Public education continues to be somewhat of a taboo for many Muslim students across the United States. As a result, some are now turning to home schooling because of discrimination against Muslim children at school.

The New York Times reports that as many of 40 percent of Muslim children enrolled are instead home-schooled.

Even estimates on the number of all American children being taught at home swing broadly, from one million to two million. No matter what the faith, parents who make the choice are often inspired by a belief that public schools are havens for social ills like drugs and that they can do better with their children at home.

The paper also quotes Aya Ismael, a Muslim mother home-schooling her four children, commenting on the growing tendency among Muslim families.

“I don’t want the behavior. Little girls are walking around dressing like hoochies, cursing and swearing and showing disrespect toward their elders. In Islam we believe in respect and dignity and honor.

Even though home schooling has a very small possibility for providing a broad education, some Muslims still view holistic Islamic education as the main source to learn basic concepts. Taqwa Gayong Academy quotes Abdul-Lateef Abdullah (Steven Krauss), who reverted to Islam at the age of 27, saying this.

Being Muslim for me has been one long blessing. Everyday of my life I am thankful and appreciative to Allah for guiding me to Islam. It has filled a major void in my life that I had had for quite some time. I always had an inkling for the spiritual but never imagined it would be answered by an organized religion that up until three years ago I knew absolutely nothing about.

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