Debate in Maine schools over classroom dogs after official raises religious objections

A debate is ongoing in Portland Public Schools in the US state of Maine over dogs in classrooms. As the district considers changes to its classroom pet policy, a school administrator has raised concerns because of Islamic religious beliefs about the animals.

Dr Abdullahi Ahmed, Portland Public Schools' assistant superintendent for student, family and community partnerships, discussed the concerns during an October 14 policy committee meeting. He explained that some Islamic traditions consider dog saliva impure. According to a report, he had consulted local Muslim religious leaders who opposed keeping dogs as classroom pets.

The debate began after a teacher at Ocean Avenue Elementary School sought permission to foster puppies in her classroom, giving students an opportunity to interact with the animals during reading and playtime.

Ahmed suggested that accommodations could include keeping dogs in a separate room to respect students and families with religious objections.

Ahmed said Muslim community members are not opposed to animals, saying that in Islamic tradition there is always love for animals and living things and compassion for animals.

He went on to say that some Islamic traditions consider dogs unclean, giving dog saliva as an example of something considered impure. He also said some people had experiences with dogs that were negative in the past.

Ahmed was born and raised in Somalia and speaks Somali, Arabic, English and Urdu, according to his district biography. He also said the imams he spoke with did not want dogs kept as pets in classrooms.

Committee members discussed whether any revised policy should apply only to dogs or extend to other classroom animals, along with potential opt-in and opt-out accommodations. The committee did not vote on policy changes during the October 14 meeting.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich criticised the objections, saying dogs have been enriching the lives of school children across America since its founding. She called objections to dogs in the classroom silly.

Fox News Digital reached out to Ahmed and to Ryan Scallon, superintendent of Portland Public Schools, for comment but did not immediately receive responses.