BOERUM HILL. Fears of protests at the Khalil Gibran International Academy failed to materialize on the first day of school yesterday.
Banners were raised reading “New Yorkers Support Khalil Gibran School,” and placards greeted students in Arabic and English. Groups such as Brooklyn for Peace provided cookies and orange juice.
“We’re here so they don’t feel intimidated,” said Susan Metz, with Brooklyn for Peace. “We’re here to welcome them and assure them they have the support of people in the neighborhood.”
Media presence at the school was intense. Some children appeared intimidated by the attention and were rushed inside. Most parents were relieved to see their children enter school safely.
“I’m just so happy that my kids are going to learn Arabic,” said parent Najat Handou. “I was surprised it got all of this this attention, but I want to tell all the parents that it’s great. I want to tell them to try and help the school to get better and better. We want our kids to learn two languages. We cannot teach them by ourselves.”
The opening of the school was described as a landmark achievement by school officials.
“The school is in the best traditions of New York City,” said Garth Harries, of the Dept. of Education. “It’s inclusive, it’s vibrant and it’s committed to excellence.”
Meanwhile, at City Hall, a grassroots organization, “Stop the Madrassa,” called on city officials to answer three Freedom of Information Law requests concerning textbooks, curricula and other documents related to the school they feel could impose a radical Islamist agenda. Retired city teacher Irene Alter, a co-founder of the group, worried about what reading materials will be distributed to up to 60 students at the school, which will initially offer sixth-grade and is scheduled to add one level a year until grade 12.
“My initial reaction was that this defies all common sense,” Alter said. “At the very least, [Mayor Michael Bloomberg] and [Schools Chancellor Joel Klein] owe the citizens and taxpayers an explanation for the necessity of a school like this, and additionally, how they plan to monitor it since it is well known that many of the texts emanating from countries such as Saudi Arabia are filled with anti-American, anti-Zionist rhetoric.”
Klein has previously said he supports the school and promised to “shut it down” should it become a religious school. According to its Web site, the academy’s goal is “to prepare students for college and successful careers and to foster an understanding of different cultures, a love of learning, and desire for excellence in all of its students.”
