Another Reason to Home School ...
Dinner Topics for Tuesday
NYC public school teaching mandatory Arabic..what do you think?
Fox News Blog
A public school in Manhattan will be the first in the city to require
students to study Arabic. Students at PS-368 will be required to take 2 classes
a week for 45 minutes each. The principal states that Arabic is "a
critical-need language" and also believes that it will help the school
obtain a prestigious International Baccalaureate standing.
So we want to know..what do you think? Is this a great idea and would you
sign the permission slip? OR would you have a problem if your
child's school started teaching mandatory Arabic lessons?
NYC Public School Mandates Arabic Language Studies for All 2nd Through 5th Graders
From The Blaze
PS 368, a public elementary school in Manhattan, New York, has implemented a
school-wide mandate that is capturing headlines. Principal Nicky Kram Rosen is
requiring all 200 students in grades second through fifth to spend two
45-minute sessions each week learning Arabic.
The requirement, which will begin next semester, is intended to help bolster
the school’s standing. Rather than focusing on more common (some would argue
even more useful) languages like French or Spanish, Rosen has chosen Arabic in
an effort to achieve an International Baccalaureate, which would
apparently be a wonderful sentiment for the school’s reputation.
“She proposed this to the parent association. They were very supportive,”
explained Angela Jackson, the CEO of the Global Language Project, a group
backing the initiative. “Arabic has been identified as a critical-need
language. It means they can spin the globe and decide where they want to
work and live.”
The program was created as a partnership between the Global Language
Project and the Qatar Foundation International. Currently, children are
participating in a pilot version of the class during their free afternoon
periods. As far as potential objections to the program go, the school will need
to focus on those incidents, should they become a problem, on an individualized
basis.
The Arabic requirement becomes mandatory in September. But PS 368 is a
so-called “choice’’ school and no kids, even those living nearby, are forced to
attend it. If the school ever enrolls a student who objects to learning Arabic,
administrators will deal with that on a case-by-case basis, Jackson said.
Mohamed Mamdouh, who teaches the pilot program, said, “Soon, Arabic will be
a global language like French and Spanish. These kids are like sponges. It’s
amazing to see their progress.’’
Mamdouh yesterday played a version of duck, duck, goose with the kids using
the Arabic words for mother and father — mama and baba — for ducks and geese.
NY1 is reporting that teachers at the school also hope
that, in addition to language skills, students gain a better understanding of
the Middle East and Arab culture. So far, no opposition to the program has been
reported.
Would YOU express opposition if it were your child?
Comments
Don’t you think it would be good for the little darlings to learn English
language, rules and structures FIRST!!!!! Good grief, they can’t speak, read or
write basic English…..(KAYDEEBEAU)
What’s really sad is
that each of those little kids in the picture know more about their ethnic heritage
than they know what it even means to be a good American. I’m this, your that!
Be an American first! Learn English first! All cultures are not equal, all
nations are not equal!
“When Race becomes
lifted up over accomplishment, we have then lost what it means to be an
exceptional nation among nations”. JMS.
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