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Veil row
A 24-year-old Muslim teaching assistant is fighting against a tribunal ruling that she cannot wear a full-face veil in the classroom. Pupils complained that they could not understand her well as they could not see her lips move; she was then suspended and sacked. The 'veil' row is hot on people's lips at the moment; is it religious discrimination to sack a person who will not refuse to remove their veil? Or is it practicality issues such veils pose that people detest? What do you think?
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I was teaching primary aged children for 38 years and it is only when you are in a classroom situation that you appreciate how important it is for the children to be able to see your lips when you speak to them. Also, the veil will slightly muffle the words which are spoken. On purely that basis, veils on people who have anything to do with children in school should be forbidden. It is not fair on the children in that class.
I think you are being a bit harsh on the AB Ed - this is now back in the news as the lady concered is going back to fight against the earlier ruling
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/64 30349.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/64 30349.stm
When I taught English (GCSE, not ESOL) to adults, I had a couple of muslim ladies among my students. It's fair to say that I could understand them very well, so good was their spoken English. The veils were fine enough not to muffle what they said, although facial expressions were impossible to read. As they relaxed in the company of fellow (male) students over the weeks, they began to leave the veils off. No noticeable difference in their speech, but it was a real joy to see them laughing and being 'real' women, communicating to their full potential.
But I agree with Hugh Spencer. I think children need to be able to see facial expressions and mouth shapes in order to learn effective communication skills. My adult students already had a good command of language, but children are still developing in this area. They learn by imitation, so what they're going to learn by imitating a woman who is unable to communicate fully is that women should not communicate fully, as men do.
In an Islamic school, that may be OK. But we are talking about a state school here where although many children are muslim, some are not. If parents wish to provide their children with a state education, then one woman's beliefs should not be allowed to hinder that.
But I agree with Hugh Spencer. I think children need to be able to see facial expressions and mouth shapes in order to learn effective communication skills. My adult students already had a good command of language, but children are still developing in this area. They learn by imitation, so what they're going to learn by imitating a woman who is unable to communicate fully is that women should not communicate fully, as men do.
In an Islamic school, that may be OK. But we are talking about a state school here where although many children are muslim, some are not. If parents wish to provide their children with a state education, then one woman's beliefs should not be allowed to hinder that.
