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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| What do you think better?Teaching in a Muslim scho |
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| Dar_al_Arqam |
| 05/20/04 at 20:10:20 |
| AA [slm] I'm thinking about being a teacher when I'm older. I've been wondering-what is better? Teaching in a Muslim school or teaching in a non-Muslim school. A few of my friends have been in non-Muslim schools before, and they said that they're not good. [wlm] :-/ |
| Re: What do you think better?Teaching in a Muslim |
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| Kathy |
| 05/21/04 at 09:03:54 |
| [slm] I would teach in a Muslim School. :-* The rewards just might continue even after you are gone. |
| Re: What do you think better?Teaching in a Muslim |
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| georger |
| 05/21/04 at 09:57:52 |
| The "idea" of separate schools is fine - on paper. Just like past attempts at Communism, it's beautiful on paper and in theory. Here's a problem though. As a kid I spent 5 years in a Catholic school. The worst years of my childhood were spent there. Why do I call them "worst"? As a kid, the one thing you DO learn in the separate school system is not about God or anything like that. What you end up learning about mostly is that people WILL justify classifying themselves as being better than others - whether they actually are or are not. And what enormous steps people so biased will take to safeguard their presumed Catholic "piety" (when it's really just arrogance). You then experience segregation first hand if you don't fit in (in that instance I was literally of the wrong race and there was significant prejudice against kids who weren't of the "right" race). You grow up knowing what it feels like to be ostracized by teachers and students for something that isn't your fault, hated because of who you are perceived to be, not for who you really are inside. Now I certainly don't mean to imply this happens in a Muslim school. I've never been to one, so my experience in the Catholic school isn't implied to be directly translatable. What I mean to imply is that by examination of the problems of separation, it is in all likelihood a far far better thing to take your living example of living the faith of a Muslim - your values, your modesty, self discipline and intelligence - and "inject" them into the public system where they may serve as an example to the other children. Some kids will not "get it". Some are inherently barbaric and will ridicule and punish it. Yet others will definitely "tune into it" and appreciate it. :) And the kids who are Muslim will have first hand experience of the kinds of struggles which are not theoretical but exist in flesh and blood. Yes, it demands greater involvement of the parents and there is going to be some friction. When your kids come home and ask why the other kids can do such-and-such, or dress this way or that way, there have to be real and applicable answers to those questions, so peaceful relations may be maintained in school. This is how children gain wisdom - From first hand experience, from seeing what it is the teachings of the parents refer to, from kind and patient parental instruction and guidance in all appropriate matters. This is what can build bridges of justice and peace in a person that will last a lifetime. Just my 2¢ worth. |
| Re: What do you think better?Teaching in a Muslim |
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| humble_muslim |
| 05/21/04 at 11:03:20 |
| AA Well I've always sent Nageen to Islamic schools. And yes Georger, they are not perfect (too much politics), but the whole school environment in the USA is so anti-Islamic that IMHO, Islamic schools are a must. The proof for me was when I noticed that the foremost people to send their girls to Islamic schools were revert muslimahs who had gone thru the US school system themselves and did not want their girls to go thru it - even if the mothers themselves were not that practcing. And it does not necassirly mean seperation - school is not the only contact kids have with other human beings. As for your question, Nageen, I think the key to Islamic schools right now is to improve the quality. And for that reason, spending some time teaching in a GOOD school environment, even if it is non-muslim, and then bringing that experience to Islamic schools, makes sense to me. One of the best teachers in an Islamic school I ever met was a principal who had taught many years in a charter school. Mashallah she had the best of both worlds, because she was a very good muslimah, and also a very good educator. As for your point, Georger, about "injecting" some Islam in the public system - it's kind of difficult in the USA to talk openly about God in schools. |
| NS |
| Re: What do you think better?Teaching in a Muslim |
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| georger |
| 05/21/04 at 18:31:12 |
| [quote author=The humble muslim link=board=madrasa;num=1085113252;start=0#3 date=05/21/04 at 11:03:20] As for your point, Georger, about "injecting" some Islam in the public system - it's kind of difficult in the USA to talk openly about God in schools.[/quote] True. The North American public school system has kicked God out. But I'm reminded of this: [quote]"Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads." -- William J. Toms[/quote] Without any strain, it is clear to see how this applies equally to the Quran and to anybody who believes in what it teaches. |
| Re: What do you think better?Teaching in a Muslim |
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| Maliha |
| 05/21/04 at 18:53:30 |
| [slm] your dream of becoming a teacher is noble dear sis:) welcome aboard too:) and i think either place you choose you will be able to touch many lives and change many perspectives Inshaallah. The Jewish experience is interesting when discussing education in the US. They started with their own schools; and then abandoned many of them to go infilterate the public schools when they saw that many parents were still sending their kids to public schools. They entered the PTA, schools boards, and teachers in the public school were in the 90's almost 50% of the system in certain areas! They also engaged the publications of text books and ensured that their holidays were celebrated and anti semitism completely erased. The same model applied to public school was done at a professor level..and now many departments are headed by Jews in positions of key influence. This was done, despite the history that didn't allow them into teaching positions unless they professed their Christian beliefs and in some cases couldn't enter college due to the heavy anti semitic air. we can certainly see the effect of all these efforts now. And despite the secularist call of removing God from public schools; holidays are still celebrated and anti semitism still not allowed. Islamic schools are very important and working on their quality of education is imperative as well. But there is alwayz a big section of the Muslim population still sending their kids to public schools for many reasons: quality of education, lacking high tuition fees, lacking qualified teachers etc. we also need Muslim teachers in the public schools to be a role model for the Muslim kids, and non Muslim kids...and also someone to deal with the chapters of History written about Islam in those text books...to at least clarify that the Islamic heritage to the West is immense and didn't begin and end with the crusades. Nageen, as i said before you can't go wrong either way..make sure you get the proper qualifications; go to school; work hard; gain both an Islamic and western foundation and then for you the horizons are limitless Inshaallah by the impact you could have in both (for maybe you can be consulting with the public school system, get on the boards, PTA, etc) as well as work for Islamic school. May Allah ease your affairs, grant you success both in this world and in the Next Inshaallah (Amin). :) [wlm] |
| Re: What do you think better?Teaching in a Muslim |
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| Marcie |
| 05/21/04 at 19:00:03 |
| [slm] I actually teach at an Islamic School al hamdu lillah and I love my job! My school is about an hour away from the brother's and so far we have not had any political problems al hamdu lillah, just financial ones. The benefits far outweigh the cons. None of the children feels ostacized, because of his or her religion. We celebrate the beginning of Ramadan and the two Eids. Some of my kids fast, a half day or a whole day. We really help them to understand how special the religion is. In prek 3 the children have already memorized ten surahs. Any of my children, who also attend weekend schools, are more advanced by two or three grade levels. I teach first grade (secular) and my kids have begun writing in Arabic, even those, who come from non-Arabic speaking homes. Masha'Allah it is amazing to see what they are learning. Insha'Allah we are helping to build a stronger Ummah. As for myself it is wonderful working in a Muslim environment. I have met such wonderful sisters. Nobody is looking at me like I have three heads. The one downside is that you will work too much. The resources are limited and it is a very demanding job. [wlm] Marcie |
| Re: What do you think better?Teaching in a Muslim |
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| al-ajnabia |
| 05/21/04 at 19:50:46 |
| [slm] With my experience in higher education in the secular sector, I think it is in the vital interest of all muslims to improve and develope islamic educational instatutions. I think this is important because it isimportant to get an education in an environment where every one involved in your education feels that you have legitimate business with their instatution. I think it will be a sign of success for an islamic school or university when people from other religions want to send their kids there because of the quality of education there and the basic respect for the pursuit of learning ingrained in the policies of the school. the secular school I go to is only a diploma mill, and a finacial venture. They claim to be a serious research instatution but they are really a means of seperating the elite from the exploited, and so I've come to hope that my time here will atleast count as military service in some egalitarian system I may in the future find myself subject to, as experince holding my own here is an education of sorts. |
| Re: What do you think better?Teaching in a Muslim |
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| onemuslimgirl |
| 05/22/04 at 09:45:29 |
| asalam alakum, i worked for a year in public schools, then 2 years in a Muslim school, and now I am back at a public school. My experience has taught me that it is best to go to a public school for atleast a year or 2 to get the experience that most Islamic schools are not able to help with. i agree with sister layl, it is important for Muslims to be in schools to be good role models for the Muslim kids. I worry about our youth, especially during the high school years ( i teach high school, so i know about what happens during those years)....its tough growing up in this country.....may Allah save us and our children inshAllah.... |
| Re: What do you think better?Teaching in a Muslim |
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| CAMuslimGirl |
| 05/22/04 at 14:02:06 |
| [slm] :-) I currently teach at an Islamic school, so here is my opinion. I think that for any Muslim, but especially the sisters, teaching at an Islamic school is ideal, because we can wear jilbab and hijab and everyone is happy about that. Another benefit, for both brothers and sisters, is that we are there to pray dhuhr and jummah prayer, whereas it may be difficult or even impossible to leave from public school to attend the masjid. Also, its nice to be surrounded by Muslims all day, alhamdulillah. Of course there are some politics at our school, but I think its that way everywhere. In terms of education, our school scores higher on CAT5 than all the public schools in the area, and when new students come in from public school, we find that they are not at the same level as our students in the same grade level. Plus, they are memorizing a lot of Quran, learning Arabic, and learning about Islam. And even core subjects have Islamic connections. Alhamdulillah, I love it there. :-) |
| Re: What do you think better?Teaching in a Muslim |
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| sal |
| 05/22/04 at 16:13:51 |
| [slm] I Think it is not always necessary to talk about GOD or teach what you want with words . a person can do more than words without saying anything .if we show that practically in our daily treatment with others .we can teach a person to give by showing him an example instead of telling him to give to the poor . I can for instance tell a person about ALLAH if he sees me obeying him and then the person asks what I am doing then answering his question will have more concentration and meaning than un wanted lecture Choosing as a teacher in Islam school is apparently wanting the AJER (reward )for yourself but I think giving the chance to the children who needs your education is better than that unless you feel there will be harm to doing this or you are afraid you are not as strong as to stay steady in your faith .if there fore there are alarming factors you feel may appear against you in this case it is better to teach in the Islamic school , if there is no any difficulties provided you have the ability of teaching with action less than words then teach in the other schools because they need you too wa ALLAHU ai'lam |
| Re: What do you think better?Teaching in a Muslim |
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| superFOB |
| 05/23/04 at 01:44:21 |
| [slm] Heh, its a 10 year kid asking for advice people. Nageen, why do you want to be a teacher? |
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