Multicultural (Mis)understanding

Abstract

From 2005 to 2007, Debbie Almontaser, an Arab-American, led the development of the Khalil Gibran International Academy, a New York public high school offering classes in Arab language culture to prepare students for careers in international affairs diplomacy to foster multicultural understanding. is one of several themed schools in New York, including others that specialize, for example, in the arts, social justice, Chinese. In February 2007, the New York Department of Education approved the new school Almontaser as interim acting principal. Criticism immediately ensued, associating the school Almontaser with radical Islam. On Aug. 3, 2007, an Internet-based group called Stop the Madrasa Coalition issued a press release claiming that Almontaser was connected to t-shirts bearing the words Intifada NYC sold by Arab Women Active in the Arts Media. Although Almontaser wasn't affiliated with this group, New York Post reporter Chuck Bennett tried to interview her about the organization its Although she tried to avoid the interview, the department's chief press officer instructed Almontaser to participate, but not to address the Later that day, Bennett interviewed Almontaser by telephone with department press officer Melody Meyer on the line. Almontaser told Bennett that neither she nor the school had any connection to the Arab Women group. When Bennett questioned her about the meaning of the Arabic word intifada, Almontaser accurately explained that the root of the word means off. She also said the word has been associated with violence the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, emphasizing that she never affiliate herself with an organization that condones violence. Meyer interjected only once during the call to emphasize that Almontaser does not believe in violence. Immediately after the interview, Meyer called Almontaser to tell her that she had done a good job. The next day, the New York Post ran an article titled City Principal Is 'Revolting.' It featured a picture of Almontaser with the caption, Furor: The pro-violence shirt is being defended by Principal Debbie Almontaser (above). The article reported that [a]ctivists with ties to the principal of the city's controversial new Arabic-themed school are hawking t-shirts that glorify Palestinian terror that Almontaser downplayed the significance of the t-shirts. The article correctly reported Almontaser's disavowal of violence her explanation about the root of the word intifada. But the article incorrectly misleadingly added the phrase, and shaking off oppression to her statement: I think [the t-shirts are] pretty much an opportunity for girls to express that they are part of New York society. The New York Post other media subsequently published stories letters to the editor characterizing the statements attributed to Almontaser in the article as a defense of violence against Israel. Within days, the Deputy Mayor for Education Community Development met with Almontaser on behalf of the Department of Education insisted on her resignation. On Aug. 10, under pressure from department officials, Almontaser issued an apology, which the department had drafted, resigned as the school's interim acting principal. On Oct. 12, when the department opened the position of permanent principal for the school, Almontaser applied. Two days later, The New York Times reported that the department's chief press officer stated that Almontaser would not be placed as principal at the school. The office that conducted the first level of review for the position annotated Almontaser's application as not recommended. As a result, it did not go forward to the second round of consideration. Soon thereafter, Almontaser filed suit in federal court, alleging retaliation in violation of her First Amendment rights infringement of her Fourteenth Amendment right to substantive due process. …