Featured, Local News
Islamic preschool off to good start, wants to add kindergarten
Posted on Jan 08, 2010 by Jeff Raasch.
A teacher’s assistant — identified only as Ms. Heba — helps preschoolers cut out and glue together animal puppets at My Imam Montessori Preschool in Cedar Rapids. The preschool is in the Islamic Center, 2999 First Ave. SW. Organizers are hoping to add kindergarten and a toddler room by this fall. (John Beyer/The Gazette)
To find out how well the new Islamic preschool is working, all Surriah Igram has to do is watch her 3-year-old daughter.
“I’ve noticed a big change in her since it started,” Igram said. “She can do things for herself, and she doesn’t need me as much anymore. Her interest in learning is better and social skills are improving.”
Igram and another parent started the My Imam Montessori Preschool in September 2009, and last month it was licensed by the Department of Human Services, making it the first licensed Islamic preschool in Eastern Iowa. Now, organizers want to add a kindergarten and a toddler room.
Their goal is to raise $5,000 to pay for furniture, toys and other materials, with hopes of having the expansion complete by this fall. Seven children are enrolled in the preschool now, and with their siblings, Igram said at least 10 kids would be in the expanded school.
“We want an enriching and nurturing environment for these kids where they feel at home, and where they don’t feel out of place,” said Igram, the director of the preschool. “We’ve done that so far, and we want to keep it going.”
The non-profit preschool is open for three hours Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at the Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids, 2999 First Ave. SW. Two teachers help the 3- and 4-year-old students learn in a variety of ways. Traditional subjects like math and science are taught, but students also learn Arabic and life skills such as sewing and folding clothes.
The kindergarten would run five days a week, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the same room as the preschool. Adjacent classrooms at the Islamic Center would be used as the toddler room.
Ideally, Igram hopes a grade can be added every year until the school is complete. She said the Cedar Rapids community has been very supportive of their endeavor. One man who is not Muslim donated $500, she said.
“We’re hoping we’ll gain the trust of other parents in the community since we’ve been licensed,” Igram said. “We’re taking this very seriously.”
For more information about the school or to donate to the expansion fund, visit www.myimanmontessori.org or call Igram at (319) 329-9214.
Why do we need segregated preschools and kindergardens?
What's the big deal? Not all Muslims are terrorists. Not all terorists are Muslim (OK City and IRA) Using that logic would you say Regina or other Catholic schools are training child molestors?
If you want to live in America teach them not to segregate, just like there should not be schools just for catholics. We should be able to talk about different religions in schools (to educate our children) plus teach them about all races. Maybe that would fix a lot.
In American you have the freedom to choose. If you want your kid in a public school, fine. If you want your kid in a private school for whatever reason, that's your right too.
That's the idea of America. Freedom to choose for you and your own.
I completely agree with you, and if private schools are not supported by tax dollars I think it is fine. However, they are supported by our government by being tax free!
Actually, Catholic schools aren't just for Catholics. There were a number of other religions present in my school. There were a couple of Protestants, a Baptist, a Hindu, and a Shintoist.
I doubt the children would feel uncomfortable in a preschool environment…at that age children rarely notice differences and the more differences there are the more normal it seems. BUT – they would like to see their children raised with certain values and faith system, and this would not be taught in a traditional preschool. Also they may be exposed to certain things, even at a preschool level, that they would prefer their children not be exposed to. They are licensed, which requires them to meet certain parameters – included the education level/experience of the staff. I met a few women at a friends funeral (at the Islamic Center) and they were VERY kind. While I may not agree with their values in regards to the status of women, and I wouldn't want my daughters learning how to fold clothes or sew in preschool – there's plenty of time to teach them that responsiblity – if that's their priority then they should have the place to do so.
Thank you for the support and kind words. I just would like to clear up a couple of things. First off the sewing clothes and folding are a small part of the Montessori method, which also include learning how to pour, dressing frames, using a geo board, lacing and many more Practical Life activities. We teach Math,Science, Geography, History, Language Arts and Sensorial in a way that is geared towards childrens interests. The women who developed this philosophy, Maria Montessori, was Christan and the first female doctor in Italy. She is an inspiration to all women.
Secondly, Muslim women who truly follow their faith devot themselves to God just like a Nun devotes herself to God. Before anyone makes any comments about a religon study it first by reading the Quran in English or visit a scholar like our local Imam at the Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids. I would never make a comment about Christianity or any other religion without having the knowledge first.
I am Muslim. I put my children in a Catholic High School because there was less drugs and violence at the school and because they received a values based education. It was a better education than what was available in Public Schools and one that closely shared my values. It was not about segregating.
What is surprising and disappointing about the 'terrorist' comment is that people who have those opinions actually read the paper. I assumed that only the angry and illiterate thought that way.
Sorry. I guess I failed to flag my comment as sarcasam.
That will teach me a lesson.
Hey everybody, as a parent of one of the children at the My Iman Montessori and an Iowa born Muslim living in Cedar Rapids for 35 years, this school IS open to all faiths as are many Christian private schools. My Iman Montessori is not training children on anything other then enjoying their childhood , learning about their faith and instilling the same basic principals of character development as any parent would want their child to learn.
The school is open to all faiths and community members where children will have the opportunity to know "our American community." Within the Cedar Rapids Islamic community there are people from more then twenty-five countries who live peacefully and work professionally in Cedar Rapids and the surrounding communities. I am proud to see such a positive article regardless of what faith is highlighted considering most reported news is negative… this is quite refreshing.
Have any of these people within the Cedar Rapids Islamic community that are people from more then twenty-five countries who live peacefully and work professionally in Cedar Rapids and the surrounding communities ever publicly protested Militant Islamic Terrorism?
Not sure what your comments have to do about the article above but let me give you a rebuttle to your last comment.
What exactly is Militant Islamic Terrorism… how do you define that phrase? When you can provide a realistic explanation of what that means and tell me how that defers from adding the word "Christian, Jewish or any other faith" in the same context then perhaps you will find Muslims will protest. Until that happens and actually makes sense don't expect any apologies from Muslims with regard to some lunatic that our media dubs as a Muslim or a follower of Islam. Excuse me but I have no obligation to apologize for a person's actions just because his/her faith is the same as my own. Let me ask the same of you…. do you feel compelled to publicly protest against each heinous act committed by someone from your own faith?
Islamic terrorism is the common term for violence, rooted in Islamism, and aimed at propagating Islamic culture, society, and values in opposition to the political, allegedly imperialistic, and cultural influences of non-Muslims, and the Western world in particular (cf. "Dar al-Harb").
There are also political dimensions to the ideology, and the history of Western influence and control after the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, is the common stated reason used within the ideology to justify and explain its use of violence as resistive and retributive against western influences.
The second answer is absolutely feel compelled!
You give an eloquent answer but it is still myth. If you are really interested in understanding the reality of 'holy war' read Karen Armstrongs book "Holy Wars". It is based on research, not conventional wisdom. Or read Noam Chomsky's book "Conquest 500" about war and terrorism over the last 500 years. The numbers will speak for themselves and you will likely stop throwing stones.
yalateef; 911 and similar things are always on my mind, Christians are concerned about sleeper cells, trojan horses etc. in America. If you want to, we will get into the objective research as to whether Islam is a false religion or not because the truth will set one free
Have any of these people within the Cedar Rapids Islamic community that are from more then twenty-five countries who live peacefully and work professionally in Cedar Rapids and the surrounding communities helped the flood victims as much as the other faith based people and organizations have?
To my concerned commenter above ponder this…before criticizing whether the Muslim community helped the flood victims have you ever considered that many in the Muslim community just may have also been victims themselves in addition to their Christian and Jewish neighbors??? Hmm, I didn't know the flood discriminated one faith over the other as it ravaged our city. Since you asked, if you take the number of Muslims in Cedar Rapids proportionately to their non-Muslim fellow citizens I am sure you will be pleased to know that we have done our moral and civil duty and that we also know that the flood vicitms are still suffering and that their suffering didn't end in 2008.
CRparent3t; excellent response. Would you like to have a non-personal, objective, research conversation about whether Islam is a false religion or not. Christians believe that the truth will set you free and Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father(i.e. YHWH) except through Him.
CRparent3t; 911, sleeper cells, trojan horses etc. in America are always on many Americans minds, what can the Islamic Muslim Community expect?
Many Muslims did their civic duty and helped the flood victims, building the barriers and opening their homes to flood victims. You can't point us out that easily since we don't match the public image that you are accustomed to. We don't look like the Taliban – some of us look Scandinavian and others are Middle Eastern and others are of African origin. We don't wear "I am Muslim" tattooed on our foreheads.
yalateef; 911, sleeper cells, trojan horses etc. in America are always on many Americans minds, what can the Islamic Muslim Community expect?
yalateef; excellent response. Would you like to have a non-personal, objective, research conversation about whether Islam is a false religion or not. Christians believe that the truth will set you free and Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father(i.e. YHWH) except through Him.
Sorry wwjd1, regardless of what religion you subscribe to, I am not a big fan of fundamentalists (or fundy's for short).
Jhn 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
i do not know why i find this article disturbing. but i do. i KNOW the vast, vast majority of Islam is peaceful, and that the actions of a few wackos doesn't mean that all are wackos. Just REAL tough to keep a positive spin on it when all the terrorist activities as of late seem to have a common thread: Islam. It doesn't help that the 'peaceful Islamists" don't immediately come out and loudly decry the underwear bombers, Ft Hood shooters, suicide bombers, etc. i think profiling is fine, but stereotyping is NOT. bu it is hard. help us out.
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That guy just looks dangerous. I doubt that six years will rehabilitate him, probably nothing will. Too bad one of Paris’ bodyguards didn’t see him with a knife, then we probably wouldn’t even have to try him, just bury him.
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WWJD1, I too was overwhelmed with a myriad of emotions over 911 and wanted the perpetrators captured, and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. That being said, I sympathize with your situation. Try to get over your fear and paranoia. It makes people think and act irrationally. The beauty of this world is that there are many faiths and diverse opinions and hopefully, there always will be.
Regarding debating about whether Islam is a "false religion". That would be an exercise in futility. Faith is not rational and cannot be debated. It would be much better if we respected our differences.
If you really think that 911 was carried out by Muslim extremists, then you need to shut off the TV and do a Google search on "Operation Northwoods" While your at it check out the definition of "False Flag"
The vast majority of terrorism is Government sponsored.
DavidGHall;
I can't believe what you say is the truth about Us Government involvement in masterminding 911!
If you're like most people you've never spent any time researching it. Once you do, it will be very difficult to believe the story that was repeated ad nauseum in the media.
Did you even bother to do a Google search on Operation Northwoods? I'll make it easy for you, in the early 1960's, the CIA hatched a plan where planes filled with Americans would be hijacked and flown into buildings so that we could blame it on Cuba and start a war. What saved us was that President Kennedy didnt go for it.. Is there anything about that plan that sounds vaguely familiar? If outr government was plotting evil like that 50 years ago, do you really think things have improved since then?
Judging from your moniker, you seem to be a Christian. If you really want to know the truth, pray and ask God to show you the truth. Thats what I did. Five years ago I was in your shoes.
One more thing… Muslim extremism is real, but it is EXTREMELY overstated so that it can be used by our Government as an excuse. Everybody needs a boogieman…..
DavidGHall;
First of all, are you of the Muslim Faith?
First of all, No, I am a Christian. Second, What I believe doesn't change any of the facts related to 911.
So where are you trying to go with this WWJD!? Hows that research coming along?