A teacher at Franklin Academy in Pembroke Pines, Florida, USA was fired after a TikTok video went viral, for showing a teacher disrupting Muslim students while praying.
The video showcases three Muslim students peacefully praying when a teacher walks in questioning what the boys are doing.
The teacher inconsiderately starts walking through the praying boys, blowing her whistle and stepping on some of their hands in the process.
Uttering ‘Hold on, this is my office and y’all doing this magic?’ the teacher said. Referring to the boys praying as ‘magic’. The teacher continued to say, ‘I believe in Jesus, so I’m interrupting the floor.’
Towards the end of the video, the teacher can be heard asking another person, ‘Who told them to come in here?’
The students continued praying during the whole incident, keeping calm. Despite the teacher’s attempts to interrupt the students while praying.
The video has surpassed 8.3 million views, many were quick to point out the atrocious behavior of the teacher.
The school, Franklin Academy later released a statement saying that the school does ‘not tolerate discriminatory behavior’. It was later known that the teacher was fired.
The students were partaking in the Islamic ritual called Salah, which is an important aspect for all Muslims. It is a voluntary act; Muslims pray 5 times a day to show thankfulness and gratitude towards their Creator and submit to Him in peace and tranquility.
It is not a crime for students to pray at school, it is their right to peacefully practice their faith.
To prevent acts like this from reoccurring, schools should be educated on why Muslim students choose to pray during school hours and what are the benefits of doing so.
By praying we are creating a sense of connection with God.
There are many schools in the world that are teaching students to create a connection with God or being mindful and appreciative of all the blessings.
There are many positives to Salah, as it reduces stress and anxiety, making the person feel calmer, increasing gratitude, empathy, appreciation and contentment.
These qualities help improve emotional health and pave a vital role in character building.
Not only does it improve psychological aspects, but Salah also assists with physiological health too, as it has been reported that a person’s heart rate and blood pressure decrease during Salah, and it helps regulate breathing.
By students praying at school, it creates a positive atmosphere for them thereby they could be a better student, less distractful and improve focus in their academic subjects.
It is important for the Muslim organisations to build positive relationships with secondary schools to educate teachers on benefits of Salah on Muslim students and how this may help in their character building and improve academic achievements.
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