2006年VOA标准英语-Arabic School in Italy Sparks Debate

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
06 November 2006

		Supporters of Northern league party stage a protest in front of 'Nagib Mahfouz' school, in Milan, October 10, 2006

An Arabic school in Milan, which has sparked debate about religious versus¹ secular education in Italy, has reopened, just weeks after it was closed because it did not have proper authorization². Children entering the school were met by protesters.

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After weeks of controversy³, the Nagib Mahfuz School in Milan re-opened Monday. One hundred thirty Egyptian children arrived for class, despite a protest organized by the Northern League party outside the school.

The school, sponsored by the Egyptian consulate⁴, was ordered closed three days after opening in mid-October. Authorities said that the school did not have the needed authorization from local education authorities and that the building lacked required security standards to guarantee the safety of children and teachers.

Protests against the opening of a private Arabic school had been going on for months, as Italians debated whether Muslims in the country should have the right to give their children an education that teaches them about Islam. That reflects a wider debate in Europe about the integration⁵ of the growing Muslim immigrant population on the continent.

At the time the school was closed, Milan Mayor Letizia Moratti condemned⁶ the opening of the school, calling it a lack of respect for the local administration.

The green light to reopen the school came from the Lombardy region's director for education, after changes were made to the school building.

The school's director, Lidia Cerboni, expressed satisfaction, and said she never had any doubts that the school would open in the end.

But some city officials still feel the school should not be permitted. Tiziana Maiolo is the Milan councilor for productive activities.

She sarcastically⁷ says, "I want to see this plague in a civilized⁸ city like Milan. It's scandalous." She says, "I think the whole of Europe is watching this because nothing similar exists."

The school aims to offer a bilingual syllabus⁹, including two hours' study of the Koran a week.

The school's directors say they are inspired by the desire to promote integration. But opponents say there is no need for Muslim children to have a separate school, and insist there will be greater integration, if they attend Italian state schools.

1 versus   

prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下

参考例句：

• The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
• The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。

2 authorization   

n.授权，委任状

参考例句：

• Anglers are required to obtain prior authorization from the park keeper.垂钓者必须事先得到公园管理者的许可。
• You cannot take a day off without authorization.未经批准你不得休假。

3 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

4 consulate   

n.领事馆

参考例句：

• The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。
• The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。

5 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

6 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

7 sarcastically   

adv.挖苦地，讽刺地

参考例句：

• 'What a surprise!' Caroline murmured sarcastically.“太神奇了!”卡罗琳轻声挖苦道。
• Pierce mocked her and bowed sarcastically. 皮尔斯嘲笑她，讽刺地鞠了一躬。

8 civilized   

a.有教养的，文雅的

参考例句：

• Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society. 文明社会憎恶种族主义。
• rising crime in our so-called civilized societies 在我们所谓文明社会中日益增多的犯罪行为

9 syllabus   

n.教学大纲，课程大纲

参考例句：

• Have you got next year's syllabus?你拿到明年的教学大纲了吗？
• We must try to diversify the syllabus to attract more students.我们应该使教学大纲内容多样化，可以多吸引学生。