Mandatory Arabic Classes for American Elementary Public School Students?
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Mansfield ISD in Texas Puts Mandatory Study of Arabic Language and Culture on Hold after Parents Object
Many parents were upset that they were not informed about this grant and its implementation until it seemed to be a done deal. They think they should have been told when the school board was considering the grant, not just after it was received. Many parents fear that teaching Arabic culture is a way to sneak the study of Islam into their public schools when other religions cannot be taught there. Other parents believe this is a great opportunity for their children to be more culturally literate in a diverse world. Some of the Muslim parents felt it offered their children a chance to study their own culture.
Shouldn't students in American schools learn English first to thrive in in the United States?
America was intended to be a melting pot, not a confederation of cultural ghettos.
What do you think?
As you can see, not everyone agrees on the subject of mandatory study of Arabic in the Texas public schools. Four other school districts in the United States also received this grant. Perhaps something similar will arrive at a school district near you. How do you feel about this use of taxpayer money?
American-American by americanamerican
Arabic Alphabet with Numerical Abjad Values Chart by chartsanddiagrams
See other Arabic Posters
Does teaching Arabic language and culture necessarily involve teaching Islam?
Some people believe the Arabic language and Islam are in separable and that you can't teach one without the other. The superintendent of the Mansfield ISD, Dr. Bob Morrison, states that Arabic culture as part of the study of Arabic language wouldn't have any more religion in it than the the study of Spanish language and culture, which is also a part of the curriculum. I never took Spanish, since I studied Latin and German instead, so I don't know how much religion is mixed into the cultural part of the study. In Latin, we studied classical, not church Latin. In German we read some paragraphs written by Martin Luther along with philosophers and poets, and some might consider that teaching Christianity.In studying the history of the world, we learned about the influences of both Christianity and Islam,because you cannot properly understand history without knowing how major religions have played a part in it. This was different than teaching religious dogma, even though religious dogmas (and also politics) are what motivated the religious leaders to act as they did. Some may have used religion to gain and / or maintain political power in the way they lead their people or country or empire.
My view is that language and culture are two sides of the same coin. That will include some mention of religion. The question is how the people teaching the courses will treat the study of the religious aspects.
This is a controversial subject. I have read hundreds of comments on the news article I commented on it and subscribed to the responses. I often do this and get a few emails back. I posted my comment early this morning before I went to bed, and woke up to over 626 emails in my in box. I was sure someone must have not filtered the spam out, but all the comments were actual opinions. Some felt it was wonderful to prepare enough speakers of Arabic to meet the needs of the government for translators and military intelligence. Others felt the study of no language, no matter how useful, should be mandatory except English in American public schools. Many thought this grant was a way to sneak the teaching of Islam into the curriculum as a step down the slippery slope to adopting or tolerating Sharia law in the United States, in spite of Constitutional protection. As you can imagine, there were many variations of these arguments stated in the so far over 800 emails I have received on this topic. I'm more interested in what you think.
News report on parent meeting at Cross Timbers Intermediate School
What place should Arabic have in the American public schools?
Should Arabic language study be mandatory U.S schools?
You can express opinions on any aspect of this subject -- whether the federal government should be using tax dollars for this, whether it's a guise for teaching Islam in America's schools, whether Arabic is a language of the future, whether we must mandate that more students speak and understand Arabic to compete in the world and acquire the translators and military intelligence people our government needs -- whatever. This article from the Arlington Citizen Journal presents some of the positive arguments.
I'm wondering what would have happened if studying German or Japanese had been a mandatory subject in an American public school in 1940. Is this a similar situation? Even though it was just reported that this new curriculum is on hold in Mansfield, if they don't use this federal grant money, it may be used in some other district, so this issue is still worthy of discussion. Four other districts have also received this grant money.
Should the study of Arabic language and culture be mandatory in any American public school?
Yes, and here's why.
JziE says:
Singapore has already make it as a mandatory for its elementary & high school students to learn Arabic since 2005 if I'm not mistaken. Language is language. Not religion. Cannot say if I learn Mandarin -I'll also learn Buddha. Same thing for Arabic.
Or The US wants to follow Singapores footsteps??
No, and here's why.
clifRad says:
No. I study Islam and have learned some Dari (Afghan language) and learned other languages. This was on a need basis.
Do you know how to use a torque wrench, multimeter, heart monitor, or a grease gun?
See what I mean. If you need it you'll learn it, public school is for the basics. The university is for specialties.
By the way do they really want to teach o the last 1,600 years of vicious atrocities of Islams spread through previously Christian and Jewish lands which are now Muslim because of their destruction?
MissMerFaery says:
I think that if the US is going to introduce a mandatory language lesson, it should be the most beneficial and relevant one to the country (e.g. in England French and German are mandatory at most schools). Offering the learning of languages such as Arabic or Mandarin is great as an opportunity for those who wish to learn it but it should not be forced.
bcarter says:
Our kids can't even read and write after getting out of school. That's why a high school education won't get you anywhere anymore. Why should we add this on top of it.
Also, we don't force any other languages on our children, why Arabic? Why not Mandarin would would help our country a lot more in the business world right now.
sandyspider says:
No! If we go to any other country, they expect us to speak their language.
kim says:
NO! If think if students WANT to learn other languages that is fine, but it should not be forced on them. Maybe instead if wasting time and resources with this kind of nonsense, we should concentrate more on gifted students not being trapped in an endless circle of repetition.
crosscreations says:
NO! Sounds odd to even offer the study of Arabic as an option, yet mandatory? No WAY!
OhMe says:
No, I would like to see Latin become mandatory because it helps so much with other subjects. If I was a parent of a student who was made to study the Arabic Language, I would pull them from the public school system
bethd821 says:
Can you say 09/11? Arabic brings that bitterness to the forefront. Unfortunately, many Americans lump the Middle East into one melting pot.
Ken says:
No! If a language is to be mandatory, it needs to pass the test of best applicability for the students. Will Arabic be more of a language of the future than Chinese or Hindi? I doubt it. Is Arabic more practically usable in an American school (especially in Texas!) than Spanish? Why can't students and parents choose which language a student should learn? There appears to be another agenda here, other than learning a language.
fanfreluche says:
Learning a second language is common in almost every country, starting at early age. But I don't see why they want to teach Arabic language. There is far more interesting and useful languages to learn for the future generations.
Links Related to Mandatory Teaching of Arabic in Mansfiled ISD
- Program to teach Arabic in Mansfield may be on hold
- It seems the Mansfield ISD may be listening to outraged parents after all.
- Post on "The Moderate Voice" Blog
- According to this blogger, the Arabic curriculum writing has stopped and will no longer be mandatory, but instead will be available as an elective at the secondary level, and "hyperventilating" by conservatives can stop now.
Manfield ISD Appears to be Listening to Parents.
Other comments on the mandatory teaching of Arabic in U.S. schools
I'd appreciate your feedback on the importance of education about the Arabic speaking people. their language, and their culture, in American public schools. If you'd been a parent at one of the schools that was about to mandate students be taught the new social studies curriculum that included instruction in Arabic language and culture, how would you have reacted when you found it might not happen after all?
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clifRad
Dec 10, 2011 @ 3:30 am | delete
- Learning about cultures in general is enlightening. But this is obviously agenda driven.
Islam is violent by its nature. How can you tell? The Koran, which I've read teaches to subjugate and kill non-believers. Some say this is a misinterpretation, which is a ridiculous statement. But, maybe their right so lets look to the Koran's author....Mohammad. Did he kill the infidel...why yes he did. So he wrote to kill and he did it. Spot on, we know what it teaches and maybe they should teach this in the schools....oh the wackos on the left would scream...alalalalalalalala!
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Greekgeek
Feb 14, 2011 @ 4:59 pm | delete
- At the schools I went to, we were required to learn at least one other language. Studying a foreign language actually teaches you better English, because you understand better how language works. Also, Americans are at a serious disadvantage because we're about the only people in the world who tend not to know more than one language, or for that matter to hear about and understand most of what's going on in the world.
I think learning one of the most important languages should be mandatory. I liked my school where one could choose Spanish, French or German. Nowadays one might want to subtract French or German and replace them with Japanese and Arabic, or even Chinese, because of the global economy. One could debate which languages should be taught, but I think it's crazy not to require students to learn any other language.
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MissMerFaery
Feb 12, 2011 @ 9:00 am | delete
- Congrats on the purple star! Very interesting lens. I see it as a little odd that Arabic would be chosen for a mandatory language. However I also find it interesting to read the comments against any mandatory learning of other languages at all, having never known anything other than mandatory language studies in the UK! :) I do think it beneficial to have to learn at least one other language, but the mandatory one should always be the most relevant one for the country in question.
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sandyspider
Feb 10, 2011 @ 11:15 am | delete
- Well worth the Purple Star! Congratulations.
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crosscreations Feb 10, 2011 @ 8:44 am | delete
- Parents in that Texas school were right to refuse this ridiculous notion of mandatory Arabic. Any 'mandatory' language beyond our own is questionable, but Arabic? Ridiculous!
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Kimsworld
Feb 10, 2011 @ 8:24 am | delete
- I have to agree with Heather. My son is 5 and can count to ten in four different languages, if he wants to learn other languages I will help and encourage him, but it should not be forced on him.
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- OK and then let's make the study of Swahili mandatory, too. Parents in Texas should stand tall and refuse such actions.
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- This issue of mandatory Arabic just reeks of corruption somewhere with absolutely no basis in logic. Schools generally do offer options to learn a second language, and I'd encourage that, but mandatory? and Arabic? Ludicrous!
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bethd821
Feb 10, 2011 @ 7:02 am | delete
- Very well presented controversial topic! Kudos to you!
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Norma_Budden
Feb 9, 2011 @ 11:51 pm | delete
- YOu bring to light an interesting subject; this is the first I've heard of it. Then again, I'm usually at work and then hanging out with my family or spending time carrying out my online endeavors.
It's certainly food for thought but I'm inclined to go along with Evelyn and fanfreluche because, learning a new language, in and of itself, can be quite fulfilling and liberating. However, I don't see the purpose in mandating Arabic, in particular. I cannot help but wonder at the reasons behind this - especially after so much blood has already been shed between the Americans and people of Muslim descent. Why the sudden change?
Don't get me wrong! Peace would be great but I cannot help but wonder if there are ulterior motives...
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How hard is it to learn Arabic?
Look at this book to find out.
Read and Speak Arabic for Beginners with Audio CD, Second Edition (Read and Speak Languages for Beginners)
Amazon Price: $9.96 (as of 05/30/2012)
Before one considers whether mandatory teaching of Arabic is a good idea, apart from all the cultural aspects, one might consider trying to get a feel for it with an inexpensive course for those with no experience in the language, such as the average American child. This book introduces script along with the first words and phrases, as well as the concept of reading right to left instead of left to right. You don't even have to buy the book to get the idea of the complexity of the language for a speaker of English or even Spanish. You can look at the first few pages right on the product page.
My Blog: Of Cabbages and Kings
Random Thoughts of an Internet Bookseller
A Simple Way to Learn Arabic Script
Look through some of the book's first pages.
Easy Arabic Script
Amazon Price: $6.50 (as of 05/30/2012)
If learning a non-Latin script seems intimidating, this book will lead you by the hand and show you each letter and how to write it. This is an easy way to begin teaching your child at home.
