“It’s not appropriate to have our children go to school and learn how to insult a religious group” – Melinda Van Stone (the lone parent who complained)

Via Christian Post:

“I have directed all staff to permanently suspend the practice of drawing or depiction of any religious leader,” Superintendent Brent Woodard told the Los Angeles Daily News last week. “I am certain this teacher did not intend to offend anyone and, in fact, was simply teaching respect and tolerance for all cultures.”

Images of biblical prophets are considered offensive for Muslims, especially when it comes to representations of Muhammad.

Muzammil Siddiqi, an Islamic scholar and chairman of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, noted that Muslims abstain from drawing Muhammad out of respect.

“Muslims do not draw the image of the prophet Muhammad out of respect for him,” Siddiqi said, adding that educators “should be sensitive to this Muslim position that young Muslim students would be reluctant to do it. … If the teacher doesn’t ask anyone to do that, it would be better.”

Palmdale resident Melinda Van Stone was the parent who complained about the assignment her 12-year-old son brought home. She did not, however, divulge whether or not the family observed a particular religion.

“It’s not appropriate to have our children go to school and learn how to insult a religious group,” Van Stone said.

High Desert School Principal Lynn David said the worksheet was not part of a textbook, but came from supplemental material. David said Van Stone was the only parent to complain about the assignment.

Back in April two Muslim gunmen opened fire at a “Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest” at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas, which left a security guard wounded. The attackers where shot dead.