Letters to the Editor

Don’t turn back the clock

Sep 6, 2007 1:32 PM

To the Editor,

An Arabic cultural school? Why in a public system?

As a longtime UFT member and a delegate, I find myself puzzled and rather upset about the policy of the Department of Education and our union policy. The issue in my mind is not a question of defining “Intifada,” nor is it a question of who the principal is.

My goal as an educator is simple: I want to make young adults into productive citizens who can function in our society and I want them to live the dreams that they have for their futures. I do not notice or care where they come from, where their parents originate from or what their cultural loyalties are.

If public dollars are there to support one culture, why not another? And if a public school is going to support one culture all cultures could have their own public schools. So we might wind up with 5,000 schools where parents can have their cultures taught to their children at public expense.

Using this reasoning, parents of parochial schools have a legitimate argument when asking why public dollars cannot be used to support their schools — especially if they only ask for money to help in “cultural” not “religious” teachings.

Maybe some high schools should have Arabic language classes open to any student and maybe the history of Islam and the Middle East should be taught. Nobody denies that we should do everything to support dialogue between leaders of all faiths and cultures.

But I firmly believe that “cultural” schools for students of those cultures will open a Pandora’s box that our union, our city and our employer are unprepared to handle. Many great leaders of our nation fought to have integrated public schools. I think we may be turning back the clock.

A.H. Steinfeld, Richmond Hill HS