Brooklyn, NY – Controversial Arab Public School Only Enrolled 30 Students

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    Brooklyn, NY – Despite adding another grade, enrollment at the controversial Arab-themed public school in Brooklyn that was saddled with leadership and discipline issues last year has grown by just 30 students.

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    Although the Khalil Gibran International Academy’s move from Park Slope to a building in DUMBO led some parents to pull their kids out, others said it was the roller-coaster school year that sealed the deal.

    “At this point, I’ve disassociated myself with the school. I want nothing to do with the school,” said Muhammed Fakir, whose daughter Serena attended the sixth grade last year.
    He said many of the parents who yanked their kids cited discord with school Principal Holly Anne Reichert. She took over the helm soon after the school’s founder and former principal, Debbie Almontaser, resigned under pressure after failing to condemn “Intifada NYC” T-shirts distributed by an organization with links to her.

    The school had about 60 students in the sixth grade at its peak last year, and enrolled a total of 90 this year despite having grown to include a seventh grade. School officials said the academy was still enrolling students, but that the move to a new neighborhood contributed to the shortfall. Reichert declined comment.


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    8 Comments
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    Moishe Zichmich
    Moishe Zichmich
    15 years ago

    hey can we get a jewish public school supported by bloomberg, free of tuition? you’d have a hundred thousand applications on day one. Can someone please help me spell “double standard”?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Mike’s the mentch. You all voted for Bloomberg, dont complain.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    There’s no double standard — it is a totally non-religious school. If you want to start public school that teaches Hebrew and Jewish culture while being totally devoid of religion, go right ahead — I think they already did it in Florida somewhere. I don’t know any frum people who would send their kids to such a school, though.

    Robroy560
    Robroy560
    15 years ago

    Great point Moishe… what a waste of tax dollars. Although supposedly Florida has a functioning charter school. You can’t teach religion, but you can teach culture. So why not give limudei kodesh instruction after the secular? I’m sure we can rent space from a shul or hall.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    for the last poster:

    they teach Arabic and Muslim culture in that school.

    A public school should not be teaching Arabic last time I checked its English and or Spanish for secondary.

    Its a shame that we voted for Bloomberg twice but then again no one better was runnig.

    we should start doing research and find someone who’s a real fisical conservative and will fight them liberal beaurocrats.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    to last poster,

    We had Anthony Weiner who was running. The truth is that Bloomberg was pretty bad and we should have taken the risk with anybody else.

    Vote McCain - Palin In 08!
    Vote McCain - Palin In 08!
    15 years ago

    Thats 90 students too much!

    bigwheeel
    bigwheeel
    15 years ago

    Moishe Zichmich 1:26PM. You can spell just fine! There’s no double standard! It’s the “FEAR FACTOR”! When is the last time that Jews drove planes into a building?! Or bombed train stations?!

    Or plain (is it Plane?!) sowed murder and mayhem, and to top it off, danced on the roof and gave out candy to rejoice when people are brutally killed?!