Day: <span>October 21, 2015</span>

From Irving ISD to Qatar

 

Former Irving ISD student Ahmed Mohamed not only became an instant social media celebrity, but he also traveled widely after he was handcuffed and arrested when his harmless homemade clock was mistaken by school employees for a possible bomb. Now, the 14-year-old is getting ready to become an international transfer student.

Earlier this week, Ahmed met President Obama after accepting the president’s invitation to visit “Astronomy Night” in Washington, D.C. Then, less than 24 hours later, his family announced they were moving to Qatar, where Ahmed will join a “Young Innovators Program” run by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. Ahmed will receive a full scholarship.

In a statement from his family, the famous clockmaker noted that Doha, Qatar’s principal city, has a number of “amazing schools,” including some campuses of American universities. Texas A&M has a campus there, but there was no word on whether Ahmed plans eventually to become an Aggie.

I wish Ahmed well. And, I hope the over-reaction of Irving school administrators and police to his clock hasn’t made the difficult task of balancing the very real need for campus and student security with student expression and common sense even more difficult for educators.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/clock-kid-ahmed-mohamed-and-his-family-will-move-to-qatar/2015/10/20/a95ed296-7762-11e5-b9c1-f03c48c96ac2_story.html