"The New York City school system will open its first public school dedicated to teaching the Arabic language and culture in September, with half of its classes eventually taught in Arabic, officials said yesterday."
About time! Teaching Arabic in public schools and not in madrasas! I think I might be moving soon!
Some people are worried: "What next? An Arab American national anthem?"
9 comments:
I don't see what's all the fuss. Aren't some people aware that certain schools teach in Spanish?
well, I'm sure some people won't like it, the way they don't like teaching Spanish. But I was being tongue in cheek--just anticipating what some Arabphobes may be thinking. The article doesn't mention restlessness.
For a country so unabashedly invested in underdeveloping the Arab World, I think any such steps to propagate Arabic teaching programs is a urgent. At least this country has to understand the tongue of the peoples it dehistoricizes.
ng
the cia do need fluent arabic recruits these days... makes sense... ;)
I think I'm going to have to play the Devil's Advocate here: I'm not sure if I support the idea of having a public school w/ an Arabic focus. It seems like it leaves a lot of unanswered questions. Will regular public schools lose their incentive to teach Arabic under the impression that those interested can just go to the specialty school? Will people of other ethnic groups demand their own public schools with their own focus? Will students who live nearby be tracked into this school against their will?
Perhaps I, a private school student in California, do not know enough about New York's public school system to make a judgment call. I'm actually curious about what laws New York has on bilingual education. In California, where I live, bilingual education is outlawed in public schools (it was banned because it supposedly was ineffective at teaching immigrants, especially Hispanics, English).
It seems like offering Arab language/culture classes in more regular public schools would be a better idea. Maybe then more students will be able to be exposed to such knowledge.
-arianne
ng,
do you think if they learn to love Umm kulthum they will drop the bombs more gently?
John,
this way they may have more than 6 people fluent in Arabic in the Green Zone in Baghdad. Can't get any worse.
Arianne,
Theoretically, I'd agree with you. But the choice is not Arabic integrated in public schools or Arabic taught in special public schools. It's either no Arabric in public school or Arabic in religious based schools. There is no reason why they can't have Arabic in this kind of school AND in regular public schools. Or is that too much Arabic? : )
As someone who is eager for my son to learn Arabic, my choices are terribly inadequate.
Post a Comment