This morning we were given an amazing opportunity. No American group has ever been allowed to visit a government school. Today, we were taken to one. The men were put in a separate bus and taken to a school at King Faisal University. It serves mostly children of professors. The women were taken to a secondary school that is a public school. And it was amazing. This school has had no visitors. The young women could not have been more excited that we were visiting. Before we arrived, we were told in no uncertain terms that there would be no cameras.The women at the school had asked repeatedly and Aramco respected their wishes. So this visit will remain only in the mind’s eye.
The school is basically a square around a inner courtyard. It has two floors. About 423 students attend (grades 9-12) and they have 35 teachers and 13 administrators. The young women were in uniform, floor length jumpers and green and white striped blouses. The adults had shed both their abayas and their veils.We were invited to shed our abayas but only if we had on a floor length skirt. A representative from the Ministry of Education also attended (to observe). We were given a lengthy introduction to the school and its programs by two teachers (who had lived in the US) . They spoke about programs in their school including 1) No student left behind (sound familiar?), a mother’s visit, a reading nation is a developing nation, Beautiful but! Program, thank you teachers program, supporting prophet (PBUH) program and safety program. We were in a library that had a total of 8 shelving units. They were not full. They looked worn. And they were not in English. The phrase over the door said ,”Pay attention to the order” and “read carefully.” There was no evidence of a librarian and one computer in the room. (one woman in our group reads Arabic) . The girls volunteered to speak to us in English. We saw a PowerPoint on amazing Saudi women that they had made. And they told us their dreams. Two cute comments- one girl said she hoped that all Americans don't think that they all ride camels. And another explained that, in her abaya, she is like a diamond. Everyone knows that she is special. Interesting perspectives.
We then were taken on a tour of the school. The girls were all in their classrooms. The rooms were no bigger than 20x20 and each class had between 40-45 students in it. The desks and chairs were not full size (could not have fitted them in). Each room had a modest amount of technology (overhead projector). I saw no textbooks.
In one room the girls were reading the Koran – one girl did not have one and was sitting there doing nothing. A teacher with our group asked the Dept. of Education person if all students are given a book. She said, “of course’. When the child was pointed out, she became very upset and said she would take corrective action immediately.
The students attend from 7:30-12:30. They have a short snack break. They take Arabic, English, art, math, history, home economics, science and religion. They have a new communications program where mothers can call a number and be informed of their daughter’s attendance and progress. When asked about the No Student Left Behind program, they said that if a child is not doing well, she is asked about why. Her mother is brought in and asked the same questions. A plan is drafted up for correction of the problem. Then tutoring teachers may be available. We asked about children with special needs- they would be given the options above and, if they did not work, they would be send to another school.
This was an amazing opportunity. Imagine if you will, a group of Saudi educators asking and being given access to an inner city school in a large city. The students were beautiful young women, spoke English well, and had great plans for achievement. The teachers were doing the very best that they could. We were all SO impressed.
This afternoon we had a break and I walked with a man in our group over to the mall. (I am not allowed to go unescorted). We had a fascinating visit – and talked with a young man who eagerly introduced himself after he realized that we were not Saudi (or German, as he had guessed);. Each encounter like this leads to more understanding
We then wen
t on a quick trip to the top of the Kingdom Centre. It is the highest building in the kingdom – rising 99 stories. We took two elevators to get to the top and then walked over the top. The building was designed by an American architect. We also briefly visited the highest mosque in the world – according to Guinness Book of World Records- which is on the 77 floor of the building (where you switch elevators.)Next we were taken to the Riyadh Public Library. This is really three separate branch libraries- the women’s, the men’s, and the children’s. The children’s room was colorful and interesting- although I thought it had too few volumes. We had a discussion about books an
d circulations with the director of the library. The librarian from the women’s library then met us women and was our tour guide. She was very proud of the various programs that their l
ibrary offers women. There are 36 employees in this branch and 23 of them are librarians. They are open two shifts. I will share more about her and her program soon.Finally, we went back to the hotel and were taken to dinner in the globe. (Can you see the globe in the building on the right?)This is in the building that adjoins our hotel. This was beautiful. The dinner was very nice and we then sat and talked with various dignitaries. Dr. Selwa A.F. Al-Hazzaa was my dinner companion and she was wonderful. The other dignity at my table was the managing director of Aramco in Riyadh./ The st
udents at the public school had made a PowerPoint presentation on important women in Saudi Arabia. Selwa had actually been in the PowerPoint that the girls had made. Selwa is the head of Opthamology at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital here. She was simply wonderful. She explained that her mother was illiterate because girls were not allowed to be educated until 1960. In one generation, Selwa became a doctor who is world reknowned. She is about to become a full professor at Johns Hopkins. You might be interested in googling her. She has seen a large change. The food was excellent and the company impressive.When I returned to my room, my laundry had been returned. I thought yo
u might like to see the box my underwear was returned in. Within the box, all pieces of underwear were bagged separately. All the shirts and my abaya were bagged and hanging in the closet. (It is going to be hard to return to my previous life after this:))Today we will go to the ash-Shoura Council which is the highest Consultative Council in the nation. (Riyadh is the capital) Nancy Pelosi was here three days ago -so they are now ready for us!
