How dare Amideast be against Tunisia's French heritage?

How dare  Amideast be against Tunisia’s French heritage?

One of my students has recently forwarded to me the following announcement (which I re-publish with no proofreading):

“Dear Fans 
Our next week's session is reported to 15/06/2013. 
then We will be debating on the following Topic 
RESOLVED: Tunisia should switch from french to english education system
(all education system: meaning from primary shool 'til higher studies) 
in case you are interested , you are more than welcome to come and share your research.”

When we know that this kind of debate is held by the so-called “American Corner, Tunis”, which is supposed to be “an independent library and cultural center sponsored by Amideast Tunisia and the US Embassy in Tunis” (as the internet definition reads), we wonder what its ultimate purpose and message to Tunisians are. In a bid to decipher its content, we would like to display the following comments:

1. If Amideast has an office in Tunis, it’s because we Tunisians have agreed, since a long time ago, to learn English and at the same time to get acquainted with its native speakers. However, the people of Tunisia will not allow any party to think about and to decide in its stead _ as Amideast are doing through the announcement_ on which linguistic “system” is most suitable for us and for the country.

2. One will be most pleased to remind Amideast that there’s no such thing called “French education system” in Tunisia, and nor will there exist an “English education system” over here. The sole system that exists at all times is a Tunisian system, whatever the language is that is implemented beside the native language, Arabic.

3. One is puzzled at noticing how ignorant the organisers of such debates are of the Tunisian character. Or else how dare they so bluntly consider replacing the French language by the English language, when we know that French is part and parcel of our cultural heritage.

In all, we call on such organizations, be they American, British or even French, to be respectful of our people if they ever want us to be respectful of them.

Mohamed Hammar

Senior teacher of English,

Writer