(September 4, 2007)—Sparks flew Tuesday as a public school devoted to teaching Arabic language and culture opened its doors to students in New York City.

Critics say the school could become a taxpayer-funded breeding ground for extremists and the president of the Catholic League said Muslims are getting special treatment over other religions.

But New York City Department of Education official Garth Harries said there will be consequences “if anything in appropriate happens.”

“One of the most powerful statements about the school, amidst all the controversy, it's opening with a full house and parents and students and kids and teachers are voting with their feet,” he said.

“They're in this school 'cause they understand what a special opportunity it is and how relevant it can be for them,” he said.

The school’s first sixth grade class has 57 students.

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