Shouldn't Teachers Know the Rules?

Recently a British teacher named Gillian Gibbons was arrested in Sudan for "insulting religion" and "inciting hatred." Gibbons apparently allowed her second grade class to name a Teddy Bear Muhammad. Muhammad is a common name among Muslim men, but giving the prophet's name to an animal is viewed as an insult. Gibbons faced a harsh penalty for her ignorance and there were crowds at her trial demanding she be executed. Instead, Gibbons was sentenced to fifteen days in prison and deportation. She was eventually freed and sent back to England when that country issued two diplomats to negotiate her release. There has been tremendous outrage, and rightfully so, over the Sudanese reaction to the whole "crime," but what about Gibbon's duties as a teacher?

Teachers are responsible for a child's education, and that entails teaching children about the culture of which they are a part. Gibbons decided that she wanted to teach in the largely Muslim country of Sudan, which means she should have some knowledge of Islam and of Sudanese culture. The controversy surrounding Gibbons indicates that perhaps she did not understand as much as she thought. Insulting Muhammad is probably the last thing you want to do as a visitor in a Muslim country, and as a teacher Gibbons should have taught her pupils that naming an animal (Teddy Bears included) after the prophet is not kosher. Gibbons later commented that she went to Sudan for an "adventure." Well, mission accomplished.