May 15, 2007
School official Debbie Almontaser said the school was planned with a multicultural group and the intent is to promote tolerance and bridge-building. So, American taxpayer dollars will fund the teaching of Arab culture in the Arabic language in New York City.
What am I missing here? Are diplomas going to be written in Arabic?
American taxpayer dollars should be used to teach public school students American culture in the English language in New York City, not Arab culture in Arabic. For that matter, we shouldn't be teaching Dutch culture in Flemish nor Philippine culture in Tagalog nor Persian culture in Farsi nor Brazilian culture in Portuguese. And there's a multitude of other cultures and languages that shouldn't be draining public funds when U.S. public schools, in many cases, and New York City public schools, in particular, are doing an odious job of teaching students even the basics in reading, writing and arithmetic. In some school systems, only half of entering students complete the requirements for graduation and, of the ones who graduate, it's dicey as to whether they will be able to read their diplomas.
In my estimation, the public funding of an Arabic school is a dangerous precedent. What's the Department of Education's argument when a different immigrant community wants a public school teaching students in the Albanian language? Or the Somali language? Or Lao? Or Hmong? Or Hindi?
In the latest development from last night, parents of students at the New York City Public School on Dean Street in Brooklyn gathered at an "emergency" meeting to voice their objection to using their facility for an Arabic language school.
For 90 minutes, NYC Education Department officials and Khalil Gibran Principal Debbie Almontaser (pic) said it was a done deal and made the parents feel they were being railroaded by the system.
Said parent Cherry Carter, "
Posted by: Mike Pechar at
05:00 PM
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Cair style tolerance?
Posted by: Kamchatka Bear at May 15, 2007 06:05 PM (gtZwa)
Posted by: Paul Moore at May 15, 2007 06:26 PM (W7+oD)
When the Poles or the Irish or the Italians flooded into our country did the City of NY set up special schools for them? NO... How about the Vietnamese or Chinese? NO!
Are they out of their minds? I truly feel sorry for the residents of the community affected who will now give up their local school for political correctness. Over riding this is my feeling that this does no one a favor, not even the Arabic speakers or those of the Arabic culture. Bottom line, the dollar speaks English and lives in the USA.
Could the people in the local community flood the registration process and sign their children up for the available classes that do not include Arabic? You know, like science, math and English? Could they make the thing wither on the vine so to speak?
Posted by: Babs at May 15, 2007 06:31 PM (iZZlp)
On the other hand, we will desperately need a reserve of people educated in Arabic and other Middle Eastern languages and cultures over the next 50 years. Teaching this need not be any more problematic than teaching Russian was during the Cold War, when that skill was needed.
Posted by: Jeff Medcalf at May 15, 2007 07:00 PM (7Q2cA)
Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at May 15, 2007 07:45 PM (8e/V4)
What use would having army and intelligence personel familiar with arabic in Iraq or in fighting Al queda eh?
Posted by: sonic at May 15, 2007 07:55 PM (r1k0Y)
Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at May 15, 2007 08:47 PM (8e/V4)
Posted by: sandpiper at May 16, 2007 11:03 AM (A09bm)
Posted by: Phillep at May 16, 2007 11:19 AM (kcmoI)
Posted by: Dave at May 16, 2007 10:44 PM (5zxY/)
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