BOSTON, Mass., February 12, 2002 -- Houghton Mifflin
Company released the following statement in response to press
inquires regarding its "Across the Centuries" textbook:
On February 11, the New York Post published an editorial by
Daniel Pipes about Houghton Mifflin's "Across the Centuries" social
studies textbook. Although Mr. Pipes may have more than thirty years
studying Islam, it is important to understand that his critique of
"Across the Centuries" is not based upon reading the text, nor with
the understanding of standards to which the book was written. It is
very distressing that during a time in which cultural understanding
is paramount, that Mr. Pipes would write such a politically and
emotionally charged article based on misinformation.
Assumptions and accusations are made in Mr. Pipes' editorial
about omissions or interpretations of the text. Most of the
accusations are based on his own bias and his choice to cite
passages out-of-context. Mr. Pipes did not contact Houghton Mifflin
to obtain correct information about "Across the Centuries." Houghton
Mifflin has always taken a neutral, fact-based approach to writing
all of its educational publications, striving for a fair account of
history. Furthermore, a multi-cultural and multi-faith panel of
scholars reviewed and approved "Across the Centuries" before
publication.
"Across the Centuries" is part of a two-book series developed for
the state of California. State standards required that the Grade 6
text, "A Message of Ancient Days," teach "the dawn of the major
Western and non-Western ancient civilizations" including the origins
of Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity. The Grade 7 text
was to teach "the social, cultural, and technological changes that
occurred in Europe, Africa, and Asia in the years 500-1789 AD."
The California Board of Education determined which topics were
covered, and in which grade they are covered. Therefore, due to the
chronology of history, and the standards determined by the State of
California, Islam was not covered during the same school year as
other religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, which are covered
during the sixth grade school year.
The state also mandated which specific topics were to be taught
during each unit. Houghton Mifflin was provided with an outline of
topic areas to be covered and had to provide the detailed
information about each historical event. As directed by the state of
California, these books were to be written with "Historical
Empathy." Thus, the textbooks do not focus on accounts of violence,
cruelty or hatred on the part of any religion. In accordance with
California state standards, "Across the Centuries" focuses on how
the beliefs of certain cultures help shape their motivation and
their effect on history.
However, contrary to Mr. Pipes' argument, the text does in fact
mention instances of Muslim religious intolerance (chapter 4, page
81), just as it cites early missionary work and imperialism, as well
as the Crusades and intolerance by the Christians.
Readers should also keep in mind that "Across the Centuries"
covers material only up to 1789. Therefore, some of the issues
regarding Muslim women's rights as compared to women's rights in
other cultures are quite accurate. Again, because this text examines
a certain period of time, ending in 1789, human rights issues of
modern Muslim, Jewish, and Christian peoples are not included in the
text. Information about modern history is covered in Houghton
Mifflin's other textbooks, namely "Modern World History -- Patterns
in Interaction," which covers present day issues, and includes a
special supplement about September 11th -- one of the first to be
offered by any textbook publisher.
In this post-September 11 environment, no American needs to be
reminded of the significance of religion domestically and in the
global community. Part of understanding complex cultural issues
requires religious empathy. Throughout the two-part series of
textbooks, students are asked to complete writing exercises from the
perspective of various historical figures. Mr. Pipes' accusations
about solely pro-Muslim creative writing assignments in "Across the
Centuries" are based on misinformation. Throughout the two texts,
students are asked to write from the perspective of Athenians,
Spartans, Greeks, Jews, Christians, and Muslims, among others. These
lessons ask students to take a look at history through the eyes of
those who shaped it. Through activities such as these, students gain
an understanding of how and why people acted as they did, and begin
to think critically about how they might have acted similarly or
differently. Nowhere in either textbook are students asked to engage
in "mock-religious" activities, wear religious or cultural clothing,
nor are they encouraged to exercise the beliefs of any particular
religious group. They are simply asked to understand what people of
each culture believed.
Mr. Pipes tells readers that Houghton Mifflin establishes events
according to Islamic faith as fact. The writers of these textbooks
were very careful to qualify their statements about religious
"events" with statements like "Muhammad is believed by his followers
to have had a vision from Gabriel..." "Muhammad's followers believe
that in another vision..." "The God he believed in..." (chapter 3,
page 58). Each of these accounts of the Islamic faith are qualified
as fact only according to the believers of the Islamic religion. Mr.
Pipes omitted those citations. It should also be noted that the same
qualifiers are used when describing other religions' historical
events. Accounts of the life of Jesus are explained as "according to
the New Testament..." (Chapter 10, page 318 of "A Message of Ancient
Days") and accounts of Jewish faith are explained as "according to
the Bible" (Chapter 10, page 309 of "A Message of Ancient
Days").
Regarding Mr. Pipes' accusations of implied acceptance of
Muhammad's mission, the textbooks refer to several historical
figures in the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths as prophets. The
term prophet was not used as an endorsement for any one religion but
as a term to describe religious figures.
Houghton Mifflin takes great care in editing its books to
accurately portray history from all angles. A panel comprised of
scholars from every major cultural and religious group, who are
members of the religious or cultural group they represent, review
each book and screen for any bias or unfair representation of their
group, or any other group. "Across the Centuries" and "A Message of
Ancient Days" have both received approval from, among others,
Christian, Jewish, and Muslim scholars alike -- confirming that each
religion is portrayed as its believers see it, not just as outsides
may perceive it.
One of the recommendations of this panel was to clarify the
meaning of the word "jihad." Often misunderstood, this word means
"to struggle or to do ones best to resist temptation and overcome
evil." The book also states "the Qur'an and Sunna allow for
self-defense and participation in military conflict, but restrict it
to the right to defend against aggression and persecution." This
definition was suggested by Islamic, Judaic and Christian scholars,
among others, as the correct representation of the word "jihad."
Many Americans have come to see the word "jihad" as some Islamic
fundamentalists use it, as a right or a mission to kill and destroy.
However, the vast majority of Muslims do not share this view, and
assert that a "jihad" is not necessarily an act of violence. It is
the role of educators to dispel misconceptions and prejudices about
religion and culture.
Lastly, Mr. Pipes asserts that religion, or at least Islam,
should be approached "from the outside" and not as believers. In
public schools, religion and culture should certainly not be learned
as believers. However, learning about it must be based on
information from believers. Houghton Mifflin's goal is truth in
education. Our efforts in "Across the Centuries" and all of our
textbooks are to eliminate misconceptions and ignorance, and help
our children develop the critical thinking skills and the cultural
understanding to build a peaceful future.
Collin Earnst
Director, Media Relations
Houghton
Mifflin Company
Collin_Earnst@hmco.com
