Support for Riverheads teacher and Islam lesson

GREENVILLE — Just a few days after more than 100 people met in fury over a world geography assignment at Riverheads High School, support is increasingly being heard for the embattled teacher. And a Facebook page organizing a Tuesday protest against the calligraphy lesson was flooded with comments pushing back against the anti-Muslim rhetoric. Eventually the page's creators took it down rather than host the comments.

Cheryl LaPorte, a veteran teacher with Augusta County Schools, had asked students to practice Arabesque calligraphy by copying an Islamic statement of faith, known as the shahada, as part of a class on world religions, including Islam.

Initial reaction from some Christian parents included calls for LaPorte's firing for "violating children's religious beliefs." However, both the Virginia Department of Education and Augusta County Superintendent Eric Bond have reviewed the material and found it in line with state standards and said the lesson did not violate student rights.

Former students of LaPorte, concerned citizens and parents have taken to social media to ask the parents who initiated the case against LaPorte to stop.

An event page created to rally outraged parents to a forum Tuesday night at a rural church near Riverheads High School was taken over with posts criticizing the actions of those who created the event. It was eventually taken off Facebook on Wednesday.

"I keep seeing the word 'indoctrination' being thrown around and, as an RHS alumna, I take great offense to it," said Kari Watson. "I love this school, and Mrs. LaPorte is a wonderful teacher. It is outrageous to believe she is trying to convert anyone to Islam. Please, choose your media outlets wisely and be aware of what you're spreading."

The calligraphy assignment came from a workbook created by teachers called "World Religions." It was not an assignment LaPorte made up herself. The instructions for the assignment said, "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."

When The News Leader reached out to LaPorte for comment, she said her job now was getting her students through their Standards of Learning tests.

A Facebook group supporting LaPorte has been created and had more than 2,000 members by Friday morning. People implored members to write to Superintendent Bond expressing their support for LaPorte and her classroom lessons.

Former student Grace Zimmerman posted in the group saying, "As a community, it is up to us to defend a teacher who is not in the wrong and deserves our support as she supported a great number of us through our high school years."

Kacey LaPorte Bunch, who identifies herself as the teacher's daughter, posted this morning: "My mother wanted me to share the following message with you:

" I have been humbled by the love and support I have received from so many wonderful people. Thank you all, and please know you put the HAPPY back in my holidays."

Mrs.LaPorte"

Both the supporters of LaPorte and those who held the forum this week plan to come out en masse to the Augusta County School Board meeting Jan. 7 to express their points of view.

Climate at Riverheads High School

Increased police presence and national media attention have made for a weird week as Riverheads High School headed into winter break. Classes had been scheduled through Friday, before Thursday afternoon's abrupt decision to end the week early after district offices were hit by a firestorm of phone calls and emails over the controversy.

Augusta County Sheriff's deputies were in all schools and the front doors were locked, something that the schools came under fire for not doing in a separate controversy earlier in the week. Riverheads Principal Max Lowe said despite these measures, the climate at school this week has been "good" and that he hasn't heard from students that they are feeling any extra pressure.

Students, however, said things have been weird this week.

Kimber Murphy, also a junior, said that some parents have been concerned because of the police presence, but she has felt safe this week.

"[LaPorte] taught us some interesting things and I learned a lot," Murphy said. "I think she's a great teacher."

Friend of Murphy's, Tristian Jarvis said he feels things have been pretty normal this week. He also took world geography with LaPorte and reiterated that he feels LaPorte "is a great teacher in my opinion."

Although other students spoke out in support of LaPorte, their parents were fearful of having their names associated with the controversy in any way.

Assistant Superintendent Doug Shifflett said administration is trying to keep "schools out of the public forum," and with parental concern over school safety, they are not allowing media to speak with students during school hours.

Importance of comprehensive religion studies

LaPorte's lesson was part of a survey of different religions. When students study a different part of the world, they also learn about that region's culture, religion and political systems. Students had studied Christianity and Judaism then had moved on to Islam. They will also learn about Hinduism and Buddhism. Comparative religions is part of every world geography students' required standards for Standards of Learning tests.

Bridgewater College Professor Nancy Klancher, who teaches philosophy and religion and interfaith studies, said most of her students come from Virginia and many from the Shenandoah Valley.

"A large majority of them are from the Valley, and they don't know anything about any other religions besides their own." Klancher said. She has found how important her classes are in exposing students to cultures and ways of thinking they maybe have never heard of before.

Klancher said this is even more important today, and that students need to see accurate representations of religions, not just the extremists.

The difference between education and indoctrination is in the presentation, Klancher said.

"It's not about think like other people, it's about understanding other people," she said.

Ed Martin, director of the Center for Interfaith Engagement at Eastern Mennonite University, said we live in a pluralistic society and that exposure to other religions isn't just beneficial, it's vital. And currently there is a lot of misinformation about different religions, particularly Islam.

"We're going to encounter it in school, in our work and our social lives," Martin said. But learning about a religion is not the same as being asked to believe in it or practice it.

"Intellectual presentation is not calling for people to change their religion," he said.

Opposition quiet

Tuesday's forum was organized by parent Kim Herndon. Following the lesson on Friday, Herndon took to Facebook lambasting LaPorte and encouraging other parents to reach out to local administrators and share their outrage.

Herndon deleted the Facebook event she created for the forum on Thursday. She spoke Tuesday about taking legal action, however, no civil action has been filed with Augusta County Circuit Court. Herndon has not answered repeated requests for comment.

This story was updated at 10 a.m. Friday.