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ANCA DESK: COMBATTING THE GULEN MOVEMENT IN LANCASTER
By Michelle Hagopian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/05/03/anca-desk-combatting-the-gulen-movement-in-lancaster/
May 3, 2013
This week, I would like to highlight the efforts of a dear friend to
the Armenian cause, Rev. Susan Minasian, the interfaith chaplain of
the Franklin & Marshall College who was instrumental in fighting a
proposal to open a Gulen charter school in Lancaster, Pa.
Minasian Gulen schools were first introduced and are currently run by
the Academy of Business and Entrepreneurship Charter School (ABECS),
a group that follows the teachings of Turkish Islamist Fethullah
Gulen, also known as the Gulen movement. The Gulen movement is a form
of Turkish propaganda that has implemented its policies across the
United States. Gulen, who has been self-exiled in the Poconos region
since 1998, is the ideological head of the movement.
The first Gulen school opened in 1999. U.S. officials were made aware
of the movement's involvement in charter schools in 2006, when they
noticed a large number of Turkish men seeking visas to work at the
schools. Board members of the Gulen charter schools are primarily
Turkish, and the schools' curriculum focuses on math, science,
and technology, and largely ignores or neglects world history and
current events.
The schools have been criticized for importing teachers and for not
providing a comprehensive view of history, which includes education
on the Armenian Genocide and Armenian history in general.
Unfortunately, ABECS has been successful in establishing Turkish-themed
charter schools in many of the states, and public money received
from those schools is used to open more charters that push the Gulen
agenda. As of last year, 135 schools are reportedly in operation
within 26 states.
When the proposal to build the school in Lancaster was made, Minasian
challenged the values of the charter school by speaking out to the
local Lancaster media and making statements at all of the hearings
held earlier this year.
She noted that the opposition to the charter school was not about
ethnic bias, but about serious concerns regarding those who deny
genocide and waste taxpayer dollars to incorrectly shape young minds.
"Just as we would not want Holocaust deniers leading our schools,
we would not want genocide deniers shaping or leading our educational
institutions," she said at one meeting.
"It doesn't matter where you live, you can be an advocate for justice,"
she told me. "One voice can teach many people. I don't worry that
there are only 15 other Armenians around me in Lancaster, and I don't
use that as an excuse in my spiritual journey toward justice."
The School District of Lancaster ultimately rejected the proposal
last month. The 8-0 vote, with 1 abstention, ended the months-long
debate over the merits of the school, which would have opened this
fall. In addition, several letters of support from legislators have
been rescinded, in most cases because they were signed by low-level
staff and executives who didn't know they were officially backing
the ABECS proposal.
Minasian is extremely humble and insisted she didn't do this on her
own. She emphasized the importance of her network in Lancaster, who
defended justice by calling out the charter school's curriculum. She
credits fellow Lancaster residents and colleagues for taking a stand
against the ABECS proposal. Minasian works consistently to find allies
who care about Armenian Genocide recognition.
Her story is inspiring not because it's unusual, but because she is
so motivated to create change even with just one voice.
People like Minasian who stand up for what's right embody what
grassroots activism is all about. I believe Minasian's attitude is
one we should seek to duplicate all over the ANCA Eastern Region On
behalf of the ANCA-ER and Armenians everywhere, I want to thank her
for being entrenched in a lengthy battle to fight the Gulen movement
from taking root in Lancaster.
With more positive outcomes like this, the sky's the limit on what we
can collectively or individually achieve. Each victory is a victory
for all Armenians.
By Michelle Hagopian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/05/03/anca-desk-combatting-the-gulen-movement-in-lancaster/
May 3, 2013
This week, I would like to highlight the efforts of a dear friend to
the Armenian cause, Rev. Susan Minasian, the interfaith chaplain of
the Franklin & Marshall College who was instrumental in fighting a
proposal to open a Gulen charter school in Lancaster, Pa.
Minasian Gulen schools were first introduced and are currently run by
the Academy of Business and Entrepreneurship Charter School (ABECS),
a group that follows the teachings of Turkish Islamist Fethullah
Gulen, also known as the Gulen movement. The Gulen movement is a form
of Turkish propaganda that has implemented its policies across the
United States. Gulen, who has been self-exiled in the Poconos region
since 1998, is the ideological head of the movement.
The first Gulen school opened in 1999. U.S. officials were made aware
of the movement's involvement in charter schools in 2006, when they
noticed a large number of Turkish men seeking visas to work at the
schools. Board members of the Gulen charter schools are primarily
Turkish, and the schools' curriculum focuses on math, science,
and technology, and largely ignores or neglects world history and
current events.
The schools have been criticized for importing teachers and for not
providing a comprehensive view of history, which includes education
on the Armenian Genocide and Armenian history in general.
Unfortunately, ABECS has been successful in establishing Turkish-themed
charter schools in many of the states, and public money received
from those schools is used to open more charters that push the Gulen
agenda. As of last year, 135 schools are reportedly in operation
within 26 states.
When the proposal to build the school in Lancaster was made, Minasian
challenged the values of the charter school by speaking out to the
local Lancaster media and making statements at all of the hearings
held earlier this year.
She noted that the opposition to the charter school was not about
ethnic bias, but about serious concerns regarding those who deny
genocide and waste taxpayer dollars to incorrectly shape young minds.
"Just as we would not want Holocaust deniers leading our schools,
we would not want genocide deniers shaping or leading our educational
institutions," she said at one meeting.
"It doesn't matter where you live, you can be an advocate for justice,"
she told me. "One voice can teach many people. I don't worry that
there are only 15 other Armenians around me in Lancaster, and I don't
use that as an excuse in my spiritual journey toward justice."
The School District of Lancaster ultimately rejected the proposal
last month. The 8-0 vote, with 1 abstention, ended the months-long
debate over the merits of the school, which would have opened this
fall. In addition, several letters of support from legislators have
been rescinded, in most cases because they were signed by low-level
staff and executives who didn't know they were officially backing
the ABECS proposal.
Minasian is extremely humble and insisted she didn't do this on her
own. She emphasized the importance of her network in Lancaster, who
defended justice by calling out the charter school's curriculum. She
credits fellow Lancaster residents and colleagues for taking a stand
against the ABECS proposal. Minasian works consistently to find allies
who care about Armenian Genocide recognition.
Her story is inspiring not because it's unusual, but because she is
so motivated to create change even with just one voice.
People like Minasian who stand up for what's right embody what
grassroots activism is all about. I believe Minasian's attitude is
one we should seek to duplicate all over the ANCA Eastern Region On
behalf of the ANCA-ER and Armenians everywhere, I want to thank her
for being entrenched in a lengthy battle to fight the Gulen movement
from taking root in Lancaster.
With more positive outcomes like this, the sky's the limit on what we
can collectively or individually achieve. Each victory is a victory
for all Armenians.