Back to School

The Khalil Gibron International School, NYC’s first ever Arabic dual language school, opened quietly this week with arrival of 55 sixth grade students. This quiet opening occurred despite the angry furor surrounding the school. (For an article, click here) The mission of KGIS is:
“to prepare students of diverse backgrounds for success in an increasingly global and interdependent society. Our focus is on holistic student development and rigorous academics. Through our multicultural curriculum and intensive Arabic language instruction, students graduate with the skills they need to become empowered independent thinkers who are able to work with cultures beyond their own. Students graduate with a deep understanding of different cultural perspectives, a love of learning, and a desire for excellence, with integrity preparing them for leadership in today’s constantly changing global world.”
This seemingly desirable objective, to create students who are comfortable in and knowledgeable about a part of the world that is important to understand in the 21st century, has brought a barrage of attacks from Jews, Christians and ad hoc anti Arab groups. Daniel Pipes, columnist for the NY Sun and Jerusalem Post, AIPAC leader and founder of Campus Watch, an organization dedicated to monitoring the portrayal of Israel in educational institutions, led the charge from the Jewish community. (Here, here and here) The Christian attack has been led by the Thomas More Law Center, a conservative legal center started by Thomas Monaghan, the conservative Catholic founder of Domino’s Pizza. They have been joined by the ad hoc “Stop the Madrassa Coalition” (To see who these guys are, click here) The effort has had some success as the Principal designate Dhabah Almontaser has been forced resign for refusing to condemn the use of the word “intifada” (literally “shaking off”) and has been replaced by Danielle Salzberg, a Jewish woman who speaks no Arabic. As I listen to the attacks on Arabs generated by KGIS and the Dubai Ports controversy as well as the general anti immigrant discourse surrounding the immigration reform bill, I wonder what happened to the country of immigrants that took great pride in its ability to deal with and to find strength in diversity.