September 11th Sensitivity in Our Public Schools
On September 3rd, 2024, the VMCL sent emails to all high school principals and county-wide administrators in Richmond, Henrico, and Chesterfield regarding the upcoming anniversary of September 11th. With schools becoming increasingly politicized and the presidential election fast approaching, we urged school leaders to be mindful of their language when reflecting on the events of September 11th. We shared resources from the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities also shared resources at our request and we thank them immensely for their support. See the language below with links to those resources:
Good afternoon,
My name is Charles Turner and I represent the Virginia Muslim Civic League, an organization that empowers and advocates on behalf of Muslims in the Richmond region. In recent meetings with Muslim public school students, parents, and staff, concerns regarding the commemoration of September 11th were voiced. There have been issues with Muslim students being bullied by their peers and occasionally guest speakers have made insensitive and misleading comments about the relationship between Islam and contemporary political violence. Schools should certainly teach and reflect upon the tragic events of that day, but they should do so accurately and with sensitivity towards their diverse student bodies.
September 11th is an emotional time for many and increases the potential for emotions to be expressed in harmful ways. Muslim students are more likely than any other faith group to face religious-based bullying. Because of the misinformation surrounding the September 11th terrorist attacks and the high degree of political polarization throughout our nation, it is more important than ever to safeguard the mental health of young students.
To help in this endeavor, we recommend the following resources. The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities created a webpage with educational resources for the 20th anniversary of September 11th which we believe provides excellent guidance for educators. The Institute of Social Policy and Understanding also has an Educator’s Toolkit they produced after conducting a study on religious-based bullying. Finally, the Council on American-Islamic Relations provides a list of tips and materials that help educators navigate discussions regarding September 11th.
We hope you will consider these resources and the feelings of Muslim students when reflecting on this important day in our nation’s history. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the issue further, please contact us at info@vmcl.org. Thank you for all your efforts in creating a welcoming educational environment.
Sincerely,
Charles M. Turner
Virginia Muslim Civic League
Please continue to support the VMCL as we strive to advocate for Muslims throughout central Virginia.
