A Portland student writes answers in Arabic during an exercise in language class. (Staff) Arabic calligraphy lesson: Hugh Ferguson is bothered by the reaction of parents to a lesson in which ...

A Virginia school district is defending a classroom assignment that required students to practice calligraphy by writing the Muslim statement of faith, “There is no god but Allah.

Under the heading “practicing calligraphy,” the work sheet says: “Here is the shahada, the Islamic statement of faith, written in Arabic. In the space below, try copying it by hand.

Virginia Schools Closed After Backlash over Arabic Calligraphy Lesson: ... The assignment read, “Here is the shahada, the Islamic statement of faith, written in Arabic.

“Here is the shahada, the Islamic statement of faith, written in Arabic. In the space below, try copying it by hand. This should give you an idea of the artistic complexity of calligraphy.” ...

The Shahada was not translated, but in Arabic, it states, "There is no god but God, and Mohammed is his messenger." It was religious indoctrination, parents charged.

Arabic calligraphy is of world-religion interest specifically because it is ... The Augusta County assignment was more vulnerable to outcry because of the unwise step of including the shahada.

This calligraphy lesson -- the contents of which students would have to do independent research to understand, something ninth graders aren't wont to do -- focuses not on what the shahada means ...

Virginia school district shuts down schools over Arabic calligraphy lesson complaints. ... week a teacher gave students a sheet of paper with an Islamic statement of faith, called a shahada, ...

“Here is the shahada, the Islamic statement of faith, written in Arabic. In the space below, try copying it by hand. This should give you an idea of the artistic complexity of calligraphy.” ...