Arabic school principal resigns

NEW YORK, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- A New York school focusing on Arabic language and culture has been plagued by bad press, which was compounded by the resignation of the school's principal.

The Khalil Gibran International Academy, one of the first U.S. public schools with an Arabic focus, was attacked from the time it was announced in February by conservative columnists and media outlets that suggested the school's observant Muslim principal might push an extremist agenda, The Washington Post reported Friday.

The criticism was compounded when Principal Debbie Almontaser resigned after making statements that appeared to defend a slogan worn on a t-shirt by Muslims unassociated with the school.

Almontaser responded to the t-shirt slogan "Intifada NYC" during a New York Post interview.

"The word basically means 'shaking off,'" Almontaser said. "That is the root word if you look it up in Arabic."

"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."

"Sadly and unfortunately, Debbie was singled out and attacked because she's a religious Muslim," said Rabbi Andy Bachman, who serves on the school's informal clergy advisory group. "Everything in her career, from what we can see, has demonstrated she's a peaceful person who has been the center of dialogue."