Muslim Parents' Activism in the Multicultural Education (MCE) Curriculum

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to study the role of parental involvement in the public school system and its effects on Muslim students' achievements, their perceptions of school culture, and the feeling in the community-at-large about Islam. The study analyzes two neighboring communities of Muslims in the State of Connecticut, Stamford and Norwalk. The paper also studies the Multicultural Education (MCE)/Diversity curriculum in public schools to find effective ways for Muslim parents to become involved in their children's education. In this context, an examination will be made of education issues affecting Muslim families: ways of increasing achievement scores; the role played by the socio-economic status of a student and hisher schooling experience; the importance of the teacher; and the positive relationship between the MCEDversity curriculum and the ideals of democracy that we cherish in this country.