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Article Critique Caleb A. Kigar Cornerstone University

Running Header: Article Critique Summary of the Article: Sally Wesley Bonet of Rutgers University enlightens her readers about the

troubles Arab and Muslim students, who are U.S. citizens I might add, are constantly and inappropriately being hazed and ridiculed about their nationality following 9/11. The message Bonet is compelling her readers to evaluate is the inequalities of allowing students in America to suffer discrimination because of their nationality and the political climate. Furthermore, the Patriot Act was passed soon after the tragic day of September 11th, 2001, which was an immediate cause of the beginning of this discrimination. (Bonet). This Act act allowed the Department of Justice to conduct searches, use electronic surveillances nationally and internationally, and to detain suspected terrorists. That being said, people of the Muslim and Arab nationality instantly were over-targeted by the surveillances; from that, you would think the targeting of the Arab and Muslim people would stay out of the safe school systems, but they do not. Specifically, one unfortunate example highlighted was a Pakistani girl, with excellent academic records, felt her teachers dismissed her aspirations of success because of their stereotypical beliefs that Muslim women are not valued (Bonet). The author continues to support her claim with anecdotes of the harassment and violence Arab and Muslim children have to deal with on a daily basis. Bonet concludes the article by rhetorically questioning how can these students manage to advance in the school setting, much less the college and beyond.

Running Header: Article Critique Critical Response: Now coming from my high school, I have a very limited experience with any Arab or Muslim students because I had very few, and from those few, they were all quality individuals. Being brought up in a Christian home and Baptist church with my dad as a pastor taught me to love everyone, regardless of his or her race or ethnicity. A student, who will remain anonymous, was sent to his principal after drawing two planes hitting the twin towers. That does sound inappropriate;

however, it was just him. His classmates also all drew the same picture as well, but it was only this one student who was sent to the principals office (Bonet). I think the we, including myself, are at an advantage since we are at a Christian school with solid philosophical and moral values because we have been taught to love everyone and not to reject a certain nationality or race. Not to say it doesnt happen, but we are more inclined to accept students because of the core foundation of our beliefs. One of my personal qualities that I continue to hone is my ability to be friendly to everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity or background. It promotes a healthy environment to be in. Classroom-wise, it makes students feel comfortable and secure like asking a question. I know I struggle with feeling comfortable with asking questions, but when the environment is friendly and lacking judgment from peers, it is definitely a easier to ask questions or even talk to the teacher or my classmates. This issue of stereotyping and targeting can be removed from any future school that I might be a part of by demonstrating non-discrimination to all students. I know judgment is obviously part of each classroom in terms of learning and

Running Header: Article Critique growing, but discrimination because of political beliefs is unacceptable. The best action to do is smile and be kind to them. That is a part of Maslows hierarchy of needs and also part of the definition of love.

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References: Sally W. Bonet, (2011). Educating Muslim American Youth in a Post-9/11 Era: A Critical Review of Policy and Practice. The High School Journal. 95 (1), pp.e.g. 45