Some Muslim boys in New York are spending nine hours a day for two to three years memorizing the Koran so they can win entrance to Heaven for themselves and 10 family members, reports the New York Times. They learn the sounds but don't understand the words much less analyze the meaning. Parents think the boys, who seem to be middle-school age, will catch up in high school after missing years of English, math, science and history classes.

Ann Althouse calls it child abuse, not to mention a violation of New York law, which requires children to be taught a range of subjects, whether they attend public or private school. There are lots and lots of comments.

I think it's crazy, natch, and a little creepy.  But I think I agree with one commenter (on Jacob's site) who says "The state fails to educate millions of children and no one calls that abuse... so neither is this."  I feel it's wrong on many levels, but not sure about abuse...

If we espouse freedom in education... is this part of it?   If we believe in freedom of religion, and this is something this particular religion values, can we argue against it?   If I stopped teaching my child anything but the Bible for 3 years and got him "caught up" on academics after that, would that be OK?  Legally speaking, at least here in Oregon, probably would be OK as long as he could pass his state-mandated tests... 

Still, hard to think it's a good idea.