East Valley School Surprises Pre-K Students with Impromptu Quran Class

By Staff Reporter |

Parents in the East Valley are expressing concerns after a school introduced Islamic teachings to pre-kindergarten students. The PreK THINK! Highly Gifted Academy at the Sossaman Early Childhood Development Center, part of the Higley Unified School District (HUSD), facilitated an unexpected lesson on the Quran this week.

During a birthday celebration, gifted education teacher Janet Williams allowed a student’s father to address the class about his faith. A photograph shared by Williams depicted the father in traditional Islamic attire, engaging the children by showcasing his clothing.

Peggy McClain, founder of the Not in Our Schools website, raised questions regarding the legality of such religious instruction. “Where is the separation of church and state we are always lectured about?” she asked, referencing the Quran discussion within a public school setting.

One parent inquired whether HUSD would permit their daughter, a missionary for the LDS church, to share religious teachings next. “My Catholic and Jewish friends want their turn, too,” they added, illustrating a growing unease about equal representation of diverse faiths in the classroom.

Legally, schools cannot compel religious activities or distribute religious materials, as emphasized by advocacy group Secular Arizona. They assert that students should not feel pressured into participating in any religious practices while at school.

The issue of religious instruction in public schools has drawn attention from state leaders. Arizona’s Governor Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes are vocal about maintaining a clear separation between religion and public education, a principle echoed in the First Amendment’s Establishment and Free Exercise clauses.

Last year, Hobbs vetoed a bill aiming to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, citing constitutional concerns. “The display is not essential for education and likely unconstitutional,” she stated.

In a recent move, Attorney General Mayes joined 17 others in challenging the establishment of the first publicly funded religious charter school, declaring that allowing such institutions could either violate the Constitution or disrupt existing public school systems.

The issue of religious influence in schools continues to be a contentious topic, further fueled by HUSD’s recent changes to its dress code policy, which have also raised eyebrows among parents.