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.
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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”.