Gibran Academy Won’t Share Space with PS 282

NEW YORK (AP) – School officials on Friday were restarting efforts to find a space for a contentious Arabic-themed middle school after plans to open the proposed institution in a Brooklyn school building foundered.The Khalil Gibran International Academy was supposed to share space with Public School 282 in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn. But parents of students at PS 282, an elementary school, criticized the option, saying squeezing another school inside the building would hurt resources available to their children.Some have noted that the school has generated ideological controversy, and have questioned whether that could mean a security risk. And some say they don’t want older students sharing a building with their young children.City Department of Education officials said Friday the school will not be housed at PS 282, but did not say whether the protests had anything to do with changing the location.“After further consultation with the principal and school leadership team of PS 282, we determined that siting the Khalil Gibran International Academy at the school would be detrimental to its core academic programs,” spokesman David Cantor said in a statement.Other locations were being scouted, but Mr. Cantor would not say where.Organizers say they still plan to open this September with a sixth grade and gradually expand into a full middle school and high school. About half the students are expected to be of Arab heritage, although the school will have open admission.The school is named after the famed Lebanese-American Christian poet who promoted peace. It would be one of a few nationwide that focus on the Arabic language and culture. Education officials say the curriculum will be in line with basics required from public schools while integrating elements of its theme. Debbie Almontaser, a longtime New York City educator and a Muslim of Yemeni background, will be leading the academy. She has done extensive interfaith and cultural work to fight stereotypes about Arabs and Muslims in the post-Sept. 11 world.Proponents of the school say it is a public embrace of the city’s growing Arab population and of internationalism.New York already has schools specializing in Asian culture and Chinese language, and is opening one that centers on Latin-American culture.But when the education department revealed plans for the Arabic school earlier this year, the reaction was fierce from right-wing groups.Conservative Web sites have seethed against the idea, as have some members of the public. “Jihadi,” “public madrassa,” and “segregationist” are just a few of the labels tossed at the plan.___Associated Press Writer Nahal Toosi contributed to this report.

Gibran Academy Won’t Share Space with PS 282

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