By Liz Jackson
Chair: Mark Bray
12.45 – 14.00
Wednesday 16 September 2015
Room 203 Runme Shaw Building
Muslims and Islam in U.S. Education explores the complex interface between the U.S. school curriculum, teaching practice about religion in public schools, and societal and teacher attitudes toward Islam and Muslims. It presents multi-culturalism as a concept that needs to be reformulated in the interest of cre-ating a more democratic, inclusive, and informed society.
Islam is an under-considered religion in American education, partly because Muslims comprise less than 1% of the population. This group faces a crucial challenge of representation in United States society as a whole, as well as in its schools. Muslims in the United States are impacted by ignorance that news and opinion polls have demonstrated is widespread. U.S. citizens who do not have a balanced, fair and accurate view of Islam can make decisions in the voting booth, in job hiring, and within their small-scale but important personal net-works and spheres of influence, that make a very negative impact on Muslims. This book has implications for curricula, religious education, and multicultural education, examining the unique case of Islam in U.S. education over the last 20 years.
In its first year in print, Muslims and Islam in U.S. Education has been selected for the inaugural Book Award of the Phi-losophy of Education Society of Australasia (PESA), and garnered multiple positive reviews across the globe. It has been commended for its innovative approach to educational research as well as its focus on an important aspect of education globally. In celebration of its success, CERC is looking back to the launch held one year ago, with a relaunch event emphasising its findings and the path forward for this topic intersecting curriculum, policy, media impact, and religion in public education.
LIZ JACKSON is Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Policy Studies in the Division of Policy, Administration and Social Sciences Education at the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Education.
All are welcome !
