Arabic public school to open in Brooklyn

A public school that aims to teach Arabic language and culture to students in grades 6-12 is set to open this September in New York City. Ideally, half the students will have a background in Arabic language and culture, and half will not. Given the well-known shortage of people in the U.S. military and intelligence services who are fluent ...

A public school that aims to teach Arabic language and culture to students in grades 6-12 is set to open this September in New York City. Ideally, half the students will have a background in Arabic language and culture, and half will not.

A public school that aims to teach Arabic language and culture to students in grades 6-12 is set to open this September in New York City. Ideally, half the students will have a background in Arabic language and culture, and half will not.

Given the well-known shortage of people in the U.S. military and intelligence services who are fluent in Arabic, you’d think Americans would be excited by a school that prepares students with language skills and cultural knowledge that are essential in the “war on terrorism.” Already, there’s been a surge in the number of college students who are learning Arabic, and that hasn’t been controversial.

Unfortunately, a quick Google search reveals that some people are already criticizing the school. One conservative blogger asks, “Why should New York tax payers have to foot the bill for children to study Arabic culture?”

Hmmm … maybe it’s because preparing students to be global citizens with successful careers in international affairs, international business, and the military is in the public interest? (The U.S. federal government seems to think so. In August 2002, it set up the National Middle East Language Resource Center, which supports K-12 programs.)

Preeti Aroon was copy chief at Foreign Policy from 2009 to 2016 and was an FP assistant editor from 2007 to 2009. Twitter: @pjaroonFP

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