Dozens of female students, faculty, and staff at School 58: World of Inquiry wrapped their heads in scarves today to show their support for Eman Muthana, a 10th grader. Muthana proposed allowing the school’s women to celebrate World Hijab Day, and she’s a bit overwhelmed by the response.
In a beautifully written letter to School 58 Principal Sheela Webster, Muthana proposed that all of the school’s female students be invited to wear a hijab just for the experience. Muthana, a Muslim originally from Yemen who learned English at the Rochester International Academy, said that many people simply don’t understand the way that girls like her dress.
“Sometimes my friends and I face lots of difficulties wearing it [hijab] because many people misunderstand the purpose of it,” Muthana wrote in her letter. She says people define her before they even know who she is or what she thinks.
Even worse, she says, people tend to blame all Muslims for the September 11th terrorist attacks and some of the more recent violence.
Sharing a cultural experience could promote understanding, Muthana says. And most of her classmates and teachers agree.
Principal Webster says that Muthana’s proposal is in keeping with the school’s instructional model, which is based on experiential learning rather than just reading about a topic in a textbook.
Webster, who had never worn a hijab, says that diversity and inclusion are integrated into the curriculum at School 58, which is one of the district’s most popular schools.
“I think it was extremely courageous of Eman to make this proposal,” Webster says. “And I’m so very proud of our school community.”
Male students showed their support by wearing white carnations, says Gwendolyn Brisbon-Shepard, a school safety officer at School 58. Her son attends the school and she says that it became a topic of conversation at her kitchen table.
“We actually sat down and had a family discussion about the whole thing,” she says.
But not everyone has been supportive. School officials have received about two dozen calls complaining about the event, says district spokesperson Chip Partner. The complaints are largely based on misinformation, he says.
Participation in the event is strictly voluntary, he says, and has nothing to do with promoting Islam or converting children to Muslims.
Audra Schmitt, social studies director at the city school district, says that New York State has made a significant effort to bring cultural diversity and depth to the K-12 instruction.
“What’s really meaningful to me is to see a kid wearing a hijab as a non-issue, just like wearing a Yarmulke is a non-issue,” she says. “This helps to educate in a friendly, human way.”
This article appears in Feb 3-9, 2016.
If only the innocence and optimism of children could rule the world.
Well done, inclusion of All is paramount in the education and forming relationships with people of other ethnic diversities. We as a Country should have done this a long time ago. Maybe we wouldn’t have the ignorance that we have today. Adults teaching their children racism and bigotry.
I am offended by the way women are treated by the countries or religions that make women dress this way. Not to mention, WE are the ones who are forced to tolerate their way of life, but they can’t tolerate ours. Shouldn’t tolerance be a two way street?
Johnny, I can understand why you feel offended; because, you are judging how other cultures and religions treat women compared to how we, in the USA, treat women.
Women in other cultures, accept and embrace what WE view as being treated as 2nd class people.
It’s obvious, that in their world, they are comfortable in their place. Why should we impose our perception of how to treat women, based on how WE think they should be treated?
That’s the whole idea of tolerance; accepting other people’s culture, even though we disagree with it.
The day I tolerate the stoning of a woman who looked in the wrong direction or took the blame for being raped (as just two examples of “cultural” differences) will be a very frigid,…very frigid day in the warmest place I know. I do not believe that any woman can feel comfortable in that place.
And to make myself clear, there are cultural differences in this world. We need to embrace those via the sharing and education, which took place in school #58. There is, however, a line in the sand (where have I heard that before) where abuse crosses the line under the banner of culture. We need to embrace the cultural differences to be sure, but recognize that they should not encroach on basic human rights.
No, this is TOTAL DISRESPECT towards women. Can’t go out in public unless accompanied by a male relative. Can’t drive. Can’t go to school. And honor killings? Seriously, “honor killings”? And “we” are supposed to not only accept, but embrace these customs?
Second point– tolerance- they can’t tolerate our way of life, but we are forced to tolerate theirs?
Third point–were the boys encouraged to put these things on too? (GLBT)
How about one more point–Where are the feminists?
“Audra Schmitt, social studies director at the city school district, says that New York State has made a significant effort to bring cultural diversity and depth to the K-12 instruction.”
Well, at least they have their priorities straight in a district who’s graduation rate is about 47% after 5 years of high school.
When is yamaka day? You know, for the experience of wearing one…