Stepping Back, Asking Questions

Our Dear Teachers,

For many of you the first few weeks of school have already passed and you are enjoying smooth sailing.

In most of our schools, the focus of educators is on completing the curriculum and meeting the standards. Although the pressure to meet the standards has a purpose—to hold teachers and schools accountable, it can also undermine the real goal of education.

As Maria Montessori wrote, “If education is always to be conceived along the same antiquated lines of a mere transmission of knowledge, there is little to be hoped from it in the bettering of man's future. For what is the use of transmitting knowledge if the individual's total development lags behind?” (The Absorbent Mind)

Even where the concern is to complete a curriculum within the given making period, as teachers we must continuously step back and ask ourselves whether the knowledge was received in a meaningful manner. Did it make sense in a context so that it could be drawn upon and accessed later?

The “Muslim Teacher” newsletter welcomes your questions, ponderings and solutions so that we can all go beyond the mere transmission of knowledge to our students and focus on their total development.

In this issue, we offer some suggestions to implement in the beginning of the year, or the beginning of a new term. As the floods in Pakistan have left behind a devastating disaster and a challenge for all of us to rise to the occasion, we share ideas to help your school get active. Lastly, brother Naushad Ulhaq offers his insight on a perennial conundrum: to teach or to ban graphic or un-Islamic literature in our schools.

We want to hear your thoughts about these issues and more. We realize your time is limited, so any response of any length is welcome. Please share your voice with your fellow teachers. You can write to teacher@soundvision.com.

Sara Mujahid and Saba Syed
Co-Editors, Muslim Teacher

Rising to the Challenge: Responding to Floods in Pakistan

At my local masjid, for several evenings, a girl, about age 11 has brought cupcakes for sale. She's donating all of the money to flood victims in Pakistan.

Giving and encouraging one another to give in the face of disasters is the most appropriate response. Here are some suggestions for teachers to help students get active. Read More >

Guidance from Hadith

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:"The guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me are like abundant rain which fell on a land. A fertile part of it absorbed the water and brought forth profuse herbage and pasture; and solid ground patches which retained the water by which Allah has benefited people, who drank from it, irrigated their crops and sowed their seeds; and another sandy plane which could neither retain the water nor produce herbage.

Such is the similitude of the person who becomes well-versed in the religion of Allah and receives benefit from the Message entrusted to me by Allah, so he himself has learned and taught it to others; such is also the similitude of the person who has stubbornly and ignorantly rejected Allah's Guidance with which I have been sent.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Three Ways You Can Contribute: