http://blog.al.com/live/2013/10/arabic_f...rt_m-rpt-2

Good for Daphne HS for providing educational choices to its students. Too bad some of the parents are ignoramuses. Glad to know that their kids might have a shot at being a little more open minded.

Quote:“When you teach Arabic, you have to teach the culture along with it,” said Chuck Pyritz, whose two sons, Isaiah, 17, and Isaac, 14, attend Daphne High. “The culture is intertwined with Islam.”

Guess someone should tell all those Arabic speaking Christians living in the Holy Land.

(10-02-2013 06:13 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  http://blog.al.com/live/2013/10/arabic_f...rt_m-rpt-2

Good for Daphne HS for providing educational choices to its students. Too bad some of the parents are ignoramuses. Glad to know that their kids might have a shot at being a little more open minded.

I actually agree with Tom on this one. Heck, if I was back in high school I'd jump all over learning arabic. Can you imagine the $$$ that is out there for folks that can speak that language. Second on my list would by Mandarin.

Yeah, this isn't a problem.

However, tom's inconsistency on issues likes this makes him a clear hypocrite.

all i have to say is wow......

I see no problem with schools teaching Arabic. You'd have to be a moron to not understand that the majority of the time would be dedicated to learning the language with a different alphabet and a unique pronunciation scheme that is unfamiliar to those not of a semitic culture. Still, English is continuing to expand across the globe to the point that almost everyone is going to know it. But in the business world knowing Arabic or any other language would be a benefit regardless. The problem though is that standard Arabic is almost never spoken. At best, the students would be able to read texts, newspapers and TV shows/movies in Arabic. To actually use it speaking to natives would likely not happen since there are a lot of dialects.

LOL at the ignorance below:

Quote:“This is America, and English is our language, and while I understand the alleged premise of offering Arabic at our high school, I don’t agree with it,” said Michael Rife, who lives in Daphne. “It is not just another language; it is a language of a religion of hate. I’m concerned about our taxpayer dollars going to fund such a program, because I don’t believe it has a lot of foundational value.

(10-02-2013 06:23 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

Quote:“When you teach Arabic, you have to teach the culture along with it,” said Chuck Pyritz, whose two sons, Isaiah, 17, and Isaac, 14, attend Daphne High. “The culture is intertwined with Islam.”

Guess someone should tell all those Arabic speaking Christians living in the Holy Land.

That father is really displaying his ignorance for the entire world to see.

I don't have a problem with someone learning Arabic, or even that bassakwards culture, so long as all religion is left out.

(10-03-2013 09:28 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  I don't have a problem with someone learning Arabic, or even that bassakwards culture, so long as all religion is left out.

Shouldn't be an issue. I don't remember being forced fed catholicism while learning spanish.

(10-03-2013 09:36 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:28 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  I don't have a problem with someone learning Arabic, or even that bassakwards culture, so long as all religion is left out.

Shouldn't be an issue. I don't remember being forced fed catholicism while learning spanish.

that was my point. The article said parents were upset because Arabic is so intertwined with Islam that it couldn't be helped. I think it can and this shouldn't be an issue.

(10-03-2013 09:38 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:36 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:28 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  I don't have a problem with someone learning Arabic, or even that bassakwards culture, so long as all religion is left out.

Shouldn't be an issue. I don't remember being forced fed catholicism while learning spanish.

that was my point. The article said parents were upset because Arabic is so intertwined with Islam that it couldn't be helped. I think it can and this shouldn't be an issue.

Those parents are ignorant, plain and simple.

Can Arabic be taught without the "Christians and Jews are dogs and pigs"?

But seriously, learning Arabic is a great idea. I think the CIA alone says they need a couple thousand translators.

(10-03-2013 09:39 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:38 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:36 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:28 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  I don't have a problem with someone learning Arabic, or even that bassakwards culture, so long as all religion is left out.

Shouldn't be an issue. I don't remember being forced fed catholicism while learning spanish.

that was my point. The article said parents were upset because Arabic is so intertwined with Islam that it couldn't be helped. I think it can and this shouldn't be an issue.

Those parents are ignorant, plain and simple.

I would agree but I don't see the point of offering such an inflammatory subject. Whats the point? Will they ever USE Arabic? Unlikely. Why not teach Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese or take your pick. Seems like a dumb move to me.

(10-03-2013 09:40 AM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  Can Arabic be taught without the "Christians and Jews are dogs and pigs"?

But seriously, learning Arabic is a great idea. I think the CIA alone says they need a couple thousand translators.

The word gringo never came up in two years of high school spanish, so I think they can manage.

(10-03-2013 09:41 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:39 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:38 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:36 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:28 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  I don't have a problem with someone learning Arabic, or even that bassakwards culture, so long as all religion is left out.

Shouldn't be an issue. I don't remember being forced fed catholicism while learning spanish.

that was my point. The article said parents were upset because Arabic is so intertwined with Islam that it couldn't be helped. I think it can and this shouldn't be an issue.

Those parents are ignorant, plain and simple.

I would agree but I don't see the point of offering such an inflammatory subject. Whats the point? Will they ever USE Arabic? Unlikely. Why not teach Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese or take your pick. Seems like a dumb move to me.

Hmmm, I dunno. The Army, FBI, and intelligence agencies have to beg to get Arabic speakers to join the ranks, so I'm thinking maybe so?

(10-03-2013 09:41 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:39 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:38 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:36 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:28 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  I don't have a problem with someone learning Arabic, or even that bassakwards culture, so long as all religion is left out.

Shouldn't be an issue. I don't remember being forced fed catholicism while learning spanish.

that was my point. The article said parents were upset because Arabic is so intertwined with Islam that it couldn't be helped. I think it can and this shouldn't be an issue.

Those parents are ignorant, plain and simple.

I would agree but I don't see the point of offering such an inflammatory subject. Whats the point? Will they ever USE Arabic? Unlikely. Why not teach Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese or take your pick. Seems like a dumb move to me.

Why not offer something just because a few ignorant people might be offended? Heck, I'd encourage my daughter and son to learn arabic. Like another poster said, being fluent in arabic basically guarantees a high paying job these days. I wouldn't force the issue, but I'd highly encourage learning the language. Same with mandarin.

(10-03-2013 09:44 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:40 AM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  Can Arabic be taught without the "Christians and Jews are dogs and pigs"?

But seriously, learning Arabic is a great idea. I think the CIA alone says they need a couple thousand translators.

The word gringo never came up in two years of high school spanish, so I think they can manage.

(10-03-2013 09:41 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:39 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:38 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:36 AM)VA49er Wrote:  Shouldn't be an issue. I don't remember being forced fed catholicism while learning spanish.

that was my point. The article said parents were upset because Arabic is so intertwined with Islam that it couldn't be helped. I think it can and this shouldn't be an issue.

Those parents are ignorant, plain and simple.

I would agree but I don't see the point of offering such an inflammatory subject. Whats the point? Will they ever USE Arabic? Unlikely. Why not teach Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese or take your pick. Seems like a dumb move to me.

Hmmm, I dunno. The Army, FBI, and intelligence agencies have to beg to get Arabic speakers to join the ranks, so I'm thinking maybe so?

Um, no. The Military has special schools that teach other languages.

(10-03-2013 09:44 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:40 AM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  Can Arabic be taught without the "Christians and Jews are dogs and pigs"?

But seriously, learning Arabic is a great idea. I think the CIA alone says they need a couple thousand translators.

The word gringo never came up in two years of high school spanish, so I think they can manage.

lol @ gringo. I still get called that when travelling down to South America. Not really a derogatory term to me anymore. It's not like calling an hispanic a spick or weback, etc.

(10-03-2013 09:44 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:41 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:39 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:38 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:36 AM)VA49er Wrote:  Shouldn't be an issue. I don't remember being forced fed catholicism while learning spanish.

that was my point. The article said parents were upset because Arabic is so intertwined with Islam that it couldn't be helped. I think it can and this shouldn't be an issue.

Those parents are ignorant, plain and simple.

I would agree but I don't see the point of offering such an inflammatory subject. Whats the point? Will they ever USE Arabic? Unlikely. Why not teach Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese or take your pick. Seems like a dumb move to me.

Why not offer something just because a few ignorant people might be offended? Heck, I'd encourage my daughter and son to learn arabic. Like another poster said, being fluent in arabic basically guarantees a high paying job these days. I wouldn't force the issue, but I'd highly encourage learning the language. Same with mandarin.

Don't misunderstand I don't have a problem with it but it seems like sometimes this stuff is done for press and not for education. I think Hindi would be a better offering.

(10-03-2013 09:47 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:44 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:41 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:39 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:38 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  that was my point. The article said parents were upset because Arabic is so intertwined with Islam that it couldn't be helped. I think it can and this shouldn't be an issue.

Those parents are ignorant, plain and simple.

I would agree but I don't see the point of offering such an inflammatory subject. Whats the point? Will they ever USE Arabic? Unlikely. Why not teach Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese or take your pick. Seems like a dumb move to me.

Why not offer something just because a few ignorant people might be offended? Heck, I'd encourage my daughter and son to learn arabic. Like another poster said, being fluent in arabic basically guarantees a high paying job these days. I wouldn't force the issue, but I'd highly encourage learning the language. Same with mandarin.

Don't misunderstand I don't have a problem with it but it seems like sometimes this stuff is done for press and not for education. I think Hindi would be a better offering.

Schools in Alabama, especially Baldwin County, don't do things to get attention. That's one of the most conservative counties in the country, much less the state. I would assume they picked that language because that's what they could easily find a teacher for, and there are legitimate reasons why in this day and age Arabic might be a good language to learn.

(10-03-2013 09:45 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:44 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:40 AM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  Can Arabic be taught without the "Christians and Jews are dogs and pigs"?

But seriously, learning Arabic is a great idea. I think the CIA alone says they need a couple thousand translators.

The word gringo never came up in two years of high school spanish, so I think they can manage.

(10-03-2013 09:41 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:39 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(10-03-2013 09:38 AM)ImMoreAwesomeThanYou Wrote:  that was my point. The article said parents were upset because Arabic is so intertwined with Islam that it couldn't be helped. I think it can and this shouldn't be an issue.

Those parents are ignorant, plain and simple.

I would agree but I don't see the point of offering such an inflammatory subject. Whats the point? Will they ever USE Arabic? Unlikely. Why not teach Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese or take your pick. Seems like a dumb move to me.

Hmmm, I dunno. The Army, FBI, and intelligence agencies have to beg to get Arabic speakers to join the ranks, so I'm thinking maybe so?

Um, no. The Military has special schools that teach other languages.

No doubt, but they need many more arabic linguist than they can currently pump through said schools. Better to use you own than rely on foreign translators that can switch allegencies, etc.