muslim children

Fifteen years ago, my husband and I, both Latino converts to Islam, welcomed our first son to this world. Alhamdulillah, he was the first Muslim child born into our families, a blend of Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian heritages living here in the U.S.

Assalamu alaikum:

Ramadan Mubarak! I pray that Ramadan is full of blessings and productivity for you and your family. 

Ninety-nine percent of Muslim children in the United States attend public schools, and the debate about which is better to raise the next generation of believers, Muslim or public school, continues with every new generation. Here are some pros and cons of both. 

A child's education is primarily his or her parents' responsibility, not the school's or the teacher's. This is why it is critical that Muslim parents keep an eye on what their children are being taught in the public school system. 

As long as our children are in the public school, Islamic education will take a back seat. However, we must do everything we can to minimize the harm of the public schools and to maximize the opportunities for Islamic education.