A study carried out by CivicScience Inc., a research firm based in Pittsburgh US, has revealed that 56% of Americans ‘don’t want children taught Arabic numerals’ in American schools.
Rabat – The poll was put to 3,200 Americans, who were asked whether or not they think the Arabic numeric system should be used in the US. Fifty-six percent of participants said no.
Seemingly an education-related question devoid of controversy, the poll highlights the bias – unconscious or otherwise – of Americans against Arabs.
The statistics show the ignorance of many Americans, as well as bigotry that is found increasingly throughout the US.
At least fifty-six percent of the individuals polled fail to realize that the Arabic numerical system is the one they use.
While only 29% of respondents said that they wouldn’t object to Arabic numerals being taught in schools, and 16% said they had no opinion on the matter.
Read also: American Man in Pennsylvania Uses Moroccan Flag to Resist Police Officers
The results can be explained by the steady growth of Islamophobia in the US fostered by the rise in right-wing politics and Donald Trump’s presidency.
CivicScience Inc. CEO John Dick tweeted the results of the poll, commenting “Ladies and Gentlemen: the saddest and funniest testament to American bigotry we’ve ever seen in our data”.
