Sullivan County School Board Votes 4-2 to Allow Text Equating God and Allah

The Sullivan County Board of Education voted 4-2 Tuesday to adopt a controversial social studies textbook that critics say promotes God and Allah as the same, WJHL said.
The adoption for the seventh-grade book doesn’t mandate its use, WJHL said. It only makes it eligible for the district’s purchase.

The station quoted one parent, Richard Penkoski, who said, “It’s denigrating Christianity and favoring Islam and anybody who reads that book will get that themselves. That’s why I am against this.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on Muslims to attend the Sullivan County Board of Education meeting to oppose “Islamophobic opposition from at least one board member,” The Tennessee Star reported Tuesday. CAIR provided the email addresses for school board members and instructions for signing up for the public comment portion of the meeting.

Board Chairman Michael Hughes, Vice Chairman Randall Jones, Matthew Spivey, and Randall Gilmore (pictured above, left-to-right) voted for adoption, the Kingsport Times-News said. Jane Thomas and Paul Robinson voted no. Board member Mark Ireson was absent.

The book by McGraw-Hill, called “World,” was the overwhelming choice of teachers on the textbook committee, the Times-News said. It could be formally chosen following a public comment session on April 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Akard Service Center.

Earlier reports incorrectly identified the textbook as “My World” by Pearson, but school officials later clarified the book is McGraw-Hill’s “World.”

The newspaper also said:

Yes, Every Kid

Director of Schools Evelyn Rafalowski explained that the board by law had to adopt textbooks by April 15 and that the blanket adoption served that purpose. Even after the system chooses a final seventh grade book, she said the system is not bound to buy it.

Islamic instruction has previously been a hot topic in Sullivan County schools.

WJHL reported in 2016 that a mother complained about the topic during a school board meeting.

Michelle Edmisten said her daughter refused to complete some of the assignments regarding Islam because of those beliefs, and as a result failed several of those assignments. She asked for the book to be taken out of the school.

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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
Photos “Sullivan School Board Chairman Michael Hughes, Vice Chairman Randall Jones, Randall Gilmore and Matthew Spivey” by Sullivan County Schools.

 

 

 

 

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33 Thoughts to “Sullivan County School Board Votes 4-2 to Allow Text Equating God and Allah”

  1. Sarah E. Tinkham

    Did Allah die on the Cross? That is what I thought!

  2. Ginger Coleman

    I am not from your area but closer to Roanoke, VA. I am not sure how to help you at this time but I offer my support in coming together to promote God in schools and I support you in your efforts to support your children. May you stop this in its tracks. I shall be praying for your success.

  3. Hugh G Clevenger

    Remember these four names, and the one absent from the voting as well, and make sure to vote them out of office. Let’s make sure we get the kind of representatives that have the Christian values and beliefs you want your children to have. We owe it to them!

  4. Jamie Daly

    Everyone should know by now that Pearson bought out Macgraw Hill. Most of the share owners are Muslim

  5. Eddie McMillan

    I finished high school with Randall Jones at The Cove High school! He was not raised to believe in Islam, it was Jesus Christ the son of the almighty God!! He is still the same ,yesterday, today and forever!!! No Islam!!!!Randall ,don’t forget how you were taught!!!

  6. gary keebler

    Too bad there isn’t some law that could call for all their resignations….

    1. Carole

      I agree. We citizens need to do a better job electing people to these governing boards.

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