Bruce Feiler - Where God Was Born, Abraham, Walking The Bible

Bill Gates Helps Fund Arab School in NYC
Wednesday, February 14, 2007

All over the news today: the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has helped fund a new school in NYC dedicated to Arab language and culture. What a great idea. In the past we interred Americans associated with the culture of our adversaries and banned their languages. Now we study them -- both those that are against us, and the many more who are with us. More, more!

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.

The school, the Khalil Gibran International Academy, is one of 40 new schools that the Department of Education is opening for the 2007-8 school year. It will serve grades 6 to 12 and will be in Brooklyn, although a specific location has not been determined.

Debbie Almontaser, a 15-year veteran of the school system who is the driving force behind the school and will be its principal, said that ideally, the school would serve an equal mix of students with backgrounds in Arabic language and culture and those without such backgrounds.

“We are wholeheartedly looking to attract as many diverse students as possible, because we really want to give them the opportunity to expand their horizons and be global citizens,” said Ms. Almontaser, who emigrated from Yemen when she was 3 and is fluent in Arabic.

“I see students who are excited about engaging in international careers, international affairs, wanting to come to our school. And I also see Arab-American students who would want the opportunity to learn Arabic, to read it and write it and have a better understanding of where their ancestors have come from.”

Labels: Islam, Religion in America

Posted by B Feiler at 7:00 AM
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