Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed, the Somali-born assistant superintendent for student, family and community partnerships in Portland Public Schools in Maine, proposed changes to the district's policy on dogs and other animals in the classroom, citing Islamic religious beliefs.
During the Oct. 14 school board meeting, Ahmed explained that dog saliva is considered ritually impure in Islamic tradition and said he had consulted with several Muslim imams on the matter.
He argued that dogs should not be kept as permanent classroom pets and suggested requiring parents to opt their children into activities involving dogs, rather than allowing families with religious objections to opt out.
The controversy began after a teacher at Ocean Avenue Elementary School suggested petting puppies in the classroom, allowing students to call and interact with them.