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The American interest in Islamic schooling : a misplaced emphasis?

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Starrett, G. (2006). The American interest in Islamic schooling : a misplaced emphasis?. Middle East Policy. https://doi.org/doi:10.1111/j.1475-4967.2006.00242.x
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Description

Since 2001, many American intellectuals and policymakers have blamed terrorism and conflict on Middle Eastern educational systems, which they claim do little but indoctrinate students with anti-American sentiment. Pressure has been put on many countries in the region to rewrite their curricula as a cure for violence and xenophobia. This article discusses some historical parallels to current concerns about inadequate schooling, but argues that solving political problems through curricular reform is misguided. "Rewriting books," it argues, "is easier than changing fundamental social, economic and political institutions with powerful constituencies. . . .Curriculum reform without the reform of infrastructure, political participation and economic opportunity will do nothing to stem internal and external conflicts that do far more than schools to create violent motivations. The doomed economy of petroleum, the patriarchal authority structures of rural villages, the brutality of the Saudi religious police, the legal persecution of Egyptian homosexuals, the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers, targeted assassinations by Algerian paramilitaries or by Israeli pilots in American helicopters. . .have far more influence over the political consciousness of children and youth than does anything taught in school, religious or otherwise.”

Details
Title

The American interest in Islamic schooling : a misplaced emphasis?

Author(s)

Starrett, Gregory, 1961-

UNC Charlotte Affiliate Type

Faculty

Publisher

Middle East Policy Council

Extent

1 online resource

Date Published

2006

Material Type

Journal article

Genre

articles

Resource Type

text

Abstract

Since 2001, many American intellectuals and policymakers have blamed terrorism and conflict on Middle Eastern educational systems, which they claim do little but indoctrinate students with anti-American sentiment. Pressure has been put on many countries in the region to rewrite their curricula as a cure for violence and xenophobia. This article discusses some historical parallels to current concerns about inadequate schooling, but argues that solving political problems through curricular reform is misguided. "Rewriting books," it argues, "is easier than changing fundamental social, economic and political institutions with powerful constituencies. . . .Curriculum reform without the reform of infrastructure, political participation and economic opportunity will do nothing to stem internal and external conflicts that do far more than schools to create violent motivations. The doomed economy of petroleum, the patriarchal authority structures of rural villages, the brutality of the Saudi religious police, the legal persecution of Egyptian homosexuals, the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers, targeted assassinations by Algerian paramilitaries or by Israeli pilots in American helicopters. . .have far more influence over the political consciousness of children and youth than does anything taught in school, religious or otherwise.”

Subjects--Topics

Education
Terrorism

Subjects--Geographic

Middle East

Is Part Of

Middle East policy

Volume

13

Issue

1

ISSN

1475-4967

Beginning Page Number

120

Ending Page Number

131

Language

English

Published Version (Please cite this version)

doi:10.1111/j.1475-4967.2006.00242.x

Publisher's Version

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4967.2006.00242.x

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/work:83

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