I can't think of a good argument against learning the language of one's host nation (provided, as Isobel said, that a student can handle the academic rigors of such a class).
Sharia? I'd personally have a problem with that being mandatory. Because Sharia is a code of law based upon a specific religion, it would only be acceptable to me if it were taught as an elective comparative law class, say, for high school students. Then it would be appropriate.
If instead of Sharia, you meant they should be teaching all children Islamiyat/Islamic Studies classes, then you'd get a vehement NO from me. Unless you're going to couch it in a "comparative religion" class that EVERYONE has to take, then why should my child have to sit through a class that will amount to nothing more than religious indoctrination to a faith that I don't subscribe to?
I would be more than happy for my child to take a class on "history of the Middle East and the Islamic World" or "Arab cultural studies" (and much like an Arabic language class, I see those as being very appropriate seeing as we all live here and Qatar is our host country).
But when you throw religion into the mix (unless you make it a survey class of ALL religions - which would, of course, never fly here among the locals), you lose my support.
I can't think of a good argument against learning the language of one's host nation (provided, as Isobel said, that a student can handle the academic rigors of such a class).
Sharia? I'd personally have a problem with that being mandatory. Because Sharia is a code of law based upon a specific religion, it would only be acceptable to me if it were taught as an elective comparative law class, say, for high school students. Then it would be appropriate.
If instead of Sharia, you meant they should be teaching all children Islamiyat/Islamic Studies classes, then you'd get a vehement NO from me. Unless you're going to couch it in a "comparative religion" class that EVERYONE has to take, then why should my child have to sit through a class that will amount to nothing more than religious indoctrination to a faith that I don't subscribe to?
I would be more than happy for my child to take a class on "history of the Middle East and the Islamic World" or "Arab cultural studies" (and much like an Arabic language class, I see those as being very appropriate seeing as we all live here and Qatar is our host country).
But when you throw religion into the mix (unless you make it a survey class of ALL religions - which would, of course, never fly here among the locals), you lose my support.