Parents cool with school mandate that kids learn Arabic

A public elementary school in Manhattan has made learning Arabic a mandatory part of its curriculum. The most impressive part of the story? No one seems to be freaking out about it, save for a number of reliably cranky Internet commenters. The language selection was approved by the school's "supportive" parent association, so, beginning in September, PS 368's second- through fifth-graders will study the language twice a week. Overachievers are already getting a head start in an afternoon pilot program. "This makes the world smaller for the kids," one encouraging mom said after signing her son up for the class. "It develops their confidence."