Texas School District Backs Away From Mandatory Arabic Studies

If they are going to teach Arabic studies it should be an elective, not mandatory. Also if they are going to teach about Arab and muslim culture, at least teach the TRUTH. These courses tend to whitewash the violent history of islam. They teach the false narrative that it was tolerant and peaceful while demonizing Christianity. And while we are taught about western colonialism, we never hear about Arab-muslim colonialism and their violent conquest of other peoples, arabizing and islamizing them and destroying their indigenous cultures, languages and religions as well as carrying out massacres.

Via Atlas Shrugs
Star Telegram:

Mansfield backs away from Arabic studies program

The Mansfield school district has backed off plans to implement an Arabic studies program after almost 200 people showed up with questions at a parents meeting at Cross Timbers Intermediate School on Monday night.

Superintendent Bob Morrison apologized for not communicating with parents and invited them to be part of developing the curriculum.

"Nothing will be taught in the classroom until the curriculum is rolled out," said Richie Escovedo, Mansfield district spokesperson.

The Arabic studies program, funded by a federal five-year $1.3 million Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) grant, was to begin this semester at Cross Timbers, then spread to Davis Elementary and Howard Middle Schools in the fall and to Summit High school by the fall of 2012.

Arabic culture was to be integrated into the curriculum in elementary and intermediate schools, then offered as a language credit in the middle and high schools. Davis, Cross Timbers and Howard are feeder schools to Summit High School.

"Part of the grant language brings in targeted instruction that will be embedded in the classes," Escovedo explained. "Algebra comes from the Arabic world. You talk about things while you’re doing your lessons. Instead of a Valentine's cake, you might make a Moroccan dessert."

Parents attending Monday night's meeting ranged from supportive to upset, said Willie Wimbrey, assistant principal at Cross Timbers.

"We had people who were animatedly fearful of anything to do with Islam," Wimbrey said. "Others want their children exposed to everything. Others who say we teach about Christmas, why not other religions? All cultures and major religions are taught throughout the state."

Cindy Henderson, whose son Kolton is in the fifth grade at Cross Timbers, said she wasn't as upset about the content of the program as she was about the way it was implemented.

"The parents weren't notified," Henderson said. "We should have been told and excited about the grant. The school knew about it, but it wasn't publicized. Unless you were digging on the website, you wouldn't know about it."

Her son is excited about learning about the Middle East, but Henderson doesn't think Arabic studies should be mandatory.

"I don't think we should spend all our time on one culture," she said. "I think we should spread it around and be fair. I don't like it being stuffed down our throats."

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