Democracy and Intolerance: Christian School Curricula, School Choice, and Public Policy by Frances R. A. Paterson
The author reviewed textbooks commonly used in Christian private schools' social studies and history classes in the United States and found that they prepared the reader to accept narrow political, social and religious views. Because many in the United States seek government support for these private schools, the author urges that no public support be given because these books promote intolerance of others' viewpoints in an undemocratic manner.
I think it's important for Muslims in North America to understand this issue well, because I find many do not understand the importance of separation of religion and state, i.e. the non-establishment clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Some of these people think that supporting the erosion of this principle will make US government support of Muslim institutions more likely. Even if that were the case, the harm done by encouraging the indoctrination of a larger section of the population into a white supremacist-inspired version of Christianity would overshadow any benefit.
The other matter this book should cause the North American Muslim reader to consider is similar features in Muslim literature and textbooks. For example, Dr. Paterson found that "liberal" was a pejorative term in these textbooks. Is "Western" a pejorative term in Muslim textbooks? How does Muslim literature develop the capacity to consider various versions of "the good life," which the author identifies as the most important characteristic of education in a liberal democracy?
