For over three decades, Muslims in Syosset have faced discrimination. It's time we take a stand and resolve this pervasive problem from within our education system.

Islamophobia, or the discrimination against Islam or people who practice Islam, is not just an international issue; it's local. Islamophobia and other forms of discrimination directly affects the well being of our students. Discrimination impacts students' learning, their confidence and has long lasting consequences on their future.

According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), there has been a 172% increase in anti Muslim hatred incidents compared to 2022. In the eight weeks covering October 7, 2023 to December 2, 2023 CAIR’s national headquarters and chapters received a total of 2,171 requests for help and reports of bias; there are hundreds, if not thousands of other incidents that have not been reported. 

Our school district has an opportunity - and responsibility - to educate students about this form of bigotry. We advocate for immediate action by mandating education on Islamophobia across all schools under the district's jurisdiction.

Here are some of the changes the Muslim community would like to see in Syosset's Central School District: 

1. Educate

Students as well as Faculty and Staff should be taught that Islamophobia is one of several forms of racism that exist in our school district and examples of Islamophobia range from but are not limited to :

• Calling Muslim students 'terrorist(s)'
• Harassing Muslims students who wear the hijab (head covering)Accusing Muslim students of supporting foreign terrorist organizations
• Threatening Muslim students with lower grades, creating barriers to college/job opportunities, invoking diparate displinary action, and/or lack of funding to Muslim student organizations.

Codify

• The definition of Islamophobia should be included in the code of conduct and terms used as a pejorative such as, but not limited to, “terrorist”, “bomber”, “muzzie” should be identified as Islamophobic. Students who utter any and/or all such words should be penalized to the furthest possible extent allowed by the district's Code of Conduct.
• Harassment and bullying, based on wearing religious symbols, specifically the hijab, must be included as a form of Islamophobia in the Code of Conduct.
  
  

Safety 

• The Board of Education needs to ensure the safety of all attendees at its meetings. No member of the audience can interrupt any speaker at any time during his/her speech. Any interruption is an immediate cause for dismissal from the meeting.
• Audience members who use racial slurs, threaten, attempt to assault and/or assault anyone throughout the board meeting must be immediately expelled from the meeting and banned from Syosset Central School District's property indefinitely. Security should immediately contact Nassau County Police Department and demand the perpetrator be arrested, even if he/she has left the premises.

Curriculum 

• Racism and Islamophobia stem from a lack of education on Islamic history.
• Address the root causes of Islamophobia through comprehensive education on Islamic history. Specialized assemblies and diverse representation on curriculum committees can facilitate a more inclusive and accurate portrayal of Islamic history for all grade levels. 

Transparency

•  There should be no retroactive editing of Board of Education proceedings. Board of Education proceedings are part of public information and should always be available for the Syosset community to watch.
• All Anti-Bias Task Force meetings should be live streamed and its minutes should be provided to the public.

Equal Treatment

• Muslims do not demand superior treatment. Muslims ask that everyone be treated equally. All students regardless of background, ethnicity and/or religion should be subject to uniform displinary action.
• Promote equality by condemning all forms of discrimination. Encourage the fair treatment of all students, irrespective of their backgrounds or beliefs.  
• Islamophobic incidents must be punished to the fullest extent possible under the District's Code of Conduct. 
   

Faculty

• The faculty and staff in Syosset schools do not reflect the diversity of the Syosset community nor the student body population. The school district must address this lack of diversity and work towards increasing diversity and inclusivity within its non-student body.
• Due to the immense power and influence faculty possess, an anonymous reporting system must be implemented to allow students to report without fear of retribution. The anonymous reporting system must have checks to ensure faculty cannot punish a student for reporting him/her.

Differentiating Political Views from Prejudice

• It's crucial to acknowledge that opposition to conflicts overseas, such as the situation in Israel, is not synonymous with antisemitism. Many in our community hold legitimate concerns about these issues and have voiced their opinions. It's unfair and unjust to label individuals or communities expressing dissent on political matters as antisemitic.
• Let's ensure that constructive discussions on geopolitical affairs remain separate from prejudiced assumptions, fostering an environment where differing political views are respected without being conflated with hate or discrimination.
• The criticism of any government and/or country cannot be used as grounds to punish Muslim and/or non-Muslim students.

The recent rise of Islamophobia in Syosset schools is terrifying and the district must take swift action to punish those responsible for perpetrating such despicable acts.

Please sign this petition if you believe that knowledge can combat prejudice and that our children deserve an education free from hate.