Back in school, Iraqis have a lot of unlearning to do

BAGHDAD — Iraqi children began their school year Wednesday with new clothes, new book bags and a new curriculum that has been purged of former leader Saddam Hussein's political ideology.

Pupils were indoctrinated with military education, preparing them for a life of violence. It was humiliating to the educational process," said Abdul-Zahra Abbas, acting director of the Ministry of Education's curriculum department. Abbas and his staff are working on a new national education program. (Audio: New year, new curriculum for Iraqi students)

The 25-member U.S.-appointed Governing Council has ordered schools to remove all references to Saddam. Images of the deposed president have been ripped out of millions of textbooks. References to Saddam and his ruling Baath Party have been torn out or censored with markers until new textbooks can be printed.

But this means the ministry has to rewrite history. Every subject, every textbook, every after-school activity contained some reference to Saddam. (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has printed math and science books that will be distributed this month. Saddam-related material has been replaced with blank pages).

In an old third-grade reading book, for example, a chapter titled "Some Precious Things" tells a story about show-and-tell. In the story, a girl brings a watch. A boy brings a portrait of Saddam. The students only applaud for the boy.

Another chapter includes a photograph of what appears to be an Iraqi soldier standing over the body of an Iranian soldier. The accompanying quiz asks: "What do you see in the picture? Would you like to serve in the Army? What is the purpose of the Army?" The correct answers: "Soldiers and officers. Yes. To prepare the heroes who defend the nation."

The bias is even more evident in Saddam-era history books. A fifth-grade textbook describes the 1991 Gulf War as "the Mother of all Battles launched by American and Zionist aggression and 30 nations." It continues, "But our Army was valiant enough to deprive these aggressors from attaining their goal. We sacrificed our blood for the sake of glory and victory." These references are among many that were excised.

"As a Kurd, I was offended when I was forced to praise Saddam," said Shelir Jabar, 10, who showed up Wednesday at the Dufaf al-Neil School. The school is in a posh neighborhood in western Baghdad where many former regime officials lived.

About 1,000 students reported to Dufaf on Wednesday for registration. Most schools begin classes Saturday.

U.S. Army and Iraqi officials kicked off the school year with a ceremony at Dufaf. They handed out boxloads of notebooks, crayons, pencils and watercolors donated by soldiers' families. The school was renovated by Iraqi and U.S. Army engineers. The refurbishment included new paint and removal of all portraits of Saddam.

Some habits die hard. When a U.S. Army general visited a Dufaf classroom, 7-year-old Ethra Akil stood and began reciting the old mandatory greeting for classroom guests — "Long live the leader" — before realizing her mistake.

"Since I was small, we have been forced to march to the schoolyard, stand in the hot sun and say pro-Saddam sayings every morning," Muna Hadi, 12, explained on behalf of Akil. "I always felt it was meaningless. But if a teacher asked me to stand and say such things again, I would."

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---"But this means the ministry has to rewrite history. Every subject, every textbook, every after-school activity contained some reference to Saddam."----

This sounds like a big job! Why didn't Bush plan for the obvious Herculean task of fixing Iraqi textbooks? Why isn't the job finished yet? Didn't Cheney and Wolfowitz think about this? Another mistake by the Administration which didn't see clearly the tasks beyond the combat phase.

I predict growing resentment and mounting anger against American troops because of this textbook issue.

Oh, the humanity! Bring the troops home now!

-King

Lol!

Better version of this story, where the press isn't calling Saddam's former indoctrination "military indoctrination" or playing up sympathy for the former regime. The press has to try REALLY hard to make the new school year for these teachers and children anything but joyous!

Iraqi Schools Reopen Their Doors - Students find refurbished classrooms and new textbooks

6 posted on 10/02/2003 11:43:15 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl ("We love the Americans here." ~ Mustafa Adna, 18, a Turkmen fruit vendor, Kirkuk, 9/26)

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