BREAKING NEWS

Virginia county closes schools as Islam homework draws backlash

By REUTERS

DECEMBER 18, 2015 17:06

Schools in Augusta County, Virginia, closed on Friday as a safety precaution after a homework assignment asking students to copy Islamic religious calligraphy prompted an angry backlash from parents and threats from outside the district.

County school officials did not point to any specific threat of harm but said on the school's website they were canceling Thursday extracurricular activities, adding that classes would be called off the following day.

The assignment, handed out to Riverheads High School in Staunton, was part of a broader unit on major world religions and asked students to copy Islamic religious calligraphy.

County school officials did not point to any specific threat of harm Thursday afternoon they canceled extracurricular activities as well.

After objections from parents and media coverage, the schools received "voluminous phone calls and electronic mail locally and from outside the area," Augusta County Public Schools said in a statement.

Police presence at schools was bolstered, but the communications increased. Because of concerns about their tone and content, officials decided to close schools and school offices on Friday "out of an abundance of caution," the statement said.

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