Appendix IV: The AGS

Appendix IV: The AGS INSHALLAH:

A PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR PRIVILEGED KUWAITI
YOUTH ATTEMPTS TO STRADDLE A CULTURAL DIVIDE (continued)

Appendix IV: THE AGS

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APPENDIX IV: THE AGS

Figure A4.1: AGS, the Al-Dharra Madressor General Survey

Al-Dharra Madressor General Survey Daniel R. Fruit

Thank you for agreeing to fill out this survey. The totals may be used in my doctoral thesis. Your name will NOT in any way appear in print. Please circle the best answer; there are no "right" answers. You do not have to complete every item. Adults can skip all items marked with an asterisk (*)

Gender: M F
Your age: 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 teacher
Class of: 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 teacher

Passport nationality: Kuwaiti Saudi Palestinian Syrian Jordanian Iranian American British Canadian Other_____

Nationality you consider yourself: Kuwaiti Saudi Palestinian Syrian Jordanian Iranian American British Canadian Other_____

Total years in/with the school: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 other_____

Your family is: Shia Sunni Christian no comment other ______

Questions
1. How many relatives other than brothers or sisters do you have attending BBS?
a. 0
b. 1-2
c. 3-4
d. 5-6
e. 7-8
h. other ____________

2. Your relationship to the owner’s family is best described as _______.
a. unrelated
b. distantly related
c. closely related
d. family
e. other

3. If you had to pick ONE student who symbolizes ADM, who would you pick (imaginary names)?
a. Ahmad, the school jock
b. Ahmad, the class's’ top academic student
c. Ahmad, who’s related to everyone
d. Ahmad, who is always skipping class

4. What was the most important reason for your family originally enrolling you in this school?*
a. My parents work at the school
b. ADM is a good place to learn.
c. ADM has a good community reputation
d. My relative(s) go here.
e. The school is bilingual
f. Other____________________

5. During the War, which of the following best describes the school you attended [worked at]?
a. English school (like BSK)
b. American school (like ASK)
c. Arab school
d. Another bilingual school
e. Other_____________
f. I was too young.

6. If this school suddenly had to close for 2 years (fantasy situation), your parents would enroll you in [or you would go to work for] a(n):
a. English school (like BSK)
b. American school (like ASK)
c. Arab school
d. Another bilingual school
e. Other_____________

7. Imagine you and your father get into a serious disagreement about what classes you should take next year, and you know you are right. You will
a. do what I want immediately
b. argue knowing he will gives up
c. argue but eventually give up
d. say yes, but take the classes anyway
e. do what he says

8. If your mother and father get into a serious argument, the winner is usually_________.
a. neither. They do as my father says.
b. my father
c. it’s about equal
d. my mother
e. does not apply

9. When it comes time to choose your job and college major, who will make [made] that choice?
a. I will
b. I will, but they must approve
c. I will, but they’ll advise
d. all of as a group
e. my parents

10. When it comes time to choose your husband or wife, who will make [made] that choice?
a. I will
b. I will, but they must approve
c. I will, but they’ll advise
d. all of us as a group
e. my parents

11. When will the day come when you can speak to your father and mother as an equal?
a. when I entered high school (14+)
b. after high school (18+)
c. after college (22+)
d. after marriage
e. never; we’re not equal

12. Abdullah has a chance to cheat on a test, and no one will catch him. He should_____:
a. cheat
b. cheat but only if really sure
c. think twice about cheating
d. probably not cheat
e. not cheat

13. Your classmates don’t understand the material on the test, but you do. Which of the following is the best answer to give them when they ask you to cheat?
a. Of course, I’ll help.
b. I’ll help, but only if there’s no other way.
c. What do I get back in return?
d. I don’t cheat. Sorry.
e. No way! You should’ve studied!

14. Which of the following descriptions do you find most true?
a. I’m part of the ADM family
b. I’m sort of part of the ADM family.
c. ADM is family, but I’m not part.
d. ADM isn’t a family at all.

15. Which words best describe your Arabic and English classrooms?
a. Arabic focuses on the teacher and English on the student.
b. English focuses on the teacher and Arabic on the student.
c. They both focus on the student.
d. They both revolve around the teacher.

16. In which classes are students encouraged to come up with original, creative answers?
a. Arabic class
b. English-taught classes
c. both Arabic and English classes
d. neither

17. The biggest substance abuse problem at ADM is students _____________.
a. smoking
b. drinking
c. smoking marijuana
d. drinking and smoking marijuana

18. If an important business meeting starts at 7:00 p.m., and someone comes late, it will most likely be:
a. a Filipino worker
b. an Egyptian manager
c. A Kuwaiti engineer
d. the owner

19. Yesterday, you found out that when your sister [daughter] went to the mall, she hung around with some boys from another school. You would likely ____.
a. say nothing. It’s her life.
b. give her a warning speech
c. congratulate her on her fun evening
d. tell your parents

20. A boy is bothering your best friend (male cousin), talking in his face. Most likely the result of this will be ____________________.
a. someone gets punched
b. nothing. They’ll threaten awhile
c. they’ll calm down

*22. Yesterday, when you went to the Traffic Office to get a new license, you quickly spotted your uncle, who’s the boss in the office. What he should do is_________.
a. take your business first
b. take your business sooner
c. have you wait your turn in line
d. take you last and treat you the worst

23. Your friend [daughter] Noor reveals that she always gets pretty good grades in one class because her mother is a good friend of the teacher. Your reaction is______.
a. not bad, but Noor needs to push more for an A
b. okay. That’s only fair.
c. Hm. I guess it happens.
d. "Noor! You shouldn’t use that."
e. anger. I almost feel like calling that teacher myself.

24. Which of the following best describes your status when you go to the United States?
a. I’m a visitor.
b. It’s okay. I can survive.
c. I feel at home in a way.
d. I feel more at home than Kuwait.
e. America is home

25. Which of the following statements best describes you:
a. I always act in an American way.
b. Sometimes I act more American than Arab.
c. Half of the time I act American.
d. I seldom act in an American say.
e. I never act in an American way.

26. When you look at the lives of American, Canadian, or British teachers, what is the hardest thing to understand [not the class assignments]?
________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________.

27. Locate yourself on the following scale below by circling the number. Someone who’s totally Arab (Kuwaiti) would be at the far end. ZERO would be very American. 10 would totally un-American
Westernized 0 1 2 3 4 5 (half/half) 6 7 8 9 10 Arabized

28. Locate ADM on the following scale below by circling the right number.
Westernized 0 1 2 3 4 5 (half/half) 6 7 8 9 10 Arabized

29. The greatest thing about this school is_____________________________.

30. The worst thing about this school is ______________________________.
__________________________________________________________________________