Some school children in Texas’ Mansfield Independent School District will soon be required to learn Arabic, thanks to a federal government grant.
According to a Dallas CBS News affiliate, Mansfield ISD received the Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) grant last summer. It is one of only five districts in the country to be awarded the grant.
Parents were caught by surprise and learned of the grant Monday night in a meeting with district Superintendent Bob Morrison.
CBS News reported:
“As part of the five-year $1.3 million grant, Arabic classes would be mandatory at Cross Timbers Intermediate School and Kenneth Davis Elementary School. The program would also be optional for students at T. A. Howard Middle School and Summit High School.”
According to a PDF file provided by the school district, Cross Timbers was selected because it has “the highest percentage of native Arabic speakers in the district.” The district sees these students as a resource to help develop the program.
Students will not only learn the language – the curriculum will include Arabic culture, government, art, traditions and history.
Some parents were concerned their children would be taught Islam as part of the program.
Although Superintendent Morrison reassured parents their children would not be taught Islam, the concern is valid since many Arabic nations – like Saudi Arabia – are governed by Sharia law, which is based on Islam and teachings from the Koran.
Arabic has been identified by the federal Department of Education as a “language of the future”, and the district believes the grant provides an excellent opportunity to prepare students for the economy of the future.
According to the district, the program provides several benefits:
• This project is federally funded for $ 1.3 million dollars over a 5 year period.
• This project adds a critical foreign language option for students in MISD.
• Successful Arabic foreign language studies (Arabic I, II, III) increases college and scholarship opportunities.
• This allows students to be prepared to compete globally for jobs that are not in existence yet.
• This project supports the diversity within MISD.
• This project allows students and teachers to learn about the Arab impact on our country.
• This grant allows for us to develop a partnership with the University of Texas at Austin.
Some, like Kheirieh Hannun, believes the program will help tear down some of the stereotypes people have of the Arabic culture, but the move may cause concern for those who see a creeping Islamization of America.
Mansfield Arabic Program On Hold
CBS Dallas/Fort Worth
A Mansfield ISD program to teach Arabic language and culture in schools is on hold for now, and may not happen at all.
The school district wanted students at selected schools to take Arabic language and culture classes as part of a federally funded grant.
The Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) grant was awarded to Mansfield ISD last summer by the U.S. Department of Education.
As part of the five-year $1.3 million grant, Arabic classes would have been taught at Cross Timbers Intermediate School and other schools feeding into Summit High School.
Parents at Cross Timbers say they were caught off-guard by the program, and were surprised the district only told them about it in a meeting Monday night between parents and Mansfield ISD Superintendent Bob Morrison.
The Department of Education has identified Arabic as a ‘language of the future.’ But parent Joseph Balson was frustrated by the past.
“Why are we just now finding out about it?” asked Balson. “It’s them (Mansfield ISD) applying for the grant, getting it approved and them now saying they’ll go back and change it only when they were caught trying to implement this plan without parents knowing about it.”
Trisha Savage thinks it will offer a well-rounded education. “I think its a great opportunity that will open doors. We need to think globally and act locally.”
Kheirieh Hannun was born in the Middle East but raised in the U.S. She believes giving students the option to learn Arabic will give her son and others like him the option to learn more about their culture. “It was surprising, but I think it’s okay, and it will help come down on the stereotype.” Hannun says she is hopeful the class could broaden the minds of not only students, but also parents.
The FLAP grant was awarded to only five school districts across the country, including Mansfield. The district says the plan is on hold so it can hear from more parents. After that evaluation is over, the district says it is possible they might return the grant.
Wild Thing’s comment………
“Parents were caught by surprise and learned of the grant Monday night in a meeting with district Superintendent “
The parents were not told about it until the school board decided to do it. They knew the parents wouldn’t have allow them to do it, so they jumped first so that they couldn’t be stopped. Pathetic.
Any school board that does this should be dropped from a plane where the caves are for the Taliban and left there for good.
I realize there is a real need for Arabic translators in the State Department, Military, Intelligence agencies BUT to force it on children……CHILDREN…….that is a whole different story. This is not about the language. This is indoctrination. Just like it said………… Mansfield ISD says in addition to language, the grant provides culture, government, art, traditions and history as part of the curriculum. “
Just show othe video of Nick Berg’s beheading…..or 9-11. That’s ALL they need to know.
“Arabic has been identified by the federal Department of Education as a “language of the future”
“Language of the future”? According to whom, the Muslim Brotherhood?
Remember when CAIR developed a curriculum for CA schools and parents from one school district complained, took it to court, and lost? The CA court found it was perfectly Constitutional to have kids read the Koran, dress like arabs, adopt Muslims names and recite Muslim prayers in school.
Then I think the school district decided to drop it anyway because of the problems it was causing.
Parents should tell the board they will pull their kids out.
BUT, they get expelled if they happen to say “Merry Christmas, or wear a shirt with the American Flag on it, or ride a bike to school with the American Flag attached to it. SHEESH this shit makes me furious!
….Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67
How about they use the money to teach the English language and American culture to the arab-speaking population in America. Since it has “the highest percentage of native Arabic speakers in the district,” wouldn’t it make more sense to break down the barriers the arabs have in becoming a real part of OUR culture and country?
Yes, indoctrination. Why not Hinduism or Buddhism. No, only the culture of the people who want to destroy us. PC pushed by cowardly politicians and educators. I am glad the parents are up in arms. This muslim indoctrination and creeping islamization needs to be stopped immediately.
Conduct the sessions on the Grassy Knoll by the Texas Book Depository Building?
Well one good thing all Texasans who have to learn Arabic can tell the muzzies before they shoot them to F**k off. in their own language.
How can arabic be a language of the future, if we are going green in 10 years we won’t be able to afford oil for our cars that will be rusting away from being idle. Obama’s a damn muslim.
Another reason to send your kids to Charter or
private schools
Great input thank you all so much!!!!