Education as a Counterterrorism Tool and the Curious Case of the Texas School Book Resolution
11 University of Maryland Law Journal of Race, Religion, Gender and Class 271 (Fall 2011)
26 Pages Posted: 5 Apr 2011 Last revised: 28 Jun 2012
Date Written: February 22, 2011
Abstract
As a case study, this paper reviews a resolution passed by the Texas State Board of Education on September 24, 2010. The resolution rejects certain Social Studies texts that contain what the Board determined were pro-Islamic/anti-Christian distortions…The resolution is itself doing what it complains about – it is showing “chronic partiality to one of the world’s great religions and animus against another.”…At a time when “reciprocal negative perceptions between the Western and Muslim worlds continue to escalate”, it is essential to acknowledge the important role of education to promote tolerance… The knowledge gained from religious tolerance education can then be used to help reduce feelings of alienation within minority communities, and to counter “radicalization”. Thus education becomes an effective and essential counterterrorism tool.
Keywords: counterterrorism, education, radicalization, religion
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation