Source: The Boston Globe
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/443208516/
On May 13, 2004 The Boston Globe reported, "The Malik Academy -- named after a cleric who established a major school of Islamic jurisprudence -- is intended for children from preschool to Grade 6. Though hopes are fading for a September opening, the story of how these three Muslim mothers forged the idea to start a school near Boston, where thousands of Muslims reside, speaks to how their religious community is growing beyond its initial core of Arabic-speakers, immigrant parents, and college students passing through the area. Beyond that, their effort also illustrates how developing American-Islamic education for children is being more clearly defined nationwide. Muslim educators point to a noticeable interest for these schools, but acknowledge that teachers and administrators of the faith are difficult to find. 'The emphasis of the first generation was to have their children become doctors, lawyers and accountants,' said Muhammad Eissa, a scholar of Arabic and Islamic studies, who is part of a Georgetown University task force that is drafting a national standard for Arabic learning in Islamic schools. But with more young Muslims drawn toward a spectrum of professions, more people 'are dedicating their careers to teaching in Islamic schools' said Eissa."