Humble ISD had an optional fieldtrip to an Islamic center. Criti

Humble ISD had an optional fieldtrip to an Islamic center. Critics made it an anti-Muslim flashpoint.
A right-wing media group is criticizing Humble ISD for allowing high school students to take a field trip to an Islamic community center - a school activity the district says is governed by federal non-discrimination laws.Humble ISD confirmed that it received concerns about "the nature and appropriateness of the field trip," but said it was complying with federal laws that require equal treatment of all student clubs, including religious ones."If a school permits one non-curricular club, it must afford the same opportunity to others," Humble ISD said in a statement. "There are multiple religious clubs on campuses."The field trip is the latest flashpoint as anti-Muslim rhetoric from Republican politicians and activists spills into school settings.Last month, Spring Branch ISD forced parent groups to remove Ramadan decorations at Bunker Hill Elementary School after a parent complained about the display. In January, Gov. Greg Abbott demanded that Cypress-Fairbanks ISD bar the Islamic Games of North America from using district facilities. And the Texas Comptroller's office is facing a lawsuit over its block of Islamic schools from the state's $1 billion voucher program.'Islamic propaganda'On Monday, Rise Align Ignite Reclaim Foundation USA - a group that has promoted anti-Muslim conspiracy theories - complained that Atascocita and Kingwood high schools let a group of 30 students visit Centro Islámico, a Spanish-speaking religious center, on Feb. 17 as part of a day-long field trip.The center, which opened in 2024 in Alief, is one of the first of its kind in the country, serving Houston's fast-growing Latino Muslim population. It produces bilingual content in Spanish and English that aims to educate people about Islam and the contributions of Muslims in Spain.The conservative group called it a "taxpayer-funded recruitment drive" and "Islamic propaganda."RAIR describes itself as a grassroots activist organization working to "reclaim our Republic from the network of individuals and organizations waging war on Americans, our Constitution, our borders and our Judeo-Christian values."The organization's founder, Amy Mekelburg, has also called the district out on social media for allowing the Muslim Students Association to take field trips during the school day. She said the student organization had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, which Abbott designated as a terrorist group.Voluntary student tripIn a statement, Humble ISD said the Feb. 17 field trip was optional and only involved students who were all voluntary members of student-initiated religious clubs on their campuses. All students received written permission from their parents to join the club and attend the trip.The Harris County chapter of Moms for Liberty - a national conservative group that says it's dedicated to parental rights and "the survival of America" - also criticized the recent field trip online. They said the event offered opportunities to eat at a food truck and try Arabic desserts to get students to skip class and join the trip."So do you see what they are doing here?" the group said on X. "They are enticing your kids to attend their religious (and political) proselytizing events by making them "fun," and they are doing it DURING THE SCHOOL DAY USING YOUR TAX DOLLARS."Centro Islámico defended the field trip in a video, saying the visit's main goal was to teach students about the Muslim community. They said in their post that it was "an opportunity to wipe away many misinformation and stereotypes that one may have against the Muslims.""These students are now returning to their schools and families with a real experience that can break stereotypes, correct misinformation, open the door to meaningful conversations," the group posted.Centro Islámico did not immediately respond to a request for comment.www.houstonchronicle .com/news/houston-te xas/education/articl e/humble-isd-is