Handsome "Jack" Morrison wrote:
"So let’s take a look at this as a case of competing rights. On one
side we have a student with a medical disability. One would think that
the Americans with Disabilities Act would allow this student to
participate to the fullest extent possible in pursuing his goals,
which is to teach in special education. To do so, he is supposed to
train in both elementary and secondary school settings. (The article
notes that Hurd had no such problems with Somali students at his
elementary school assignment.)

"On the other side, we have a student at Tech HS whose faith considers
dogs unclean and is asserting his right to education in an institution
without dogs. This not only affects student teachers; any student with
a sight or hearing disability may use a dog for assistance and might
want to also attend Tech HS.

"But when rights collide, as they did here, whose rights did they
choose to uphold first?"

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/05/1...out-of-school/

"Shame, shame on Technical High School for buckling under to thugs and
abandoning their responsibilities in such a cowardly manner."

Ditto.

It looked to me like the Muslim student who took offense at the
dog was a jerk, just using his religion/culture as an excuse to
act like an asshole. Jerks come in all faiths and colors.

The above quote makes it look like the school officials sided
with the offending student and sent Hurd away. The article that
your link referenced said that Hurd was uncomfortable when he
heard that a student had threatened his dog and chose to leave;
it did not say that the school officials sided with the Muslim
student.

The school officials missed a good opportunity for teaching
negotiation, compromise, mutual understanding. No doubt they
didn't handle the situation well; they could have done a better
job preparing the students for the presence of a service dog and
helping them find ways to be in its presence without violating
their religious or cultural principles. But it does not appear
that they "[buckled] under to thugs" and sent Hurd packing.

But presenting the story as though the school officials simply
backed the Muslim student sounds like a distortion that was
intended to amplify the discord and confirm and increase
prejudice against the Somalis.

FurPaw

--
The plural of anecdote is not proof.

To reply, unleash the dogs