OHIO — October marks the beginning of National Bullying Prevention Month.

Monday also marks the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7attack on Israel by Hamas and the deaths that followed in Gaza. In light of that, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) is calling for K-12 schools and colleges to protect students.

What You Need To Know

  • CAIR is challenging teachers to be aware of the climate in their classrooms and to set the tone
  • The belief is that institutions must protect students’ first amendment rights and not favor one political viewpoint over another
  • In 2024, CAIR officials say a survey showed that 84% of Muslim students in higher education or trade programs experienced religious discrimination

“In the last year or so, we’ve seen an increase of 219% of discrimination cases related to education,” said Faten Odeh, Executive Director of the Council on American Islamic Relations in Ohio.

This is part of the reason CAIR is challenging teachers across the country to seek ways to address issues as tensions in the Middle East have an impact here in the U.S. 

That includes recognizing how students are talking to one another and how teachers themselves are handling situations when conversations about what is happening arise.

“We know that there are a lot of controversial topics that are spoken about in the classroom, and teachers need to make sure that they take those students aside who are most affected by those topics and say, ‘Hey, we’re going to have this conversation today. Do you want to participate in it at all?’” Odeh said.

That’s besides making sure students are comfortable in the classroom.

Odeh highlighted these things with the understanding that bullying is a problem for all students. 

“In 2024, there was a survey that was done where 84% of Muslim students in higher education or trade programs experience religious discrimination,” Odeh said.

She said that doesn’t include incidents that were not reported. Plus, based on CAIR’s research, she said, “30 universities were complicit in suppressing, silencing and otherwise targeting anti genocide protesters.”

Ultimately, Odeh said CAIR believes institutions must protect students’ first amendment rights and not favor one political viewpoint over another. That’s even in the classroom.

“You have to make sure that you treat all your students fairly, regardless of your own personal views,” Odeh said. “And many times, we have seen the opposite happen.”

She said CAIR wants to make sure students are protected from the trauma that many experienced when 9/11 occurred.