Resources To Support Discussions About Islamophobia
It is incumbent upon educators to support students in processing current events and understanding Islamophobia for several reasons. In addition to promoting cultural awareness, inclusivity, and global citizenship, fostering understanding of Islam and Muslim communities is key to preventing bullying and harassment, encouraging critical thinking, and ensuring the dignity and safety of all students. Engaging with these topics carefully enables students to respond critically and compassionately both in and out of the classroom.
Included in this guide are teacher facing resources, student facing resources with focus questions and questions for discussion, and links to relevant lessons from the New York City Public Schools curricula, Passport to Social Studies and Civics for All. Social Studies teachers are also encouraged to use primary source analysis strategies with images and text, alongside appropriate support and context, to encourage students to begin and lead classroom conversations. Discussion of prejudice, discrimination, and religious intolerance may generate feelings such as fear or anger in students. It is important to create a space for students to express and process these feelings. A number of resources in the list below provide guidance on responding to Islamophobia and maintaining civil discourse when covering difficult issues in the classroom.