How Dearborn Schools Opened Its Doors To Immigrant Students
Ali Harb of the Arab American News says the district is leading the way for accepting new demographics.
Dearborn is setting a standard for how American cities can be inclusive with the growing number of immigrants, according to Ali Harb, a reporter with the Arab American News.
Dearborn, once a majority-white city, is now heavily populated with Arab Americans. Harb says the city hasn’t always had the most welcoming history, but that has changed in a huge way.
Harb writes:
About 30 years ago, Mayor Mike Guido wanted to talk about the ‘Arab problem.’ In May, an Arab woman who graduated from the Dearborn Public Schools gave the students’ commencement speech at Harvard University.
Dearborn schools have long evolved with its population, as Harb reports, and the welcoming gestures create an environment of inclusion.
Among the measures Dearborn has taken; signs in Arabic to direct traffic posted on the grounds, serving halal food, and providing homework in Arabic.
“It might not be major to the wider population, but to a student who may not be able to eat every single item on the menu as his friends, it makes a massive difference psychologically,” says Harb.
To hear from Harb on Detroit Today, click on the audio player above.
