Life of Muslim YouthLife of Muslim Youth& The Challenge of PUBLIC

SCHOOL System

العلقSurah 96

• 1. Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created-

• 2. Created man, out of a (mere) congealed blood:• 3. Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,-• 4. He Who taught (the use of) the pen,-• 5. Taught man that which he knew not.

• ;ق: اَن; ِم?ْن= َع;ل ?نَس; َخ;ل;ق; اِإْل=

SIGNIFICANCE OF EDUCATION IN ISLAM

Education is the birth right of every Muslim and Muslimah.

Islam puts considerable emphasis on its followers to acquire knowledge.

Investment in education is the best investment one can make, because it eventually leads to intellectual property.

PURPOSE OF SECULAR PURPOSE OF SECULAR EDUCATION SYSTEMEDUCATION SYSTEM

To provide for the economic prosperity of a nation.

To acquire academic and professional skills that enable one to earn a respectable living with riches and fame, and also a luxurious and comfortable life.

PURPOSE OF ISLAMIC PURPOSE OF ISLAMIC EDUCATIONEDUCATION

Committee of the First World Conference on Muslim Education defined as:

• "1-The balanced growth of the total personality of man through training of the human spirit, intellect, rational self, feelings and senses.

• 2-The training must be such that faith is infused into the whole of his/her personality

• 3-It creates in him/her an emotional attachment to Islam

• 4-It enables him to follow the Qur'an and Sunnah

• 5-It must be governed by Islamic system of values willingly and joyfully 6-That he/she may proceed to the realization of his/her status as Khalifatullah to whom God has promised the authority of the universe." 

Problems faced in Problems faced in public schoolspublic schools

•Muslim youth torn between school culture and Muslim culture at home

•Religious holidays are celebrated but no Muslim holidays

•Family concept is deeply eroded

•Social studies class does not give credit to Muslim/Islamic contribution to the development of civilization

Problems faced in Problems faced in public schoolspublic schools

•Gangs

•Peer Pressure

•Secular curriculum places undue emphasis on secular culture and ignores Muslim culture

•English literature is devoid of Muslim authors

• and Muslim topics

•Secular cultural heritage (providing identity and belonging to a cultural group) is taught

• •Social studies class does not give credit to Muslim/Islamic contribution to the development of West

Problems faced in Problems faced in public schoolspublic schools

•Smoking

•Alcohol

•Drug abuse

•Boyfriend-girlfriend -romantic pair- starts early in pre-school

•Sexual Experimentation,

•Violence

•Gangs

•Peer Pressure

HOW TO FACE THESE HOW TO FACE THESE PROBLEMSPROBLEMS

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS

HOME SCHOOLING

ISLAMIC SCHOOLS

MUSLIM YOUTH CENTERS

YOUNG MUSLIM ORGANIZATION

1-PARENT1-PARENT’’S ROLES ROLEProphet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said the best teaching that a parent can give a child is the teaching of good manners and character.

The Muslim child absorbs the Islamic values from its parents, teachers, peers, friends and the environment, including the care-givers. Once the Muslim child develops undesirable habits and unethical values, it becomes extremely difficult to make the child into a good Muslim/Muslimah. 

Parents should provide an Islamic environment, an Islamic culture. It is hypocritical to do things differently and expect the child to have Islamic values. Parents set the best examples for their children to imbibe.

Audio-Visual media such as TV, Video, video games, Movies, peer pressure could play an effective role in erasing the Islamic personality the parents are building and deeply influence the behavior of the children for years

Like parents the role of extended family has also been considered important in learning and upbringing the children.

Role of ParentsRole of ParentsGiving religious teachings to children at home is important but not enough.

It is extremely important for parents to spend time with their children. Parents have to find time to be with their children at home, school, games, on the playground, field trips, picnics, and tours. 

The most essential element is to establish an open channel of communication with the children. An effort should be made to create an environment wherein children should not hesitate to say to their parents their thinking and feelings.

Islamic identity, according to some, refers to characteristics of thought, behavior, and attitudes emanating from the Islamic beliefs; and it should be manifested in an Islamic way of life. The practice of Islam gives Muslims a tangible identity that they live with and project to the rest of the society.

The best role model is the parent's character.

2-Islamic Social 2-Islamic Social networking networking

Outside the home, the children are in a totally different environment. At times the outside social environment is in opposition to what Muslim children are learning at home. As a result of this conflict, children are fighting a psychological battle in their minds.

Muslim families arrange weekly or monthly field trips or social events.

Teachings should be done in Islamic centers. Islamic centers should create opportunities for Muslim children to get together to bond with each other as this would help in establishing confidence in an Islamic identity and get psychological support

Children should participate in local Boy/Girl Scouts, sport teams, craft and sewing classes, YMCA (physical education requirements).

Summer youth camps be arranged and families should participate

Families should encourage the youth to participate in national Islamic conventions and other such events.

3-Home Schooling3-Home Schooling

• The best and safest place for a Muslim child to be educated

• Home schooling is possible only for a very small number.

• Requires motivated parents who are qualified.

• Parents should be trained and willing to devote long hours every day.

• Parents should impart both 'Islamic' and 'secular' education

• Prepare the children to successfully compete in the outside world.

• Parents rejoice in the experiencing a child harvest the fruits of an education.

Home SchoolingHome Schooling• Taking children from pre-reading to reading is an exhilarating experience.

• Public and / or private schools may have turned children away from being interested, self-motivated learners and taken the joy of learning away from them.

• The public/private schools are not as thorough as a parent wishes.

• There is no available or affordable local full time Islamic school.

• The Islamic school does not provide the entire K-12 educational experience.

• Public schools work against the parent's authority and unfriendly to Muslim children-Hijab.

• Public school texts and classroom materials may be destructive to Islamic values and parental authority.

• Parents develop their own curriculum, pick out books, texts and workbooks that best suit their needs and family or learners style.

• Home schooling removes children from an environment of drugs, violence, alcohol, sexual experimentation, gangs, and peer pressure.

• It returns them to a healthy, safe, God-centered learning environment.

• A school schedule that is friendlier to the demands of an Islamic life can be followed.

Home SchoolingHome Schooling• Classes can be held on Saturday and Sunday, continued during Christian holidays, lightened

during Ramadan and stopped for Eids.

• When family moves and relocates, continuity in education is preserved.

• Home schoolers do not have to fit the child to the curriculum

• Home schoolers make the curriculum fit the individual child.

• Misconception: parents need to know everything or spend all day teaching.

• School days need not be as long, either.

• One-on-one instruction is faster than one-on-30.

• Home schooling is legal in all fifty states, Canada, the United Kingdom and many other countries

• Homeschooling of children with learning disabilities, special needs or gifted and talented is possible

• There are magazines, WEB sites, distance learning programs and curriculum specifically designed for and devoted to this segment of the homeschooling population.

Home SchoolingHome Schooling• SOCIALIZATION: Muslim families arrange weekly or monthly field trips

or social events. Participate in local Boy/Girl Scouts, sport teams, craft and sewing classes, YMCA (physical education requirements).

• Muslim organizations that meet social needs of Muslim children: Muslim Youth Camps, MYNA, local Masjid youth programs, summer camps, vacation camps, Muslim Athletes United International

• Home school students watch much less television than students nationwide.

• Home school student achievement test scores are exceptionally high.

• Home schooled students have higher scholastic achievement test (SAT) scores than students who attended other educational programs.

• Homeschooled children are winning Spelling Bee and Geography Bee National Contests.

4-Islamic Schools4-Islamic Schools1-In an effort to inculcate Islamic values, the teachings should be done at Islamic schools.

2-Islamic schools create opportunities for Muslim children to bond with each other & this helps in establishing confidence in an Islamic identity and get psychological support.

3- it enhances their confidence in being a practicin Muslim in non-Muslim environment.

Islamic Schools facing Islamic Schools facing problemsproblems

• Islamic schools are running without an Islamic curriculum, often without a syllabus

• No qualified and trained teachers or certified teachers. (Quality in education is not possible without good teachers.)

• Non-Muslim teachers who are qualified and certified. (Live-in boyfriend, rejects institution of marriage. Wear tight and revealing outfit. Promote gay agenda, anti-religion agenda, or insensitive to Islamic values and events

• Do not develop an autonomous and unique decision-making (governance) structure

• School Boards require training in how to run a school

• Parents do not play a part in Governance structure

• No qualified administrators

•

Problems at Islamic Problems at Islamic SchoolsSchools

•Children are not prepared to face competitiveness and the challenges of the modern world.

•Seriously lacking in Muslim literature and culture.

•For many Muslim families, Islamic schools are not affordable and provide inferior education.

•In sparse Muslim population areas, Islamic schools are not financially viable.

•Very few trained Muslim teachers in special education or none

Problems faced by Problems faced by Islamic SchoolsIslamic Schools

• Qualified and certified Muslim teachers work in Public schools. As Islamic schools do not offer viable salaries, benefits (pension health benefits, etc.)

• Chronic shortage of space, science labs, auditoriums, gyms, playgrounds, libraries, bathrooms.

• High turnover rate (30 to 40 percent annually) of teachers.

• Parents' fear Islamic schools trade off academics for Islamic environment.

• Organization, planning and discipline -suffer most in Islamic schools.

5-Charter Schools5-Charter Schools• Charter Schools-funded by state and local governments are

Independent public schools formed by teachers, parents and/or community members. Exempt from state and local laws and/or policies in exchange for a written contract (or Charter) that specifies certain results are achieved. NOT ALLOWED TO TEACH RELIGION. However school's mission may emphasize on the study of a particular language, cultural and ethnic traditions, and history infused with state's core curriculum.

• Examples of Charter Schools: Star International Academy and Universal Academy. Both are in Detroit, Michigan. WEB page: http://www.uscharterschools.org/

• Charter schools provide solid foundations of knowledge and skills to compete in the world.

• Admission is open to all state residents and students pay no tuition

6-Other alternatives6-Other alternatives

•Correspondence courses

•Distance learning via the World Wide Web and Internet. (www.thegateway.org)

•Virtual Islamic Schools

•Non-Muslim Parochial Schools

•Non-Muslim Private Schools