Protesters at Houston's Arabic Immersion Magnet School on first day of class [View all]

[TexasTowelie]

HOUSTON -- Protests marred the first day of class for about 132 kindergarten and pre-K students at the Houston Independent School District's new Arabic Immersion Magnet School.

Shortly before 8 am, almost 30 adults spread along the fenced perimeter of the Heights-area school, waving American and Israeli flags while touting protest signs.

"Everything I ever cared to know about Islam was taught to me by Muslims on 9-11-2001," one sign said. But officials said most students were inside the building once protesters assembled.

This is the first semester of operation for the Arabic Immersion Magnet School, one of the first of its kind in the country, where students study half of each day in Arabic and half in English. It follows other HISD immersion school projects, which HISD hopes to expand.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/education/article/Protesters-at-Houston-s-Arabic-Immersion-Magnet-6461817.php#photo-8526302