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Iran bans teaching of English in schools

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 10:26 pm
by Techmomof2
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/timothyme ... s-n2431211

The Islamic Republic of Iran has banned teaching English in primary schools, after the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that the language was a gateway to Western “cultural invasion.”

“Teaching English in government and non-government primary schools in the official curriculum is against laws and regulations,” said Mehdi Navid-Adham, the head of the state-run High Education Council. "In primary schools, the foundations should be laid to promote Farsi and Iranian culture,” he added.

This decision comes less than a week after anti-government protests demanding freedom rocked the theocratic state. Some opponents of the government fear it will promote despair in the country.

“The ban on English teaching might not be related to the protests, but it can spread despair in the country,” said a reformist politician. “It is not even do-able, with [many] families prioritizing English in their children’s education.”

Several teachers in Iran warned of the educational progress that this ban will hamper.

“This shows our education ministry officials are disconnected from the society,” said Fatemeh, a teacher at elementary school in Qarchak, a town south-east of Tehran.

Another teacher said many families would suffer. “Many private schools are competing with each other over their English classes and work on it as one of their competitive advantages,” She said. “This policy, if implemented, will affect lots of schools and families.”

Re: Iran bans teaching of English in schools

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 10:57 pm
by 133743Hokie
No problem with that. Teaching Spanish shouldn't be required in US schools.

Re: Iran bans teaching of English in schools

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 12:57 am
by HokieFanDC
133743Hokie wrote:No problem with that. Teaching Spanish shouldn't be required in US schools.
Not being able to speak English is a barrier to being successful for a lot of people. If it were a choice, and people could take English if they want to, but not required, that would be fine. Banning it. That's a pathway to insignificance.

Re: Iran bans teaching of English in schools

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 1:06 am
by 133743Hokie
HokieFanDC wrote:
133743Hokie wrote:No problem with that. Teaching Spanish shouldn't be required in US schools.
Not being able to speak English is a barrier to being successful for a lot of people. If it were a choice, and people could take English if they want to, but not required, that would be fine. Banning it. That's a pathway to insignificance.
I don't think being unable to speak English will hold back the average Iranian.

Re: Iran bans teaching of English in schools

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 3:01 pm
by TheH2
HokieFanDC wrote:
133743Hokie wrote:No problem with that. Teaching Spanish shouldn't be required in US schools.
Not being able to speak English is a barrier to being successful for a lot of people. If it were a choice, and people could take English if they want to, but not required, that would be fine. Banning it. That's a pathway to insignificance.
And a great way to try and stay in power .

Re: Iran bans teaching of English in schools

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:57 pm
by Vienna_Hokie
133743Hokie wrote:No problem with that. Teaching Spanish shouldn't be required in US schools.
This doesn't make it not required, it makes it illegal. That would the equivalent of saying that it is illegal to teach spanish at schools in the US.

Re: Iran bans teaching of English in schools

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 2:31 pm
by 133743Hokie
Vienna_Hokie wrote:
133743Hokie wrote:No problem with that. Teaching Spanish shouldn't be required in US schools.
This doesn't make it not required, it makes it illegal. That would the equivalent of saying that it is illegal to teach spanish at schools in the US.
Outside of a Spanish language course, or an immersion program, general education classes in US schools should not be taught in Spanish. And to the original point, for the average person there is no reason to learn a language other than your own. And in isolated societies such as Iran that is even more to the point.

Re: Iran bans teaching of English in schools

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 3:13 pm
by ElbertoHokie
133743Hokie wrote:
Vienna_Hokie wrote:
133743Hokie wrote:No problem with that. Teaching Spanish shouldn't be required in US schools.
This doesn't make it not required, it makes it illegal. That would the equivalent of saying that it is illegal to teach spanish at schools in the US.
Outside of a Spanish language course, or an immersion program, general education classes in US schools should not be taught in Spanish. And to the original point, for the average person there is no reason to learn a language other than your own. And in isolated societies such as Iran that is even more to the point.
I'm going to disagree with you strongly. Everywhere else but the USA, learning English is very important. If you're living in Spain, learning English is essential since much of the world's business is done that way. You just won the language lottery in that you were born and raised with the world's universal language.

Re: Iran bans teaching of English in schools

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 3:23 pm
by TheH2
133743Hokie wrote:
Vienna_Hokie wrote:
133743Hokie wrote:No problem with that. Teaching Spanish shouldn't be required in US schools.
This doesn't make it not required, it makes it illegal. That would the equivalent of saying that it is illegal to teach spanish at schools in the US.
Outside of a Spanish language course, or an immersion program, general education classes in US schools should not be taught in Spanish. And to the original point, for the average person there is no reason to learn a language other than your own. And in isolated societies such as Iran that is even more to the point.
That's the problem and that's the reason for making it illegal. Isolation is the goal.