To learn about Jehovah’s Witness students, I found this resource from NAfME about a secondary band teacher and student who worked together to solve any issues that arose from the curriculum. One of the biggest takeaways for me was that the teacher starts with “Before the school year began, I sat down with Alice and her mother” (Weidner, 2017). It is important to have this discussion with both the student and the parents to get the dialogue started and have a clear picture of what is and is not allowed.
Music & Islam: background on why parents ask to have their students removed from general music classes doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/10.1007/s11562-012-0220-0
Teaching Islam with music, a deep dive into an Islamic school in Sweden where the religion teacher educates students about Islam through music. Focuses on music about Islam or nature, has the religious clout to back up her use of music in the classroom. Jenny Berglund (2008) Teaching Islam with music, Ethnography and Education, 3:2, 161-175, DOI: 10.1080/17457820802062409
A study of Muslim religious exemptions in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Two articles about the same situation, years apart. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/fathers-cultural-demand-ends-on-a-flat-note-with-toronto-school/article31732246/
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/mandatory-music-classes-strike-sour-note-with-muslim-parents/article31716832/
Also a scholarly resource on the same events: http://link.galegroup.com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/apps/doc/A321682496/AONE?u=msu_main&sid=AONE&xid=6491b83b
References:
Weidner, Brian. (2017 August 18). Welcoming a Jehovah’s Witness Into the Band Room. Retrieved from: https://nafme.org/welcoming-a-jehovahs-witness-into-the-bandroom/
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