Education for pluralism and tolerance is a challenging task for many teachers around the world. Those who attempt to engage in such efforts often face structural and cultural challenges and obstacles. Supporting and highlighting the success and sustainability of such efforts can provide hope and models for replications in other areas. In the context of Arab Muslim and American societies, this type of initiative is even more critical because of the negative mutual stereotypes and prejudice that exist in both contexts. Teachers in such communities face difficulties in introducing issues concerning the other culture especially in recent years when the tense political situation has worsened since the attacks of 9/11 and the declaration of war on terror by the US governments escalated the environment of ignorance and mistrust.

There are approximately three million Arab Americans living in the United States. Out of those three million Arab Americans, most have experienced stereotypical or prejudicial behavior by non-Arab Americans at some point. Before the attacks of 9/11, Arab American students were largely considered an undetectable minority in the school system; however, after the attacks, stereotyping by teachers and peers and constant negative attention in the media let to a transition. Recent attempts at the education of Arab culture in the American school system are minimal. This lack of social education and the overall passive attempt at a reduction of stereotypes has a profound effect on the negative attitudes and behaviors towards Arab American children in the school system.[1]

Purpose: This project aims to enhance the capacity of civic and social education (called social studies or global citizenship) teachers from the United States and the Arab Muslim world to further integrate cultural themes from their respective societies when teaching about each other cultures and have access to resources that will improve the image of each society in the eyes of the other. To disseminate the experiences of civic educators in the Arab Muslim world who have developed pioneer projects to work with youth is an important step in reducing negative images of about these societies, too.

American civic and social education teachers are often limited by curriculum that does not necessarily provide them with an in depth look at the Arab Muslim culture and society. In fact, the curriculum in social studies in America schools hardly addresses the issues related to Arab Muslim countries. In some grades, students are taught very briefly about Islam but there is often no mention of Arab Muslim history, culture or society.

This project will provide teachers with an opportunity to learn first hand about Arab and Muslim cultural values, norms, and rituals that promote pluralism and tolerance. Similarly, Arab civic education teachers will have the opportunity to learn through this project about American values, norms, and structures that promote pluralism and tolerance. Such learning can assist Arab educators in dealing with negative perceptions among their students and allow them to convey a more complex and objective view of American society and culture.

1.      Mapping and reviewing of Arab Muslim civic education programs in selected countries that have created specialized civic education programs such as in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine. In addition, mapping and identifying curriculum in civic education that exist in the US through non-profit organizations or civil education and others.

2.      Identifying 5 qualified educators from each of these countries to form an Arab civic education teacher group. Identifying 20 American civic education teachers from states where large Arab communities reside (New York, Virginia, Michigan, California) and that represent different regions in the US.

3.      Conducting 3 training workshops on Arab Muslim culture and society for the American teachers to enhance their knowledge and capacity of understanding the Arab Muslim culture and society. Similarly, conduct 3 workshops on American culture and society for the 20 Arab civic education teachers 

4.      Preparing and conducting an exchange visit of the Arab teachers to USA and the American teachers to one of the Arab countries.

5.      During each of these visits, teachers from the two groups will work on proposing content for designing specific modules for civic teachers to use when teaching about the other culture.

6.      In addition to the separate and joint face-to-face training workshops, the educators from these groups will communicate with each other by utilizing the various Internet communication tools (online live video conferencing, live chat, specialized website links, etc.) Such modes of communication will insure continuity and sustainability of the relationships beyond the brief exchange. It will also enhance their capacity to produce new modules for teaching about the other culture and society.

1.      Complete the design of two modules for teaching about Arab Muslim and American societies in social and civic education programs.

2.      Delivery of the two modules in 40 schools in both USA and Arab Muslim schools (on primary and secondary levels).

3.      Online reports and documentation on the experience and progress of the two groups during the project.

4.      A new web-based resource for educators on Arab Muslim-American civic education themes.

 

The Salam Institute is a nonprofit organization for research, education, and practice on issues related to conflict resolution, nonviolence, and development with a focus on bridging differences between Muslim and non-Muslim communities. The Salam Institute was founded by a group of academics and practitioners in the fields of conflict resolution, peace studies, Islamic and cultural studies, and international development. These scholars founded the institute for the purpose of providing scholarly and professional knowledge and expertise to governmental and non-governmental organizations, enhancing the knowledge base of Islamic models for conflict resolution and peace, furthering the interreligious dialogue among Muslims and non Muslims in western and non western societies, advancing the integration of local traditions and values in areas of peace, conflict resolution, and development and exploring, developing, and utilizing resources in Muslim communities to contribute to peacebuilding and development efforts in various conflict areas in the world.

---