[CSPS] Muslim schools and TAPPS

[Rebecca Hankins]

This e-mail is related to private schools.  Does anyone know if this is
legal?

Rebecca

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 12/23/04) - A prominent national Islamic civil
rights
and advocacy group today called on the state of Texas to investigate
the
discriminatory actions of a private school association that required
Muslim
applicants to answer a series of hostile questions about Islam.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says
at
least two Muslims schools in Texas, one in Houston and the other in
Dallas,
have received letters from the Texas Association of Private and
Parochial
Schools (TAPPS) demanding a response to the biased questions before
their
applications for admission to the association could be approved.

SEE: "Local Muslim School Taken Aback by Letter"
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2960589 
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/122304_APlocal_islamic.html 

The 10 hostile questions, which listed a number of distorted and
stereotypical views of Islamic beliefs, included: (To read the entire
TAPPS
letter, go to: http://www.cair-net.org/downloads/TAPPSletter.pdf )

* "Why do you wish to join an organization whose membership is
basically in
total disagreement with your religious beliefs?"
* "What is your attitude about the spread of Islam in America? What are
the
goals of your school in this regard?"
* "Why do you think the current member schools of TAPPS will not be
biased
against your school, based on the fundamental difference in your
religion
and Christianity, since about 90% of TAPPS schools embrace
Christianity?"
(Note: The TAPPS constitution does not list a religious requirement
for
admission.)

In a letter to TAPPS, CAIR-Houston Executive Director Iesa Galloway
wrote:
"The TAPPS letter demonstrates a profound ignorance of Islam and
Muslims
and a clear disdain for the American Muslim community." He called the
letter "a symbol of religious intolerance (that) has no place in a
nation
that was originally built by those seeking asylum from such
intolerance."
Galloway's letter also demanded an investigation, a reprimand for
those
involved, a formal apology, and sensitivity training.


Rebecca Hankins, CA
Assistant Professor 
Cushing Memorial Library; 
MS5000 TAMU
College Station TX 77843-5000
979-845-1951; 979-845-1441 fax