Current Issue #3

Arabic School Ex-Principal Fights to Get her Job Back

New York Times
Jennifer Medina
Published October 17, 2007
Presented by Nathan.jean_jacques

Debbie Almontaser, the founding principal of the first Arabic language school in the New York City School System, wants her job back after resigning in August, allegedly under pressure from both Mayor Bloomberg’s and Chancellor Joe Klein’s offices, over her defense for the word “Intifada” emblazoned on a t-shirt.
Mrs. Almontaser who continues to draw her principal salary declares that the school was a dream turned nightmare. According to David Canter, a spokesman for the Chancellor’s office, Mrs. Almontaser’s resignation had put the matter to rest, supposedly.
From its inception, the school had faced opposition from parents who protested against the school sharing the same building frequented by their children, and conservatives who saw the threat of a Muslim agenda.
Mrs. Almontaser was interrogated for her relationship with the Brooklyn-based Arab Women in the Arts and Media that had produced the controversial T-shirt: “Intifada NYC”. She had many supporters including three City Council members of whom Robert Jackson urged her reinstatement. Meanwhile, Sara Springer of the “ Stop the Madrassa Coalition”, said, “the school should be under more scrutiny”.

Mrs almontaser seems to have made quite a few enemies who prejudice against her name.
According to education officials, Mrs Almontaser should not apply for the job.

Reflection
Long before this debacle, I knew about the oppositions to the Arabic school in the community. Although I never agreed with the opponents because their opposition smelled more like rotten racism to me for lack of any strong argument; however, I did not support the idea of an Arabic school. I thought it somehow promoted self – alienation and segregation. I could never find a copy of the school’s philosophy and vision; most of what I have read about the school sounded fuzzy and bias. Consequently, I did not support the fact that my tax money would pay for a school where my son and other non-Arabic speaking children would not be welcomed. The problem is that the school is conceived and based only on a political agenda that should not have escaped the blind mice who are responsible for this fiasco.