Arabic, Islamic history classes for all Haifa elementary schools - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Wed., August 22, 2007 Elul 8, 5767

Israel Time: 10:41 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Print Edition

Diplomacy

Defense

Arts & Leisure

Real Estate

Jewish World

National

Advertising

Magazine

Week's End

Business

Opinion

Rosner's Domain

Anglo File

Travel

Sports

del.icio.us

Digg It! new

Last update - 02:28 22/08/2007

Arabic, Islamic history classes for all Haifa elementary schools

By Fadi Eyadat, Haaretz Correspondent

Fifth and sixth graders in all 52 Haifa elementary schools will take Arabic-language classes as well as study Arab and Islamic history, as part of their regular curriculum.

The project will be funded by the Ministry of Education and the Haifa Municipality.

Two years ago, Haifa municipality and the Abraham Fund Initiatives began a pilot project in 12 elementary schools called "Language as a Cultural Bridge." A year later the number of participating institutions doubled.

	Advertisement

The aim of the project, beyond teaching spoken and literary Arabic, is to "link Jewish pupils to the Arab population which is the second-largest [community] in the country," said Rachel Metuki, educational director at the municipality.

"The program is experiential, and in addition to the language lessons, there will be story tellers in Arabic, audio tapes and plays in Arabic," she explained. "The pupils will learn about Arab family and community life, cultural codes, and all aspects of customs."

Contrary to the Junior High School pupils throughout the country who study literary Arabic only, the Haifa pupils will learn spoken Arabic and will make daily use of it.

"Whoever goes to the market in Wadi Nisnas [an Arab neighborhood in Haifa] will speak Arabic with the people there," she said.

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Keeping her twist
	Singer Marina Maximillian Blumin, making up her own rules, brings jazz to pop.


	A watchdog dozes
	A survey finds most workers receiving 'low pay' lack basic awareness of their salaries.




1.	Tread very carefully	02:54	\|	Robert	22/08/07

2.	Absurd!!!!!!!!	05:02	\|	Yoav	22/08/07

3.	Encouraging Development	05:16	\|	dana	22/08/07

4.	great program! hope it works	05:22	\|	tom	22/08/07

5.	Language	05:26	\|	MC	22/08/07

6.	Language Part 2	05:34	\|	MC	22/08/07

7.	Altruism Run Amok	05:42	\|	Solomon the Wise	22/08/07

8.	But consider what else is going on	06:07	\|	Raymond from DC	22/08/07

9.	Language, Borders & Culture	07:40	\|	Solomon the Wise	22/08/07

10.	It is probably funded by Saudi Arabia not Ministary of Eduxation!	10:22	\|	ILSupporter	22/08/07

Today Online


	Rosner: ADL terms Turkish massacre of Armenians 'genocide'
	Responses: 10


	EU resumes fuel shipments to Gaza power plant
	Responses: 54


	Support for Nazi ideas still haunts Germany, says gov't minister
	Responses: 5


	Several Arab countries speed up nuclear projects
	Responses: 5

Rosner's Domain

* ADL and the Armenian genocide: The incidental victim

* WTR: yes to "genocide", no to bill

* An epistolary novel: Will Steven's kids get Jewish education?

* Blog & poll: Is the $3 billion aid too much, not enough?

More Headlines
09:29 IAF strike kills top Hamas commander in Gaza City


00:32 ADL says Turkish massacre of Armenians was a 'genocide'


10:01 Mideast countries speed up nuclear development projects


10:27 Shipments of EU-funded fuel to Gaza power plant resume


08:15 Knesset conversion proposals slammed by Orthodox, Reform


07:34 Kiev court: Proof lacking that missile downed Russian airliner


08:05 Haifa 5th, 6th graders to be taught Arabic language, culture


03:41 Likudniks work to give Mofaz edge over PM in Kadima poll


06:32 Support for Nazi ideas still haunts Germany, says gov't minister


05:54 Cattle vaccines sent to West Bank to prevent epidemic