Change conflicting policies between Religion and School at ESD

For those unfamiliar with the faith of Islam, one of the many traditions followed by believers of this faith is to grow the beard at fist length (from the chin), and to trim the hair around the upper lip and face. Several passages and sayings (Qu'rran, Hadith),
dictate this as divine law. Recently, a young man of Islamic faith reached the age at which it was deemed appropriate for him to carry out this expression faith. Knowing the school's policy of "no facial hair", he very considerately wrote a letter to several
members of the administration, asking for permission to grow his beard to fist length. He was turned down.

Some would argue that an Episcopalian school reserves the right to deny non-Christian forms of religious expression. However, ESD has chosen, of their own volition, to admit students of non-Christian faith to the school.

The following is a verbatim copy of the mission statement of the Episcopal School of Dallas, which appears on the first page of the 2000-01 edition of the ESD Student Handbook: "The Episcopal School of Dallas, a college preparatory school, is a spiritual community whose mission is to educate young people having A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS AND APTITUDES [my emphasis]. The school is a co-educational, faith-centered environment, with a strong academic and extra-curricular program that ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO DISCOVER THEIR FULL POTENTIAL SPIRITUALLY, INTELLECTUALLY, AND PHYSICALLY. [my emphasis]"

By printing the above text on the first page of the student handbook, ESD has professed to encourage students of different faiths to attend their school, and to strengthen their relationship with God. We see forms of religious expression around us every day at school.

To allow Christians and Jews to express their faith using the previously mentioned religious symbols, while restricting Muslims from growing a beard, ESD has restricted members of a particular faith the freedom to express themselves in ways similar to those
that their Jewish and Christian brothers and sisters do.

Furthermore, by publishing the aforementioned mission statement, while at the same time denying a student his own ways of "discover [himself]spiritually", The Episcopal School of Dallas has shown it's true diversity... or lack thereof. Please sign this
petition to support this Muslim student in his fight for religious expression in a "diverse" school.