In Joseph Sills’ grade 5 Arabic A class, students learn the Arabic alphabet and phonetic system, geography of the Arab World, and cultural lessons integrating music, dance, and cuisine. Courtesy of John Galayda/Friends Seminary
Before starting the Arabic program, the school did not offer a non-Western language. “Looking at our mission statement—‘help students bring about a world that ought to be’—we asked ourselves where in this world might our students, graduates of a Quaker school, be needed in the future,” says Principal Robert (Bo) Lauder. “Sadly, it seemed then, as now, that the Middle East would continue to be a place of tumult. Arabic was chosen primarily because it supports our mission and commitment to peace.”
Classes also cover Arab culture, and the program has sponsored trips to Jordan (2014), Morocco (2017), and other countries. This year, field trips will include outings to the Brooklyn Museum for the “Syria, Then and Now” exhibition and to The Met Islamic Art section.
In celebration of the anniversary, former teachers and students gathered on campus last December for the annual Art of Teaching lecture. Four past and current Arabic teachers were honored at the event.
“I will consider supporting this program one of the major accomplishments of my headship at Friends Seminary,” Lauder says.
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