USA Today featured an article by Eboo Patel, who talks about his 14-year-old nephew being called "towelhead" and "terrorist" by bullies in his Houston public school.
He suggests schools declare themselves "No Prejudice Zones," where teachers and administrators patrol religious insults. We agree – teachers and administrators are responsible for preventing bullying of any kind and fostering an inclusive and respectful environment in their schools. I’m sure the educators at this Houston school don’t approve of this behavior, they just aren’t sure how to deal with it. Having administrators, teachers and students sign on to a "culture of respect" is a start. Developing school-wide policies for reprimanding religious prejudice and infusing curricula with lessons of tolerance comes next.