In response to an incident that occurred between students at Friendswood Junior High School and the perception and fear that it caused to some involved, school principal Robin Lowe was contacted by the Council of American Islamic Relations and told that they considered the incident a hate crime and that they had reported it to the FBI.
Lowe and Sherry Green, Friendswood district’s assistant superintendent, attended a meeting with representatives of CAIR. At the meeting, CAIR requested an opportunity to present factual and basic information about Muslims to students at
Friendswood Junior High School because the school is predominantly Anglo Christian.
Anticipating this request, I had instructed Green that the district would welcome a presentation to administrators and staff only, but not to agree to a student presentation. This has been the way the district has handled other requests by groups interested in raising our awareness of the culture of students who are truly minorities in Friendswood. After administrators have listened to others’ concerns, we discuss the issues we are having in FISD schools and the appropriate way to address them for our students.
After the meeting, I was told that a presentation would be scheduled with the administrative team. It is obvious now that a misunderstanding occurred between two very competent and dedicated administrators.
In the midst of activities during the final two weeks of school, Lowe was contacted by CAIR and asked to schedule the presentation. She hastily scheduled the presentation and notified Green and me by e-mail the day before the presentation. Neither Green nor I saw the e-mail until the following day, by which time the presentations were taking place or already had occurred.
From what I have been told, the content of the presentation was informational. My concern for our community and for our students is not as much with the content of the presentation, as explained to me, but with the fact that a group had an audience with our students without consent either from parents or this administration.
I consider parental trust critical to our success as a district. This trust was violated and I deeply regret that.
I am not surprised by the community’s reaction. Most parents have had years of experience with our district and know the kinds of activity their children have been exposed to in school. This was an isolated incident and a mistake. I am implementing corrective actions to ensure that a similar situation does not occur again.
Friendswood is a faith-based community and founded on these principles. The school district has always and will continue to honor that heritage.
Trish Hanks is superintendent of the Friendswood Independent School District.
