A Maryland high school banned an ex-Marine and an Iraq war veteran after he objected to his daughter's assignment on Islam.
Kevin Wood, a father of an eleventh grade student at the La Plata High School in La Plata was given a no-trespassing order by school authorities after he got engaged in a heated conversation with Shannon Morris, the vice principal of the school.
Katie O'Malley-Simpson, a district spokesperson for the school revealed that Wood threatened to cause possible disruption at the high school, which led to the ban. However, Wood denies that he threatened anyone at the school.
Wood explained that he was not happy after his daughter received an assignment in the World History class, which required her to explain the five pillars of Islam. Wood and his wife Melissa approached the school authorities to give an alternate assignment. The parents were outraged after they were informed that their daughter will have to complete the assignment or receive an "F" grade.
The Woods revealed that they are standing up to the Constitution and they are against any religion being taught at a public school. Wood believes that if students are not allowed to practice Christianity in any public school then they should not be allowed to practice Islam either.
"I don't force my religious views on them, so don't force your religious views on me," says Kevin Wood.
The spokesperson suggests that the school followed the state curriculum and teaching students about various religions of the world is an important part to understand and learn about various cultures in world history.
"This particular unit is on the formation of the Middle Eastern empires, and the students learn the basic concepts of Islam along with politics and culture," says O'Malley-Simpson. "When kids study the Renaissance and Reformation, they study concepts of Christianity. When they learn how China and India developed, they learn about Hinduism and Buddhism."
O'Malley-Simpson revealed that the ban on Wood will remain until he resolves the issue with the school officials. Kevin and Melissa have already had a meeting with the school's superintendent but the issue remains unresolved. However, the parents have another meeting with the school officials in November.
The Woods suggest that they will pursue the matter further. Their daughter is attending to school and is willing to take an F grade instead of completing the assignment.
