时间:2019-01-07 作者:英语课 分类:2007年VOA标准英语(九月)


英语课
By Paige Kollock
New York City
11 September 2007
 

One of New York City's smallest public schools is probably one of the most controversial – the Khalil Gibran International Academy.  The Brooklyn middle school, devoted 1 to Arabic language and culture, opened its doors for the first time this week as the city's new academic year got underway. Paige Kollock reports.






New York City's new Arabic school, first day


New York City's new Arabic school awaited students and protestors on the first day of classes



Some 50 sixth graders arrived at their first day of school to heavy security and a gaggle of press.  They are in the spotlight 2 because they are the first to attend New York City's new Arabic school, Khalil Gibran International Academy.


Parent Najat Handou moved to the United States from Morocco nine year ago.  She is thrilled that her son can now learn his parents' native tongue. "I feel so proud because we have, like, a public school that's going to teach Arabic, which is good for our kids."


But even before it opened its doors, the school has been a source of intense controversy 3


New York City's Department of Education says the Khalil Gibran Academy is not a religious school – and  is just one of some 70 other bilingual schools in the city's public school system where classes are taught in a language other than English. 


But the academy is the first public school in New York to teach in Arabic and give some lessons in Arabic culture – this in a city still traumatized by the 9-11 terrorist attacks six years ago. 






NYC Arabic school, opponents gather at City Hall in Manhattan


NYC Arabic school opponents gather at City Hall in Manhattan



School opponents, who staged a small rally at City Hall in Manhattan attended by more media than protesters, fear the school could be a breeding ground for Islamic fundamentalism.


Jeff Wiesinfeld is a member of 'Stop The Madrassa Coalition 4'.  He says the school has no place in the public education system. "While most Muslims are not terrorists, virtually all terrorists are Muslim, says Wiesinfeld. “Yes, the world is different since 9/11. The Saudis have funded terror. Other Arabic groups have funded terror, and we have to look at those schools a little bit differently than we look at the Chinese and the Greek and the French [schools]."






Rabbi Ellen Lippman, NYC Arabic School supporter


Rabbi Ellen Lippman is an Arabic school supporter



But the school has many supporters, including Rabbi Ellen Lippman. "Many of us feel that there is room in this city for this new public school and that it will grow and thrive and perhaps build bridges between people, instead of having so much divisiveness."


Earlier this year, arguments surrounding the school were so intense, that the school's original principal resigned, and the building's location had to be moved.


But on opening day, there was no sign of protesters at the school, only supporters welcoming the students to a school they think is crucial to keeping America's children competitive in a world where Arabic and the Middle East play a significant role.




adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的
  • He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
  • We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
n.公众注意的中心,聚光灯,探照灯,视听,注意,醒目
  • This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
  • The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。
n.争论,辩论,争吵
  • That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
  • We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。
n.结合体,同盟,结合,联合
  • The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
  • Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。
学英语单词
abernants
abutilon glabauerianum hand-mazz.
accessible radiation
allosynapsis(allosyndesis)
bank liquidity position
braised sea slugs with pork liver and pancreas
breast-anchor
bucconidaes
central category
CESifo
Charity Commissioners
clankily
computer revolution
conditional linear regression
controlled carrier
convenience-oriented
crunchy-granola
dihedral vane
direct run
disk server erase program
DVDPRO
egg en cocottes
esophagofibroscope
extra-label
f-diagram
fire-power
FLDEC
frr
gavino
genus lichanuras
genus momotuss
Goetz Hermann
good gravy
hammered gun
hashing function
high-alloy steel vessel
high-frequency drier
homopolar colloid
Hyperpyroxia
invoution
ioans
juniormost
kantipur
Ketubim
key-operated brake
largie
Law as it ought to be
line adapter circuit
linear retardation
liquid oxygen gasifier
low-luminosity picture
lymphangiofibroma
mistrow
Monāgrām
multi-input multi-output control system
myopsychopathy
nervous lesion
offstager
Omniscan
one-quarter-inch
outlet end
overplanting
peak-bull space
photopyroelectric
Platysternidae
polling technique
Porana henryi
prepaid asset
proler
put sb into exile
radiotracer compound
rank rotten
real time remote control
recursive invocation
Regional and departmental protectionism
reified
remote track
reunitable
rule base
septatest
SFAF
shielding counter
SIGuardian
single-barrel sigmoidostomy
Sinocarum cruciatum
slab rubber
slow-shear test
submarine camera
surveyor
suvla
Swazi
Sylvilagus
trena
Triaxonida
tumbaki
upcasted
value domain
Walesby
wayside to train communication
webge shaped oil film
wintercreeper