2006年VOA标准英语-Religious School Teaches Students Muslim Values

By Setareh Sanjar
Washington, DC
19 October 2006
 
watch Muslim School in US

Private, religious schools have long been an alternative to public schools in the United States. The U.S. Department of Education estimates more than four million students attend schools run by religious groups, the vast majority of them Christian¹. But VOA's Persian Service found a school for Muslim students in the Washington suburbs. Barry Newhouse narrates² this report by Setareh Sanjar.

 
Mariam Mohammed
Like many high school seniors, Mariam Mohammed is looking forward to graduating and going to college. But she does not attend a typical high school. She attends a private Muslim school in the eastern state of Maryland. Mariam says she did not feel comfortable attending a public school.

"I  was constantly needing to explain myself. Some of the words that I use -- like I would go to the library and say, 'Assalamu Alaikum.' That is our greeting. It means, 'peace be upon you.' And they would give me this weird³ look," said Mohammed. "So, it kind of felt awkward. Here, I'm more comfortable. People understand what I mean. I don't have to explain myself. And, certain standards that I have myself -- I also live in an environment with the same standards."

 
Mahboubeh Ayatollahzadeh
Mahboubeh Ayatollahzadeh has been the principal at the Muslim Community School for the past two years. She says the school was started by parents who wanted their children to be exposed to an Islamic-based education.

"Families who were interested in having a place where their children could retain their Islamic and cultural values got together, and started this school. There were very few at the beginning," said Ayatollahzadeh.

James and Khadira Huff enrolled⁴ their six-year-old daughter, Leila, in the school to reinforce the Islamic values she learns at home.

 
James and Khadira Huff
"We felt it was important that she be exposed to religion at an early age. We really wanted her to learn Arabic and some of the Koran early on," said Khadira.

The school curriculum includes courses on the Koran, and has designated prayer times. While boys and girls are separated into different areas in the prayer room, they are allowed to interact in classrooms, at lunch, and on the playground.

The Muslim Community School teaches 110 students from ages five to 18. Annual tuition costs are close to $5,000.

The principal says the school's biggest strength is its diversity. "Every year, we have an international event. We celebrate our different cultures. Among the teachers and students, 17 to18 different countries are represented. Countries, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, United States, African countries--Sierra Leone. These are just some of the countries we have students from," said Ayatollahzadeh.

Elementary and middle school classes are taught in English, but Arabic and Farsi are offered in high school.

Despite attending an Islamic secondary school, students at the Muslim Community School say they are prepared to attend secular⁵ universities.

Senior Mariam Mohammed said, "Definitely. We have had a lot of interaction with other schools. We have gone out on field trips. It is not as if we are isolated⁶."

Recent graduates from the school are now studying law, medicine and other subjects at secular universities in the United States.

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

3 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

4 enrolled   

adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起

参考例句：

• They have been studying hard from the moment they enrolled. 从入学时起，他们就一直努力学习。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He enrolled with an employment agency for a teaching position. 他在职业介绍所登了记以谋求一个教师的职位。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

6 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。