Melting Pot - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Reader comment on:
‘Screaming and Crying' Greet Arab School Plan
in response to reader comment: A Mistaken "Model"

Submitted by Susan, Jun 2, 2007 09:47

Tim Geoghan,

I appreciate your philosophy of mulitculturalism. However, what you are failing to realize is how a change like this (public schools catering to immigrants place of origin) will affect assimiliartion. And let's not forget that our history of successful assimilating immigrants is one of the reasons that we have a more cohesive society that includes Muslims unlike Europe.

We, unlike Britain, France and other countries, do not have the same level of "homegrown" terrorism. Part of the reason is economic opportunities and our mentality of the merit system (opposed to elitism or a caste system). But also part of the reason is that immigant children are assimilated in our public schools. It is there, in public schools that a mentality of "Americanism" and what that means, is created.

Their parents may come here for economic freedoms, but their children will become "Americans."

If you change the system now, who can say how it will affect this country?

Also, how much sense does it make to foster the culture of where they came from? It makes no sense. You may as well forget about the American "melting pot" because you're taking away the PRIMARY thing that "melts" them into America!

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
read mr. wolf's commentary if you are for the arab school. It makes some sense. On the other hand there are... [MORE]	r. dowty	Aug 6, 2007 14:31
20 million illegal immigrants,a country falling apart, left wing nuts taking over the democratic party,and now public money used to... [MORE]	Paul Revere	Jun 19, 2007 09:44
The The Kalil Gibran International Academy is an excellent idea and a great model for the thousands of Yemeni, Syrian,... [MORE]	Tim Geoghegan	Mar 20, 2007 13:45
Tim Geoghan needs to be reminded that the "countless immigrants" who made New York their "first home" were not given... [MORE]	Alan David	May 8, 2007 15:39
The only demagoguery I see here is Mr. David's response. My support of the school is as much a nod... [MORE]	Tim Geoghegan	May 8, 2007 22:14
Tim Geoghan, I appreciate your philosophy of mulitculturalism. However, what you are failing to realize is how a change like this...	Susan	Jun 2, 2007 09:47
Tim Geoghegan is one of those good-hearted, broad-minded , well-intentioned people who will bring about the destruction of the greatest... [MORE]	misterbill	Jul 4, 2007 15:22
The purpose of public school is to teach the students reading, writing, and math, using the English language! This is... [MORE]	Mr. Ivy League	Aug 2, 2007 11:36
Although, I support any community that wants to celebrate their heritage, I am completely against ethno-centric public institutions. The very... [MORE]	John	Mar 17, 2007 19:21
you could not have said it better [MORE]	kerry	Jul 7, 2007 02:41
The tactics used by department and school officials in order to keep opposition to their unilateral plans for the P.S.... [MORE]	Jeebs	Mar 15, 2007 18:10
As parents of a kindergarten student at PS 282, the proposed site of the Khalil Gibran International Academy, we are... [MORE]	Sean & Paulette James	Mar 15, 2007 13:31
Forget about getting your voices heard. The only thing that school administrators care about is lining their own pockets. Do the... [MORE]	Lou Voreni	Mar 16, 2007 18:14
if Arabic speaking ppl want an Arabic school, let them raise money and fund a private school for this purpose.... [MORE]	charles	Jul 4, 2007 09:08
I am a parent living in California, and when I read this, I am thinking has the school board gone... [MORE]	Fred Bates	Jul 17, 2007 11:31