Al-Kitab Educational Project
Project Coordinator - Reem Awad-Rashmawi

A project to oversee curricula on Arab Americans in K-12 schools.

NEW: Action Alert

Action Alert: Racist Article in College Textbook

In a widely used college textbook published by McGraw-Hill, an article titled “The Great War on Militant Islam" includes racist references to Arabs, Muslims and Palestinians.

More Here

Join in the effort to help raise cultural awareness on Arab Americans!

Donate to the Al-Kitab Book Project and have books on Arab Americans placed in school libraries across the US. 

 
Have a book to recommend? 
Email us and let us know the name, author, publisher and a brief description. Join and support Al-Kitab and help make a difference today!
With the lack of available resources which positively depict Arabs and the Arab -American community and with the recent sharp rise in anti-Arab racism and hate crimes against Arabs in the United States, the need to foster an objective understanding and sensitivity towards Arab-Americans and Arab society has become critical in the educational arena.

Objective:

The main purpose of Al-Kitab Education Program is the promotion of education about Arabs and Arab-Americans on K-12 academic levels and the interaction of members of the Arab-American Community with the educational system on K-12 academic levels.

Currently, the Al-Kitab Education Program Committee has begun compiling an initial list of books that are available and used by schools nation wide and developing an assessment form which will allow volunteers to comment on books they read.  The Al -Kitab Educational Program has thus far assembled approximately 100 books on Arab Americans for review at the NCA office, as it is compiling a library of recommended books.  Additionally, brainstorming has taken place on the design and mechanism for creating a educational board game about the Arab World.
 
Program Components:
    School/Library Resources:
  • Compile database of all books about Arabs and Arab-Americans applicable to the K-12 academic levels.
  • Assemble collection of these books to assess.
  • Evaluate books from list through volunteer “assessment feedback” process to have a recommended book/resource list.
  • Review what resources are available in school libraries and request that schools remove books that are noted to promote negative stereotypes or provide inaccurate information.
  • Raise grants or donations to introduce recommended books into school libraries and/or develop a community project to have parents buy recommended books to donate to school libraries.
  • Attend state and local district book fairs to promote books about Arabs and Arab-Americans.
     
    • Oversee Current K-12 Curricula:
  • Develop a program where chapter committees are trained on curricula review.
  • Provide educational materials; including textbooks; references; bibliographies; educational aids such as audio, video, and print material.
  • Hold training seminars, conferences, and educational programs for educators to:
    • Provide accurate and objective historical and cultural
    • Foster and maintain an appropriate level of sensitivity regarding Arab culture
  • Assist in the development of school curricula on local and state levels that would incorporate a modern understanding of Arab and Arab-American societies, customs, religions, and historical evolution
     
    • Development of NCA Educational Resources:
  • Develop educational children’s board games with emphasis on the Arab World
  • Develop children’s books and encourage Arab-American authorship of children’s books in English

     
    • Parent Education/Parent-School Interaction:
  • Provide information and seminars to Arab-American parents and other members of the Arab-American Community on working with the school district and schools.
  • Provide an outlet in all of the arenas above to take an active role in Al-Kitab.