https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents Arab - Americans en-us 2018-10-21 05:01:14 UTC 2018-11-01 13:13:43 UTC hello@padlet.com gonzalesd https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299303848 Today, students of Arab heritage can be found in all fifty states and, as a group, do well in American schools. The proportion of Arab Americans who attend college is higher than the national average, and Arab Americans earn postgraduate degrees a rate nearly double the national average. Yet, they still face challenges. They learn from textbooks that have little if anything to say about their history or experiences. American teachers lack basic information about Arab culture, which may present problems. For example, a traditional Arab student may be troubled or confused in an American school where women can be both teachers and principals. In a similar way, an American teacher who criticizes an Arab student in public may have unintentionally erected a wall of hard feelings. Arabs put a lot of emphasis on personal and family honor, and public ridicule is a serious matter.]]> 2018-11-01 11:38:28 UTC https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299303848 gonzalesd https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299304119 If an Arab student happens to be of Muslim faith, additional issues emerge. Muslims discover that although schools typically celebrate Christmas, they ignore Muslim holidays. For instance, during Ramadan, Muslims fast for a month during daylight hours, yet few schools recognize this observance, much less make provisions for it. In terms of dietary restrictions, school cafeterias serve, but do not always label, pork products, a food Muslims are prohibited from eating. Clearly, Arab and Muslim American students are all but invisible in the official and hidden curriculum of most American schools. Teacher training, curricular revision, and a greater understanding of these cultural and religious issues are needed if equal educational opportunities are to become a reality for these Americans.]]> 2018-11-01 11:39:20 UTC https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299304119 gonzalesd https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299304593 “It is not surprising that polls taken as far back as the 1980s reveal that most Americans perceive Arabs as anti-American, violent, wealthy from oil, and oppressive of women. The challenge to educators could not be clearer. Students and teachers need to learn about Arab Americans, as well as the Arab world.”]]> 2018-11-01 11:41:07 UTC https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299304593 gonzalesd https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299304803 “Many Americans confuse Arabs and Muslims, mistaking Islam, a religion practiced by Muslims, with Arabs, a cultural group. Although Islam is the predominant religion of the Middle East, and most Arabs living there are Muslims following Islam, there are also millions of Christian Arabs (as well as those who are Jewish or Druse). In the United States, however, the vast majority of Arab Americans are Christian and the majority of America’s Muslims are not Arab.”]]> 2018-11-01 11:41:55 UTC https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299304803 gonzalesd https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299306543 Some Arab-American parents sent their kids to private Muslim schools to get an education on that coincides with their religion, but most send their kids to public schools.]]> 2018-11-01 11:48:47 UTC https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299306543 gonzalesd https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299307030 Most schools didn't acknowledge Arab culture and history or worked against Arab stereotyping.]]> 2018-11-01 11:50:38 UTC https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299307030 gonzalesd https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299311095 Some schools have designated prayer rooms for those whom are in need of a safe space for prayer that have a Muslim faith. ]]> 2018-11-01 12:05:09 UTC https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299311095 gonzalesd https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299311938 With the current political atmosphere in 2018 along with the increase in hate crimes, schools can be doing more to minimize fears through misconceptions. Some ways this can be achievable are:

- to freely open the topic of various fears people have with their Arab - American friends. As well as hearing Arab-American fears.
- have open houses/ field trips in the community to various places of worships. 
- having Arab - American guest speakers (especially for schools that have very few or none Arab-Americans)
- Having culture immersion / class in lower level classes to educate on the various types of religions, various garments worn for said religion for a better understanding on what and why people of various religions wear these particular items.
- Connect and find similarities to Arab-Americans to demonstrate that we may look different, follow a different faith, we are actually similar in many other ways. ]]> 2018-11-01 12:07:46 UTC https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299311938 gonzalesd https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299329704 Steve Jobs-  Co Founder of Apple

Anthony Shadid- Reporter, 2 Time Pulitzer Prize winner for International  reporting

Ralph Nader- Politician

General John Abizaid- Retired US Army General

Michael DeBakey- Inventor, scientist, cardiovascular surgeon, educator

Not American:
Shakira - (Singer, Songwriter, Dancer) Mostly associated with Latin America as she was born in Columbia, she is also part Lebanese. ]]> 2018-11-01 12:49:43 UTC https://padlet.com/gonzalesd/ArabAmericanStudents/wish/299329704