Arabic Studies Proposal

**NoAngel2u** · 02-08-2011, 06:16 PM

Causes Uproar in Mansfield, Texas

Source

The problem with the program is that the Arabic Studies program is not an elective, such as the language studies programs that the school district offers in Chinese, Spanish or Russian. The Arabic Studies program was to be mandatory and would have been imbedded in virtually everything the students studied, down to learning in math class about the origins of algebra.

Another problem with the Arabic Studies program was that parents found out about the proposal as the program was being developed, not when it was first proposed. The idea was apparently to roll out the program without parental involvement or public debate.
This, understandably, raised a great deal of suspicion among parents in Mansfield and a great many questions. How, for instance, would one conduct an Arabic Studies program without also teaching Islam, a religion deeply imbedded in Arabic culture? And would the program examine some of the more unsavory aspects of Arabic culture, such as sharia law, or would it stick to a particular politically correct point of view?

What do you think? Should we have mandatory Arabic classes in k-12?

Overview of Project Slide Show

**skyguy2007** · 02-08-2011, 06:22 PM

Simple answer...NO!

**spaceboy761** · 02-08-2011, 06:52 PM

I had a mandatory Arabic Studies class in 10th grade along with the rest of New York state. We survived somehow.

**skyguy2007** · 02-08-2011, 07:05 PM

The point isn't if you survived, as you well know!

**NoAngel2u** · 02-08-2011, 07:09 PM

I don't have an issue with it being elective. I certainly don't think it will kill anyone if it is mandatory, so it's not a question of survival. For me it's a question of what serves that student population, and here in Texas I would suspect it's Spanish. More and more jobs are requiring proficiency in Spanish.

**billynomates** · 02-09-2011, 12:23 PM

It's good to study other cultures and learn about their religion, every time I go to India I'm impressed by them and their knowledge and respect for other religions.

**NoAngel2u** · 02-09-2011, 12:38 PM

I have no issue with learning about other cultures. I think it's important. I just don't think it should be manadatory, unless there is a pressing need to use that language to gain employment, or access to services in the county/state the school is located. I think it's important to have foreign language electives available for students.

**billynomates** · 02-09-2011, 12:51 PM

But everytime I visit an islam state I'm amazed that they are not taught about other religions

**NoAngel2u** · 02-09-2011, 01:08 PM

Well, that's not surprising.

It would seem that some of the parents question whether the course will be used to teach the kids about Islam, or rather only teach them the "politically" correct version. I highly doubt it would teach them to practice Islam. If you study a culture, then you will learn what religion is dominant within it among other things about it. I don't think there is a need to fear that at all. I just think a school's curriculum should serve the needs of the student body and focused on the skills they will need to contribute to their community. If a kid is interested in a career path that would benefit from learning Arabic, then hopefully there will be resources available to help them do that. But should be elective.