Tell It Like It Is or Don't Tell It At All

SEBRING — A Sebring parent has launched a campaign to rid Highlands County schools of a sixth-grade history textbook he believes is pushing an Islamic agenda.

“It says that Islam is the fastest growing religion in Florida,” said Tom Barrett in a sit-down interview with the News-Sun on Wednesday morning. “It paints a pretty picture without any negatives and essentially says to kids this is the best religion. If someone tells you this is the best and fastest motorcycle engine, then what are you going to do? You are going to go home and Google it and look it up. It is pushing an agenda.”

The book in question — “World History: Ancient Civilizations” — has been a part of the middle school curriculum in Highlands County for about four years, according to Barrett.

Barrett, the father of two boys, became aware of the text while on a family trip during which he gave his middle-school aged son an assignment to read for 30 minutes.

“I asked him what he learned and he said ‘That Islam is great,’” Barrett said. “That is when I first started to take a look at the book.”

Barrett says he believes the book is weighted towards Islam offering a disproportionate number of pages to covering the Muslin culture and faith that essentially whitewashes over any negatives.

“If you are going to teach it, then teach,” Barrett said. “Don’t give the pretty stuff and try to dress it up. They are talking about the enemy and dressing it up real good and making the enemy look attractive.”

Barrett says he plans to bring his request “to have the book removed from schools” to the Highlands County school board at the group’s Jan. 19 meeting. He says he has commitments from 10 other parents to attend the meeting.

Speaking for the group, he said, will be a local pastor.

Deputy Superintendent of Schools Dr. Rodney Hollinger referred all questions concerning the text and the selection process for school texts to Jessica Thayer, director of secondary education for the district.

Thayer has not returned repeated requests to comment for this story.

Barrett says he has no objection to Muslim culture and history being taught, as long as it presents the “good and the bad” and maintains the text provides kids with a road-map for practicing the Islam faith.

“Don’t give them a one-sided opinion on religion,” Barrett said. “Give them everything or give them nothing.”

Barrett maintains his mission is one of fairness, and not religious preference.

“This isn’t against Islam or for Christianity, it is about what is fair,” he said. “If Jesus can’t go to school, neither should Mohammad.

From a current news article, 2016