CAIR Gets Failing Grades at Running Ohio Charter Schools
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) released their annual school report cards this week, and the results show that two taxpayer-financed Islamic charter schools operated by officials of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have failed miserably yet again. But protected by powerful political connections, including Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, and apparently indifferent to their exploitation of the Somali children that comprise the vast majority of their students, the Islamic extremists running the operation appear to have no fear of losing their cash cows. In fact, Ohio educrats have renewed one school’s contract after five years of complete academic failure.
The two schools, International Academy and Westside Academy, are run by a group of local Islamic leaders, including CAIR national board vice chairman Ahmad Al-Akhras, CAIR-Columbus president and CAIR-Ohio board member Abukar Arman, and Islamic Society of Greater Columbus president and imam Mouhamed Tarazi (who serves as principal of one of the schools). At one time or another, all have served on the board of the local private Islamic school in Central Ohio, Sunrise Academy.
Beginning operations in 2002, International Academy has a long track record of failure. According to the school’s most recent state report card, the school only meets two of the 19 indicators measured (one of the two indicators it met was attendance). The performance index score of 73.9 fell well short of the 100 points required (of 120 total; the state median is 96.6), but since that was slightly more than the 72.2 scored the previous school year (2006-2007) the school received a “continuous improvement” designation. Only in the Orwellian world of union-controlled, taxpayer-financed public education does this performance rate a grade of C-, thanks to some grade inflation in this year’s report cards courtesy of the ODE.
That “continuous improvement” designation notwithstanding, since International Academy opened, it has never met the state’s required “adequate yearly progress” standard and has never met more than two of the state indicators. Looking at the past three years of academic performance data, we find in four of the seven tested areas, test scores declined last year from the previous year.
The second school, Westside Academy, appears to be following in its older brother’s failing footsteps. Their state report card shows that they met state standards in one area — attendance. Across all grade levels and subjects, less than 20 percent of their students rated proficient or better. In one subject area, 3rd grade math, the school achieved zero percent proficiency. Their performance index also dropped to 56.9 last school year (again, 100 of 120 points being the state requirement), putting them in the “academic watch” category.
No doubt, officials for both schools will place the blame on their students, claiming that since many of them speak English as a second language they are at a disadvantage. But in fact, ODE excluded testing results from students who had limited English proficiency. And the school curriculum itself continues to academically disadvantage the children. Instead of focusing their efforts on helping them improve their English skills, the language emphasis at these two schools is not on English, but instead, Arabic — a foreign language to Somalis.
If there is one subject that both schools excel in, it is Islamic extremism.
just another in a long list of reasons to move out of ohio.
We have charter schools in Michigan that are predominantly Islamic; I’ve seen 10-12 year old girls in burqas.
Truly upsetting.
Using our constitution and our tolerance as a Trojan Horse from which to offload soldiers of JIHAD.
We need to learn from the lesson of Europe close our borders to islamic immigrants. We do not need them or their medieval, satanic culture.
Why is this upsetting? This is the logical outcome to “La educacion es la revelucion” – The (true)revolution is education, as presented recently by Bill Ayers (yes, that Bill Ayers) to upstart communist dictator Hugo Chavez.
If it weren’t so sad (and dangerous), it would actually be quite funny (think Keystone Cops)that as Americans we get all huffy and puffy about these types of abuses. When presented with irrefutable facts such as these (kudos to Patrick Poole, excellent work)we stomp our feet and rail against the machine… for about 30 seconds, and go right back to our six pack and Monday Night Football or Nutri-System dinner and Dancing with the Stars. Why do we act like we care when we won’t do anything about it?
Patrick Poole – “Don’t expect politicians to intervene in this situation, as school officials have powerful political patrons in the state and local governments. Several board members have contributed heavily to Democratic Party candidates and officeholders, in addition to helping with campaign fundraising.”
Patrick is right, if our elected officials won’t do anything about it, why should we. It may take 5 years, 10 years but socialism and the radicalism (in every form) that comes with it will take over what once was the greatest country in the world. If socialized medicine is put in place, that will be the tipping point, and we will spiral in to the abyss of socialism practically overnight.
As a side note, this is why a true reformer like Gov. Sarah Palin is so refreshing. We want reform, we like reform, we recognize reform when we see it but we don’t want to be reformers ourselves. The entitlement mindset coupled with moral relativism is exactly what Bill Ayers & Barack Obama foisted on the children of Illinois with the Chicago Annenerg Challege. CAIR, CAC, the names change but the mission remains the same… destroy America from the inside out… slowly, gradually, and with a big socialist smile & a hug (see Barack Obama & JoeBlow) will make it all seem sooooooooo right. You might even cry your eyelashes off like Oprah in the process.
We’re in a world of hurt and sadly it is going to get a whole lot worse.
P.S. Compare our education system to the damage Katrina did with a total lack of plannig and management by Gov. Kathleen Blanco & Mayor Ray Nagin (not Bush) and fast forward to today with the phenomenal management and evacuation of 2 million coastal residents by Gov. Bobby Jindal and the newly astute Mayor Nagin. We can all see the storm coming in America but what will our response be? Katrina or Gustav? We can choose the kind of whuppin’ we get, and we are going to get a whuppin’!
Unlike some have said, instances like this give more reason for a competitive market place of schools, allowing parents to choose where they want their children to grow. You have to wonder if the local Islamic cleric influenced parents to send their children to places like these, or if it was their own extremist beliefs that influenced their decision.
If parents are at all concerned about the quality and content of their children’s education, and want them to be successful in their endeavors while living in our country, a better option would surely pull most away from troublesome schools like these. The real question here is whether or not the alternatives in their area are any better in terms of education quality and content. Do any of them support a radical (peace-loving) Islamic faith-based curriculum? Plenty of christian parents send their children to christian faith-based school for either the curriculum, quality of education, or both. I’m not saying such school are always inherently better at educating children, but they show that religious school have a long track record of positives.
The issue here is in the nature of traditional Islamic faith and its incompatibility with the American way of life. Its intolerance of non-muslims with a focus on violent conversion as a prominent means of action is not something that americans can tolerate, or any democracy for that matter. The radical muslims have found a faith that preaches peace and could most likely do a far better job educating children. When you get down to the grit, the people running these traditional islamic schools are more concerned at recruiting soldiers for their jihad and less concerned about teaching children knowledge they will need to live in the real world. Without a strong passion to do the latter, most any school will be judged as wanting.
danviento said “If parents are at all concerned about the quality and content of their children’s education, and want them to be successful in their endeavors while living in our country, a better option would surely pull most away from troublesome schools like these. The real question here is whether or not the alternatives in their area are any better in terms of education quality and content. Do any of them support a radical (peace-loving) Islamic faith-based curriculum?”
These are all good questions.
I suspect the parents are responding to pressure from their local Imam. I also suspect the parents want their kids to be educated as Islamics, and not influenced by the “American culture.” The irony to that is, why did they even come here or do they stay here. This is after all, America. To expect our culture to not influence one’s children, is pathetically foolish. Unless the parents keep their children away from all contact with “America,” those kids will be influenced in one way or another.
Based on the “Honor Killings” that have already taken place here, it is obvious that once kids of Islamic parentage get to see, do, feel, here, and be, an American, they embrace it wholeheartedly. Which of course is why fathers decided to kill their daughters, so they could not be further corrupted by us despicable Americans. BUT, Dad will stay here to make as much money as he can, won’t he?
This is an example of why we cannot allow Obama to be elected. A Department of Education run by someone he appoints, would be so out of touch with actual education, & so intent on social conditioning (read: indoctrination), of children, that we could lose an entire generation.
Let the Islamics keep their kids down all they want, so long as they do not get public funds, &/or teach them to kill.
But, if we can prove any relationship to extremist agenda’s of killing or radical bigotry, then we must all march & demand these conditioning centers be shut down.
Seems to me, based on terrible performance, we also could take apart the education bureaucracy & its agenda by exposing its allowing these seriously under-performing schools to operate under the pretext of “political correctness!”
Looks like the folks in Ohio should be up in arms already!
Whether you agree with American theologian Walter Martin or not, America is now faced with multiple versions of this question:
“Are you willing to do for the truth, what the cults are willing to do for a lie?” Kingdom of the Cults – Walter Martin
Substitute the term “cult of persoality” for cult and look at Barack Obama. Substitute “cult of politics” and look at the two party system. Substitute “cult of entitlement,” “cult of class warfare,” “cult of big government” and look at socialism.
When multi-culturalism and moral relativism topple the Judeo-Christian principles that our nation and constitution are founded on, the truth will know longer matter. We’re very close to that now.
Before we go off on teachers’s unions and call for a competitive marketplace lets not lose sight of the fact that these Islamic schools are NOT public schools, likely do not have union workers, and are the direct result of the charter school movement that’s supposed to introduce competition.
If people don’t like a restaurant, they stop going, and it goes out of business. The theory was that if a charter school wasn’t working, people would stop sending their kids and it would go out of business.
So much for that theory.
GolfBlogger – “If people don’t like a restaurant, they stop going, and it goes out of business. The theory was that if a charter school wasn’t working, people would stop sending their kids and it would go out of business.”
There are a few problems with your rationale. Islam is a closed society. You do what your Imam or Mullah tells you to do. Why would they quit sending their children to a government school that provides virtually unlimited financial resources regardless of acheivement? Why would they teach their radical barbarism in a homeschool setting when they can compete and win government entitlements that not only pay for their religious teachings but provide all of their Muslim administrators a non-stop revenue stream?
They are using the good will of everyday Americans and the stupidity of useful idiots in government to advance their caliphate. They will not send their brainwashed children to another school for a “better” education. It is a global fact that eduction of their children, women or men of jihadist age is not their concern.
The Muslim school’s F grade doesn’t bother me but CAIR’s access to public funds does. If the public officials can’t or won’t stop this, they should be replaced.
The local news reported that two schools had failed but no mention was made about CAIR. Publicize this please.
This is why these people have to be stopped. We will literally hang ourselves with political correctness if this is to be allowed. We don’t stand for this in our schools. Muslims in this country have absolutely no reason to run their own schools. Ours should suffice. Close them down and stop this fear of offending. I would rather offend than be killed.
Anand-Reads it perfectly.That funding DOES bother me.Govt officials HAVE to be replaced.The CAIR cannot fund schooling.As a matter of fact the organization has no place in American society the way Islam is right now.
It is really amazing how CAIR who is a front group for Mohammad (Hellfire be upon it) can espouse to be a real school when the basic underlying fact is the spread of their cult ideology.
If these were stupid white Christian kids failing the school would be closed to much fanfare and cheers from the liberal press and government.
Actually such a school would never have been allowed to be opened.
But these are stupid black and brown Muslim kids and the bigotry of low expectations is in full bloom for all to see.
Maybe the kids aren’t failing at bad as we think.
Maybe the primary subject matter taught is how to hate America and the infidels.
They just aren’t being tested by the state in those areas.
If they were I’m sure they would get As in those subjects.
Its funny to read what all of you have written when you really do not know anything about Islam outside of what the biased Media is sending through your televisions.
Islam is not even about hate, but most of you are obviously blind to the fact. Ever decide to educate your self, why not pick up a Quran and actually find out what is written instead of passing judgment because you have no knowledge on the religion period
And as for the person who made a comment about “stupid black and brown kids” way to be racist, you make America so proud.
You call Muslims disgusting, but the way you are acting right now is an insult to the country you live in.
Grow up for once and gain some real knowledge by reading unbiased sources, because if CNN and Fox news are your only form of information, you are truly pathetic.
Charter schools are public schools which means that they cannot teach relgion. They just aren’t affiliated with a school district. So you can not call IAC and WSA “islamic schools”. Charter school teachers cannot belong to unions. Only school district teachers belong to unions. Also, if you had really looked at the websites or been to the schools, most of the teachers are white, Christian, and American, and all are licensed teachers. Why would they be teaching islamic extreamism and why shouldn’t they get good retirement systems? You are being racist and saying terriable hurtful things about little kids and their teachers. At the very least, get your facts straight.