The Houston office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on the Houston Independent School District to launch an independent investigation of whether an elementary school teacher’s private anti-Muslim views are negatively impacting her students.

In a letter sent today to Superintendent Terry Grier, CAIR-Houston Executive Director wrote in part:

“We are writing regarding the hateful, bigoted and profane comments made by Angela Box, an elementary school teacher in the Houston Independent School District, on the public access TV program ‘Tommy’s Garage.’

“While the Houston office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) unequivocally respects the First Amendment right to free speech, we are appalled by Ms. Box’ comments. Please see some sample comments below:

* ‘Every normal human being in the world thinks that goat-f**king Muslims and boy-f**king Muslims are the evil of the world.’

* ‘I am so sick of the bacon-haters coming here and demanding we bend to their culture.’ [This referred to a request by Muslims receiving government assistance for food prepared according to Islamic guidelines.]. . .

“In addition to her inaccurate and hateful statements regarding Islam and Muslims, we are especially concerned by her statement regarding President Obama: ‘I’m just going to say what everyone is thinking: can’t Ebola just take one for the team and take out Obama?’

“. . .There are Muslim students in the Houston Independent School District and likely in her own school who would be hurt and confused by Ms. Box’ anti-Islam statements.

“Given these facts, we call for an independent outside investigator to interview her students to see if her bigoted views are being expressed in class.”

CAIR press release, 18 November 2014

Update:  See “Teacher accused of anti-Muslim remarks to resign, get 3 months’ pay”, Houston Chronicle, 4 December 2014