School Board Member Criticized For Religion Assignment Comments

ELGIN, IL — An Elgin School District U46 board member is facing criticism over comments, made on her social media page, on a homework assignment about religion, according to reports. Jeanette Ward shared the assignment her sixth-grade daughter brought home on social media.

The assignment features an article in which the author says Christianity, Judaism and Islam worship the same God, regardless of their differences. The article is "utterly incorrect and false on many levels," Ward posted, according to the Elgin Courier-News.

"Do you know what your children are being taught: Muslims believe in the same God as Christians and Jews?" she posted.

Four local faith leaders attended the next school board meeting on Monday and spoke up. While the article in the assignment wasn't without flaw, "We feel that, more important than the content of the article is the question of how we are to engage with inevitable differences of opinion, theology and worldview," said Katie Shaw Thompson, pastor of Elgin's Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, the Courier-News reported.

Thompson and other religious leaders met over the weekend to discuss the matter. "Here, we strongly take exception to Ms. Ward's approach on her social media post."

Sulayman Hassan, of the Baitul Ilm Academy in Streamwood, said "Each of us believes our own traditions are holy and true.. Each of us also believes that each person, regardless of religious tradition, is valued by God and is therefore worthy of dignity and respect."

Ward responded to the critique by saying her intent was to make residents aware of assignments being given to their children. "Which part of my Facebook post offended you? The part where I ask if Muslims believe in the same God as Christians or Jews?" she asked, the Courier-News reported. "Or the excerpt I posted from my daughter's assignment was utterly incorrect and false on many levels? There is nothing in that post that is uncivil."

This isn't the first time Ward has been involved in arguments over topics of national attention. In September, she was offended when another school board member posted a controversial comment on Facebook speaking negatively about the American flag.

The Courier-News reported, as well, that students last year began a petition condemning Ward's comments on minorities, education, LGBTQ students and others as biased and offensive.

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