Charge of Muslim harassment in Blaine resolved
Blaine school, civil rights group strike a quick accord in a complaint over Muslim students being harassed.
by Jeff Strickler
A complaint about the harassment of Muslim students at a Blaine middle school has been resolved, with the school district being praised for its response.
The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Minnesota) filed a complaint last month that a Muslim student at Westwood Middle School was called a "terrorist." Two other Muslim students alleged that food was thrown at them.
In an agreement announced Thursday, the school will incorporate information about world religions into its geography curriculum, assign a diversity coordinator and create a "school climate task force" of students and faculty.
"They have really made a wonderful effort," said CAIR Vice Chair Thasneem Ahmed. "We are very pleased with the steps they have taken."
Don Helmstetter, superintendent of the Spring Lake Park School District, said he still regrets that the matter reached the complaint stage but is happy with its resolution.
"I feel bad when any parent has an issue that they need to take to an outside party," he said.
"But the good news is that the people at CAIR know who we are now, and they know that if they have another issue, they can call us up and feel that we will deal with it quickly and appropriately."
Pertinent Links:
1) Charge of Muslim harassment in Blaine resolved
Thursday, June 21, 2007
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