For the second time within two weeks, a public body in Darby in USA, will host a special meeting to discuss a planned presentation on Islam by a longtime University of Montana (UM) professor.
The Darby school board will hold a special board meeting on Monday at 6 p.m. in the high school library to talk about a plan to host UM Professor Samir Bitar on Wednesday. His talk at the library is titled “Perspectives on Islam.”
Bitar is the featured humanities Montana speaker at the Darby community library’s life-long learning series on the same night.
Bitar is a professor of Arabic languages and cultures at the UM.
A native Palestinian, Bitar moved to Montana when he was 16. He has been teaching at UM since 1999. He has a master’s degree in linguistics, teaching methods and cultural geography. Bitar has trained members of the Montana National Guard in essential Arabic language and culture.
The school district plans to have Bitar speak to high school social studies classes earlier in the day.
Last week, the library board held a special meeting about Bitar’s presentation after receiving about seven written complaints and some calls of opposition. After taking public comment, the library board voted to move forward with the presentation.
Darby School Superintendent Loyd Rennaker said some school board members have heard the same type of complaints and decided to allow the community a chance to voice its concerns or support.
Students are already required to have a permission slip signed by their parents or guardians to attend the class.
“We saw the potential for controversy so we gave parents the opportunity to make the decision for their children,” Rennaker said.
source : abna24
