Schoolgirl cahrged with racism

[dot.hawkes]

If the 14 yearold schoolgirl that has just been on the news, was fingerprinted and searched etc, does that mean she was arrested? I am unclear what she has been charged with? have we been told the truth about what she asked the teacher? If she was told by her teacher to join a group of 4 other pupils and discuss a topic in class, and 3 of those pupils did not speak English and the 4th spoke English and their language, and so translated for them, why when this girl asked to join another group was she not accomodated? unless she is not telling the truth about what she asked the teacher or the manner in which she asked it. How was she supposed to do the set task if there was a problem with the language? it does seem a logical and reasonable decision she has made, to ask that she gets as much out of her lesson as possible. Working with people who do not speak your language does not seem to be of much help does it? I think she had a right to ask to have the same treatment as the other 4, in that they had 4 people able to follow the discussion and only this girl was not able to follow it, surely she had a right to discuss the topic with other people in her own school class that she was able to understand and that could understand her. I think we are not being told just how this girl approached the issue, but in essence i feel her grievance at the time was valid. Anyone have any details on way she was treated as a racist offender? By that i mean what facts are there? Suppose she had carried on saying nothing for the rest of the term and then come assessment time and she had been asked to write about her discussions in class, what could she have said? 'Sorry but the teacher made me discuss the topic with a group of foreign speaking students that i could not understand and so i have not been able to take part to the best of my ability, ?

[kita1]

She also had her DNA taken. She was arrested but released without charge, the school said that they are still going to 'take it further'. Are her fingerprints and DNA going to be kept on file or destroyed?

If it is as it appears that all she said was could she be moved to another group that spoke English I do not understand how this is racist?

I also do not understand why the class of 14 year olds had a 17 year old boy in it? When did we start having 17 year olds attending school (other than in the 6th form)?

I think it is disgraceful that police time was spent this way. I thought our police were run off their feet! What about all the gun crime and break ins, let alone murders etc.

[kempie]

Sorry if I appear ignorant of current educational practices but is it standard for a community police officer to be based in UK schools?

http://www.itv.com/news/britain_e9065a5ba412b1 1d557d3f49f3b233f7.html

[dot.hawkes]

Oh thanks for that link Kempie, i just watched the interview with the girl and she was apparently body searched, for God's sake that is extreme, if it was my child i would not be wanting her back at a school that was not able to educate and protect my child fully.

[kita1]

I wonder if a muslim girl (wearing the veil or scarf) had made a similar comment if she would have been arrested and body searched?

I would NEVER allow my child to go back to that school!!

What happened to free speech?

[dot.hawkes]

what would have happened if a non english speaking pupil had complained about being grouped with 4 english speaking pupils? Would they be accused of racism if they dared to object to being disadvantaged due to lack of commnication?

[lindapinda]

I saw this story today Dot,and I was dumbfounded!..Even if we don't know the whole story,on what was said or was not said...??...Why on earth were the police called in?? Totally ridiculous!

[shammydodger]

The police spokesman said she was not arrested and was not put in a cell. It's the usual story of not believing everything you are told, particularly when it derives from the Daily Mail.

[dot.hawkes]

I don't read the daily mail, i watched the girl and her mum being interviewed on the news tonight on the tele. Unless the girl and her mum read the daily mail and got their facts wrong.

[shammydodger]

Even so, you are willing to believe everything you see put before you in the media. I hope you are never on a jury of my "peers"

[dot.hawkes]

have you actually read my thread in it's totality , in particular the part where i question whether we have been told the truth? Why have i bothered specifically pointing out in my thread that i am unclear as to the validity of the claims made, if you are simply going to make a personal attack on my integrity?

[lindapinda]

Shammydodger...Even if "she was not arrested or put in jail"...the police were obviously called in???...Why should that be an appropriate way to deal with a situation like that?..

[shammydodger]

Yes I have read your posts and they don't make it clear that you are reserving judgement. If you are, so be it.

[dot.hawkes]

also, if i was on a jury of your peers, i would know enough to rely on the evidence presented to the jury rather than reading the newspaper to decide the verdict.

[dot.hawkes]

I am pretty sure that the two questions I ask i'e' 'Anyone have any details as to why she was treated as a racist offender' and 'have we been told the truth about what she asked the teacher' would have suggested to most readers that i am unsure of the background to the story and i was asking on here for clarification of the facts.

[shammydodger]

Right. And you thought you'd come on here for "clarification of the facts"? Of course, the people who contribute to this sitte are in a much better position to give "clarification of the facts." Ha ha! I don't believe you. I think you are trying to stir up trouble.

[lindapinda]

This is a general discussion site Shammy?...Dot is only asking for general clarification?...We are living in wierd times!...As i said to you before...why should the police have been called in at all!..The fact that they commented..??Ensured they were active in the situation!!..Forget any Daily Mail interference.

[ChampagneMan]

Bloody Hell!! What the F***k has come to behold this once upon a time great country!! As said earlier, would they have dared to do the same with a veiled girl or any other non-white non english speaking student. Why is it that only the native true blood brits are accused of racism whereas all other acts by certain other groups are passed of as being totally allowed. Wake up. wake up.
And another thing, when you come over to England, except as a tourist, you damn well better know and learn the English language. We are not gonna sit and break our heads trying to decipher the mumbo jumbo tounge that you speak. Learn English and try to assimiliate and be more Eurpoaen and British!!!

[Lonnie]

Hate to say it, but nowadays it racist to SAY your English, don't forget, your not allowed anymore to put English as your Nationality on legal forms.

What happened in this case, is disgusting, but thats the way this country is going.

Where will it all end?.

[THECORBYLOON]

So if I have understood correctly, folk coming here are meant to be more European and learn English yet the English should not be expected to take the time to learn a foreign (European incuded?) langauge.

As for not now being allowed to put English as a nationaity, it may have escaped yir Anglocentic head that England is not a nation, it is one of four countries in the UK and British is yir nationality.