|
Superintendent Reveals Controversial Reason for Seeking Dog Policy Change, Sparking School Board Uproar
|
|
A proposed Portland Public Schools policy on animals has triggered… |
|
A proposed Portland Public Schools policy on animals has triggered backlash after Abdullahi Ahmed, the district’s assistant superintendent for student, family, and community partnerships, argued that rules involving dogs should account for Islamic ritual purity. The policy committee met on October 14 to discuss the district’s proposed Animals in Schools policy. As currently drafted, the rules would require school administration to approve animals, require certification for service animals, and require domestic animals to be restrained. The proposal was reportedly prompted by a teacher’s plan to foster puppies in her classroom. Apparently, in modern school administration, even a puppy now needs a policy summit. Ahmed, who is Somali born and Muslim, said the district should consider religious concerns involving dogs. “In Islamic tradition, there is always love for animals and living things and compassion for animals,” Ahmed said. “With that being said, there are some ritual purity that Islamic traditions state and Muslims exercise, so, for example, dog saliva is considered impure.” He also said he did not want the district “to have a dog as a class pet” and that students and staff “should not be required to interact” with animals at school. A summary of the proposal said dogs…
|
