getting married at the age of 15. So, instead of settleing for just anyone in marriage, I left the school and applied at public school.
Allhamdulilah, Allah(SWT) blessed me with a great job, great money, and a staff of individuals who are not muslim, but encourage my Islam more so than when I was teaching at the Islamic School. During Ramadan I was given a substitute so that I could work only half days. As my principal put it, "You have night prayers to do, how will you function with little sleep and fasting? We will have someone come in and help you during that month." They also gave me a special schedule so that I don't miss Zuhr and Asr prayers. Allhamdulilah for all of Allah(SWT)'s mercies and blessings, Ameen!!!
Now, my topic and issue for you to ponder on. My dear fellow muslims, know that just because we are muslim does not mean that our children are immune to learning disablities. Many Islamic Schools DO NOT assess students, nor have the support system to deal with these students, nor are the teachers trained to work or educate these students. Learning Disabliites are not limited to Mental Retardation. It includes ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, etc. Many parents assume thier child as educationally healthy, and want them to be in an Islamic learning environment, so they enroll them at Islamic Private Schools. Yes, the schools want your money, and they want your child in their program. Though, very seldom do parents look at the programs at Islamic Private Schools. I have seen some students graduate from Islamic Private schools, and fail in college. When tested in college, they are diagnosed with a learning disablity. Then, it is too late for that student to get the help that they need to be successful. Had they been tested, and intervention established at the elementary level of their education, thost students could be far better off in their education and careers.
Know that as tax payers in the USA, you have every right to go to the school district in which you pay taxes and ask that your children be tested for learning disabliites. This is FREE to all tax payers. Some districts will give you the run around if your child is enrolled in private school, as opposed to one of the public schools. When this happens, enroll your child in the public school, get them tested, see what services they qualify for, and then at your choice, you can pull them out, and put them in the Islamic Private school if you choose. Also, it is important that when you enroll your child in Islamic Private Schools, you take your child's test results, and ask the Islamic Schools if they are equipped to handling the needs of your child. Ask questions as to the qualifications of the teachers who are educating the children, if there is staff developement to train teachers about the psychological growth of children, classroom mangagement, test scores in relation to student/teach ratios, etc. The education of our young is very important. We need our children to get the best education, so that they may grow and be of service to the Ummah. It is your responsibility as a parent to ensure that your child gets this, and is taken care of before it is too late.
I hold seminars for teachers all over the country on learn disablities, classroom management, identifying at-risk kids, etc. Though, anytime I have offered my services to Islamic Private Schools, I have been told, that they do not deal with "special" children. Well, how do you know if those kids are special or not? There is no assessment program in their schools. They just provide an islamic enviroment, and neglect the other areas of education of these children. It breaks my heart to see students who are not getting the help and intervention they deserve.
Subanallah, I taught 6th grade in an Islamic school one year. The first day of school, I noticed that I had 11 out of 20 students with learning disabliites. One was borderline retarded. Yet, because these children were never tested, and none of the teachers were trained to identify traits in these children; they went undiagnosed and untreated for more than six years. I pushed and pushed for these students to be tested. I even had diagnostians come in and assess my students. I can only imagine what the rest of the student body consisted of. The princpal told me, "Sister if we test all of our students, and some of them whose parents donate greatly to the school, and those students need special services that we can't give, we will lose a lot of money." So, this is all about money? What happened to the well-being and the education of young muslims.
I am in no way advocating public schools over Islamic Private Schools. I just feel that Islamic Private Schools should be held accountable for the education they claim to provide their students. I feel it is important that we empower them and help them to offer services to these special students. Just because a child has a learning disablity does not mean they cannot succeed or become more than what their parents aspire them to be. I know mentally retarded 7 year olds who can read on an 8th grade level. I also know 16 years old muslim children who just have ADD, and cannot read past the 2nd grade level. What does that tell you?
I would like to hear from parents. I would like to know your take on getting your child tested, and if you do send your child to a private school, has your child been tested?
Also, if I can be of any help in seminars, etc. for my muslim schools, please feel free to contact me, and I will make special arrangements for you and your staff, Inshallah.
May Allah(SWT) bless us all....Ameen,
dallas_muslimah@yahoo.com
posted by Shaz at 9:48 AM
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