In Virginia, the Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) district advised teachers that they should not link the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people with radical Islam and instructed them to create "safe spaces" for Muslim students when discussing the 25th anniversary of the terror attacks.
A copy of the guide, titled "25th Anniversary and Commemoration of 9/11," was obtained and analyzed by Fox News Digital, which notes that the guide’s focus has “prompted critics to accuse Fairfax County (Virginia) Public School's liberal leaders of coddling post-9/11 sensitivities rather than teaching history.”
A digital content analysis of the 1,740-page guidance by Fox News reveals:
- About half is devoted to tips for creating "safe spaces for Muslim and Middle Eastern students."
- About 15% spells out specific 9/11 instruction.
- “The rest of the document tip-toes around managing ‘emotional responses’ to the lesson.
- Only one mention of first responders to the scene of the attack.
- Just three mentions of military families.
- 30 references to Islam, "Muslim families," "Muslim students," "anti-Muslim racism," "anti-Middle Eastern" rhetoric, "Islamophobic rhetoric" and "Middle Eastern students" and families.
- A bulleted list of "critical considerations" to challenge anti-Muslim bias.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Fairfax County Public Schools expresses sympathy for “everyone whose lives were forever changed,” including those who were killed.
The statement then goes on to declare the following:
"FCPS remains committed to creating an inclusive environment in our schools where all students feel welcome and respected as we strive to provide a world-class education and workplace."
By definition, “all students” would include those who advocate terrorism, as well as those harmed by it.
