Something of a homecoming for us this morning; a return to the school of music and ballet where six months ago we walked with the teachers through the vandalized and looted ruins of their school. At that time the playground was a mess of abandoned trenches and the uniforms of Iraqi soldiers were still strewn across the grounds. The musical instruments which hadn’t been stolen were lying smashed on the floor.
But the school is open again. The students are back in their classrooms. This hour, we take a look over their shoulders at what their learning. At this very moment the books are being replaced, but the memories of the past 35 years can’t be changed so quickly. It’s not just a matter of removing the face of Saddam Hussein, it’s figuring out what to put in its place.
Guests:
Fuad Hussein, advisor to the Ministry of Education in Iraq
Hashem Mohammed, teacher at the Baghdad School of Music and Ballet
Mary Gray, Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the American University.