Afghanistan teachers visit Chadron State
Twelve women teachers from Afghanistan who are part of a University of Nebraska at Omaha program to improve the Afghan educational system answered questions from Chadron State College students during a day-long tour of the campus Tuesday.
Students in Dr. Catherine Lockwood’s world cultures class asked the teachers of English a wide range of questions, from childbirth customs to opinions on U.S. foreign policy.
UNO Center for Afghan Studies professor Abdul Raheem Yaseer, who served as the group’s translator, said the Afghanistan people are grateful for the freedom gained from the United States’ occupation, unlike many Iraqis.
He said the Afghanistan people, especially women, enjoy their new freedoms and hope the United States will lead the country to a more peaceful and prosperous future. Afghanistan’s educational system, like many elements of society, has been severely damaged by 20 years of war against the Soviet Union and infighting. The bombings during that period left most of the school buildings in shambles, Yaseer said.
Yaseer said the United States’ bombing has been extremely precise and has done little damage to non-military structures, in contrast to the previous fighting.
“Some parents are telling their children, ‘If you are not good, the B-52s will get you. They can get you and destroy nothing else. They are that precise,’” he said with a laugh.
Although people in Afghanistan are skeptical of the U.S. occupation of the country, they want American troops to stay until it is a better place, he said.
In spite of the support of the U.S. occupation, Yaseer said most in Afghanistan have a perception that Americans are “rich, stingy and arrogant.” He said that view has come from watching movies and the image of American government officials.
The group of English teachers is the fourth to visit the United States since the Center for Afghan Studies won a $6.5 million grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development in 2002 to help piece together Afghanistan’s educational system. The group’s visit has included a trip to Washington, D.C., where the teachers met First Lady Laura Bush.
This was the first of the four groups to visit Chadron State. While at CSC, the group also toured the Child Development Center, Reta King Library, and observed courses on health and wellness, and developmental psychology.
Category: Campus News