Dissidents Fault Letter
UFT Draws Blame In Principal Ouster

By MEREDITH KOLODNER

The forced resignation of the founding Principal of a new Arabic dual-language school has stirred debate within the United Federation of Teachers.

WAR OF WORDS: The forced resignation of Principal Debbie Almontaser, who helped to found and create the new Arabic dual-language school Khalil Gibran Academy, has spurred discussion inside the Teachers' union about the role of language, race and religion in education.

A coalition of community groups, educators and clergy held a protest Aug. 20 demanding that Debbie Almontaser be reinstated as the Principal of Khalil Gibran International Academy, and the rally attracted Teachers who were critical of their union's response to the controversy.

'Bring Debbie Back'

Holding signs that read "NYC needs multi-cultural education" and "Another Jewish UFTer for Debbie Almontaser," the approximately 100 protesters gathered outside the Department of Education and chanted, "Bring Debbie back." Ms. Almontaser resigned under pressure Aug. 10 after she explained the formal meaning of the Arabic word "intifada" - commonly used to refer to the Palestinian rebellion against Israel - as meaning "shaking off."

"Almontaser was educating the public about the word," said Sean Ahern, who teaches social studies at the Marta Valle Secondary School in Manhattan. "This is McCarthyism. We're supposed to be in the business of talking and learning and this has done the exact opposite."

Ms. Almontaser attracted national media attention and criticism after she declined, in an interview with the New York Post, to condemn a t-shirt created by a young Arab women's group that displayed the words "NYC Intifada." Ms. Almontaser had no connection to the group, but after her comments were criticized by Mayor Bloomberg, UFT President Randi Weingarten, and the editorial boards of several newspapers, she stepped down from her post. She was replaced by Debbie Salzberg, a former Teacher who was involved in the design of the school but does not speak Arabic.

Sources said last week that Ms. Almontaser had originally asked the Department of Education to allow her to skip the interview with the Post, which has editorially been a vocal critic of the school, but the DOE insisted.

DOE officials said they had no comment.

'Right to Be Concerned'

UFT President Weingarten in the past has defended the school against critics both inside and outside the union, but after Ms. Almontaser's interview appeared in the Post, she wrote a letter to that paper which read "[B]oth parents and teachers have every right to be concerned about children attending a school run by someone who doesn't instinctively denounce campaigns or ideas tied to violence."

"I was very upset by Randi's comments," said Martin Haber, who teaches at John Dewey High School and spoke at the Aug. 20 rally. "I felt not represented by her, and I believe her comments implied that [Ms. Almontaser] should resign." Mr. Haber is a member of the opposition caucus the Independent Community of Educators (ICE).

But Ms. Weingarten said she had not wanted Ms. Almontaser to resign. She said she reached out to Ms. Almontaser and spoke with her at length after the controversy broke. She promised the embattled Principal that the union would continue to support the school.

Ms. Weingarten said she thought the DOE should not have granted the interview. "She should have never been put in the position of having to speak to the New York Post," Ms. Weingarten said in an Aug. 22 phone interview.

'Shaking Off Oppression'

In the Post interview, Ms. Almontaser said, "The word [intifada] basically means 'shaking off.' That is the root word if you look it up in Arabic.

"I understand it is developing a negative connotation due to the uprising in the Palestinian-Israeli areas. I don't believe the intention is to have any of that kind of [violence] in New York City.

"I think it's pretty much an opportunity for girls to express that they are part of New York City society ... and shaking off oppression," she added.

She quickly apologized, issuing a statement, "The word 'intifada' is completely inappropriate as a T-shirt slogan. I regret suggesting otherwise. By minimizing the word's historical associations, I implied that I condone violence and threats of violence. That view is anathema to me." But the calls for her dismissal continued, and she stepped down.

'Condemn Violence'

Regardless of the difficult position Ms. Almontaser found herself in, Ms. Weingarten said she believed it was important to speak out about the use of the word intifada. "We have to condemn violence and words that connote violence," she said.

Some Teachers said they believed that the use of the word intifada was not the only issue at stake.

"The context is that the school's been under attack," said Megan Behrent, who teaches English at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School. "It's clear that there are forces, including the New York Post, who are out to close the school."

She argued that given headlines such as "Stop Terrorist Training School," which ran in the Post, Ms. Weingarten's letter to the Post undermined the union's support for the school.

'Caused a Backlash'

"Because of the context, that letter actually became an attack on the entire school," said Ms. Behrent, who is a member of the opposition caucus Teachers for a Just Contract. "I don't think it was necessarily their intention, but they played a role in the backlash against the school, and the backlash is motivated by the racism of some of the groups that oppose it."

Ms. Weingarten said she often writes letters to the editors of city newspapers, including the Post, but that the union would continue to support the school and its Teachers.

"I had a bunch of members who were critical of me when the UFT first supported the school," said the union president. "We have an incredibly diverse membership on many issues. There are people who shy away from saying anything unless there is universal consensus, but that's not leadership."

Most of the protesters at the Aug. 20 rally aimed their fire at the Department of Education and the Mayor. "I'm furious that the DOE has not supported Debbie," said Deborah Howard, who was a member of the school's design committee. "How the DOE is going to let a tabloid newspaper influence policy is beyond me."

No Word on Future

DOE officials would not comment on whether Ms. Almontaser would return to the school, and noted that she resigned and was not fired.

The sister of one of the new students entering Khalil Gibran also spoke at the rally. "The opening of this school is of great importance to my family," said Sara Said Alkulaidi. She spoke of her experience wearing the hijab in a traditional public school and said that the taunting was sometimes unbearable. "Other students would call me names, like sand n-----, and would spit on me. Sometimes my friends and I would wear two hijabs because kids would pull them off."

Mona Eldahry, the founding director of the group Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media, which made the t-shirts, also criticized the response of city officials. "[Ms. Almontaser] chose to educate the public about the use of an Arabic word," she said. "We look forward to the day when our elected officials speak out against racism instead of pandering to it."