Marjan Seirafi-Pour, the chair of the controversial Oklahoma Governors Ethnic American Advisory Council. has been appointed to a three year term on the Oklahoma State Textbook Committee by Governor Brad Henry. This committee has a major role in selecting what textbooks our children study in school.
This appointment was not announced in any local newspapers that I could find. But it was featured in the National Iranian American Council:
"...Her involvement began after her youngest daughter came home from school asking why, an old video her teacher showed in class differed so greatly from the Iran she traveled to. The video, with images of goat herders and dirt roads, is obviously a narrow view of a country that also boasts skyscrapers and marble condominiums. This lack of accurate representation in American schools was disturbing to Seirafi-Pour. She began her journey to update the school’s media by speaking to teachers, then principles, and eventually to the Governor of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma's Governor, Brad Henry, seized upon Mrs. Seirafi-Pour’s passion for improving the value of student education and knowledge of Iranian culture by nominating her to the Oklahoma Textbook Committee. She advised other Iranian-American parents to be persistent and to “not get angry when you see wrong information.” Mrs. Seirafi-Pour emphasized that it is very important to talk to the school officials and teachers to express whatever concerns one has. With “persistent communication, eventually you will be able to make changes...”
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Also see:
11/01/07: Lawmaker notes Muslim influence Tulsa World
"...Reynolds recently called on Henry to disband or reform the ethnic advisory council, saying the group's members are all Muslim. Council chairwoman Marjan Seirafi-Pour said the intent of the council is to work with the government and others to build understanding of Islam..." (note: this is a state supported council using tax-payer dollars to advance Islam)
Islam in the Classroom report (American Texbook Council; 41 page pdf file):
"...Many political and religious groups try to use the textbook process to their advantage, but the deficiencies in Islam-related lessons are uniquely disturbing. History textbooks present an incomplete and confected view of Islam that misrepresents its foundations and challenges to international security..."
Oklahoma Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council new zTruth page
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