ChatterBank2 mins ago
Crazy teacher ?
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My nine year old daughter came home from school a few days ago clutching a consent form to visit the mosque in Glasgow - fine. The thing is though , she has now informed me that she will have to be covered up and have her head covered in a headscarf or she will not be permitted to enter. Any child who refuses to cover up will not be permitted to attend the trip , which I was really unhappy about. I am not a racist and absolutely defend the right for any individual to have the freedom to exercise their right to hold whichever beliefs they may have and to be allowed their relevant place of worship. I can not however understand why my daughter should be forced to adhere to religious customs which are not her own. I realise that this may be a touchy subject for some but I wonder what would happen if a muslim child was visiting a chapel and was ordered to bare their head and show their face , then bless themself and take communion , in order for them to enter. The media would have an absolute field day with a story like that. I am not catholic but have been in a chapel many a time for friends' weddings , funerals etc and would not bless myself nor take communion because I am not catholic ...................
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Continued ................ My daughter told me that she was scared of muslims because they "Have bad tempers". I stared at her in utter bewilderment because I wondered where such a statement could have come from as I have a few good muslim friends and could not understand why she would say that ..... until she told me this little gem. Apparently a little boy in her class was laughing about their current RE topic (Islam) and their teacher let rip at him telling him that he shouldn't belittle musims' beliefs because they "Take offence to that" and would "Chop his head off if they heard him because people have been beheaded for making such remarks" She then went off on one about the cartoons featuring Mohammed and told the kids about how death threats were received. I had to explain to my daughter that muslims are not monsters but I am really annoyed at her teacher for spouting out rubbish like that to schoolkids. So what do you think , should my daughter just cover up even though it is not her religion and what do you make of the teacher's comments ?
ps This from a school who seemingly celebrates every religious practice apart from Christianity. They are not allowed to have a nativity play but will have a Christmas themed play instead. Celebration of Diwali went ahead though with a mini feast in class.
ps This from a school who seemingly celebrates every religious practice apart from Christianity. They are not allowed to have a nativity play but will have a Christmas themed play instead. Celebration of Diwali went ahead though with a mini feast in class.
Yes- if you give consent for your daughter to attend, she should adhere to their beliefs. It would be totally disrespectful for her not to.
I would however make a point of going in to see your child's RE teacher and expressing your concerns over what was said. Please bear in mind that what your daughter said may not be the full story though.
I would however make a point of going in to see your child's RE teacher and expressing your concerns over what was said. Please bear in mind that what your daughter said may not be the full story though.
Boo , with all due respect , I don't understand how not wearing full headress is disrespectful when it is not her belief. Correct me if I am wrong but was there not a big furore over the teacher who was asked to remove her headress in order to be heard properly and not to frighten young school children? Why shouldn't it be a two way street ? My daughter is not muslim nor is she belittling their beliefs. Why should she be forced to wear something which is alien to her in order to set foot in their place of worship ? I fail to understand why she can not observe their religious beliefs without having to dress accordingly. I know not of any other place of worship in this country where adhering to the religious beliefs and customs of a particular religious body is compulsory before admittance is granted.
With regards to her teachers remarks , I have no hesitation in believing my daughter because she was genuinely upset and had not heard about beheadings and the controversy over the cartoons prior to that. I appreciate that with young children you can sometimes get a distorted recollection of facts but she was adamant about what her teacher had said and I will most definitely be speaking to her teacher on monday.
With regards to her teachers remarks , I have no hesitation in believing my daughter because she was genuinely upset and had not heard about beheadings and the controversy over the cartoons prior to that. I appreciate that with young children you can sometimes get a distorted recollection of facts but she was adamant about what her teacher had said and I will most definitely be speaking to her teacher on monday.
Hi enigma,
Why not get together with the other parents to boycott the trip by none of you consenting to the wearing of headgear?
If the head gets wind of this and queries it, what better opportunatey to mention the class teacher's comments, which are both unbelievable and shocking!! It pi$$es me off that we cannot in our OWN country celebrate Christmas without seemingly offending people who were not born here, or having been born here of parents from another continent. When in Rome......
Interesting to know of the origins of the class teacher?
Why not get together with the other parents to boycott the trip by none of you consenting to the wearing of headgear?
If the head gets wind of this and queries it, what better opportunatey to mention the class teacher's comments, which are both unbelievable and shocking!! It pi$$es me off that we cannot in our OWN country celebrate Christmas without seemingly offending people who were not born here, or having been born here of parents from another continent. When in Rome......
Interesting to know of the origins of the class teacher?
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HAPPENED TO ME !!
HELL, FFS , dont say **** about how yoiu really feel bout it on here or your branded a rasist as I was .My daughter aged 9 was also told she would have to cover her face as well as her head {head I had np with}.
but my god was I frowned apone for my view on it .
if you feel uncomfortable with your child doing somting outwith the norm ,, ask yourself why ,, if you can explain to your child in layman terms then ,,,go for it .
If on the other hand you have no real excuse other than your own rasist views,, the pity your child .
I dont however think that is the case here
head scarf ok ..let your child learn hun.
hugs
HAPPENED TO ME !!
HELL, FFS , dont say **** about how yoiu really feel bout it on here or your branded a rasist as I was .My daughter aged 9 was also told she would have to cover her face as well as her head {head I had np with}.
but my god was I frowned apone for my view on it .
if you feel uncomfortable with your child doing somting outwith the norm ,, ask yourself why ,, if you can explain to your child in layman terms then ,,,go for it .
If on the other hand you have no real excuse other than your own rasist views,, the pity your child .
I dont however think that is the case here
head scarf ok ..let your child learn hun.
hugs
pie n mash ...it happened here ..over 50 parents refused there kids to attend such an oiting mainly because of the moque calling a day before the visit saying littke gilrs had to wear full head gear!
I was sadly looked on as a lower than pond scum ..cus my daugher dint attend the outting ..when infact my daughter was in fact scared to go
I was sadly looked on as a lower than pond scum ..cus my daugher dint attend the outting ..when infact my daughter was in fact scared to go
Before you acuse me of calling you a racist, I'm not- you asked for opinions and i'm giving you mine- sorry if it doesnt agree with your own!
Regardless of whether it's your child's beliefs...it's THEIRS....and if your child enteres THEIR place of worship she should abide by THEIR wishes.
Obviously if you feel that unhappy about it- don't send her, problem solved.
Regardless of whether it's your child's beliefs...it's THEIRS....and if your child enteres THEIR place of worship she should abide by THEIR wishes.
Obviously if you feel that unhappy about it- don't send her, problem solved.
Hi Pie + Mash. Do you know , I am sorely tempted to do just that because I am most unhappy about the way the kids have been bullied into covering up ie cover up or lose your trip. Talk about putting a gun to their heads ! Yes , the teacher's comments are thoroughly offensive and I will most definitely take her to task on monday.
Blyss - I should have said - and realised that I haven't - it's not just her head , she has to cover her face too apparently. Why ? As I already said , I am not a racist and in fact one of my very good friends for many years now is a lovely indian women whose family run a great little restaurant which I helped out in waiting on tables in my teens and enjoyed many a good meal with her family. I respect every person's right to hold dear whichever religion they deem worthy , however I do not appreciate the bully boy tactics. I genuinely would like my daughter to glean enough knowledge of every religion to learn to be respectful of others' religious beliefs but I am appalled at her teacher's comments , the fact that my daughter must be covered from head to toe in an attire which is alien to her and that she is being frightened into comlying. Oh and the fact that her own belief - christianity - is being swept to one side by the ommitance of the traditional nativity play. Instead we will have fun little songs and a silly story which bears no significance to the true meaning of Christmas. Utter nonsense.
Blyss - I should have said - and realised that I haven't - it's not just her head , she has to cover her face too apparently. Why ? As I already said , I am not a racist and in fact one of my very good friends for many years now is a lovely indian women whose family run a great little restaurant which I helped out in waiting on tables in my teens and enjoyed many a good meal with her family. I respect every person's right to hold dear whichever religion they deem worthy , however I do not appreciate the bully boy tactics. I genuinely would like my daughter to glean enough knowledge of every religion to learn to be respectful of others' religious beliefs but I am appalled at her teacher's comments , the fact that my daughter must be covered from head to toe in an attire which is alien to her and that she is being frightened into comlying. Oh and the fact that her own belief - christianity - is being swept to one side by the ommitance of the traditional nativity play. Instead we will have fun little songs and a silly story which bears no significance to the true meaning of Christmas. Utter nonsense.
Chill Boo. What a nippy answer ! I didn't say that you called me a racist and I am shocked by your answer because I wasn't having a go at you. I appreciate your comments but I don't agree with them. I don't expect you to agree with me and I respect the fact that you tell it as it is. I have reread my post and can't see what you took offence at. I even used the words "With all due respect" to show that I respected your opinion - just didn't agree with it - and was just giving my opinion. Yes , I asked for your opinion and I thank you for it. I wasn't having a go , honestly.
No , the problem isn't solved by not sending her. Then I am alienating her from an activity which she has shown genuine interest in and which I am keen for her to learn about. What I am taking exception with is her teacher's offensive remarks and the fact that my daughter is to be in FULL head gear before she is permitted to enter. To a child who is not familiar with such attire it can be quite frightening. Yes , it is their belief - not my daughter's but as I said before , I can think of no other place of worship in this country where strict adherance to that particular religious body's practices must be adhered to before admittance is granted. I respect your difference of opinion and merely wanted to discuss the matter - not cause you any offence x
No , the problem isn't solved by not sending her. Then I am alienating her from an activity which she has shown genuine interest in and which I am keen for her to learn about. What I am taking exception with is her teacher's offensive remarks and the fact that my daughter is to be in FULL head gear before she is permitted to enter. To a child who is not familiar with such attire it can be quite frightening. Yes , it is their belief - not my daughter's but as I said before , I can think of no other place of worship in this country where strict adherance to that particular religious body's practices must be adhered to before admittance is granted. I respect your difference of opinion and merely wanted to discuss the matter - not cause you any offence x
One of the major problems affecting Muslims and non-Muslims in this country is the simple fact that the Muslim faith is far more intertwined into everyday life than the Christian faith. I entirely agree with respecting the dress codes of any faith. When my family went to Yogoslavia, we took a day trip to Venice, and ladies were advised in advance that arms and legs were to be covered if they wanted to enter the Catholic cathedral. Those who ignored the advice were not admited. As we know, the Catholic church in this country makes no stipulations about observances of visitors, but the Music faith does, and it should be respected. I attend Mass with my family regularly - as an atheist, should I not stand for hymns, kneel for prayers, offer the sign of peace or listen to the homily? None of it means anything at all to me, but the issue is respect for the people who do, in their place of worship. If your daugther attends a mosque, it is courtesy and respect to adhere to dress codes. The beliefs may not be your daughter's, but respect is universal, and you should lead by example.
I would check if your daughter is actually required to cover her face, which is not a Moslem edict, but a matter of choice for Muslim women - find out from the mosque in advance.
With regard to the teacher's aleged comments, have a word with the Head, and ask for an investigation.
I would check if your daughter is actually required to cover her face, which is not a Moslem edict, but a matter of choice for Muslim women - find out from the mosque in advance.
With regard to the teacher's aleged comments, have a word with the Head, and ask for an investigation.
Whilst I agree that respecting another faith by adhering to their dress code in a place of worship is correct, I do however, (like p+m) think it entirely wrong that we cannot practice our beliefs over a religious festival, i.e. Christmas.
It surely is (or should be) a two-way street? To not be able to celebrate the way we wish in our own Country is just not acceptable! Who are they when they can dictate to us how we carry out our beliefs in our own Country?
If it is disrespectful to them in their faith, then it is disrespectful to us in ours.
Surely, it is they who are playing the racist card?
It surely is (or should be) a two-way street? To not be able to celebrate the way we wish in our own Country is just not acceptable! Who are they when they can dictate to us how we carry out our beliefs in our own Country?
If it is disrespectful to them in their faith, then it is disrespectful to us in ours.
Surely, it is they who are playing the racist card?
Excuse me, enigma asking andy-hughes a question.
How does your family feel about a town not being allowed to put up fairy lights (as in the case of a friend of mine), because it might offend the muslim community? Does it not offend them as Catholics, that they cannot display their joy and celebration of Christmas, as in the case also of enigma's non-navtivity play at school? *two Q's*
How does your family feel about a town not being allowed to put up fairy lights (as in the case of a friend of mine), because it might offend the muslim community? Does it not offend them as Catholics, that they cannot display their joy and celebration of Christmas, as in the case also of enigma's non-navtivity play at school? *two Q's*
I am an atheist and on a recent trip to Greece I had to wear black trousers and a black gown in order to cover my arms and legs whilst visiting a monastery, I would not be admitted without it. I happily obliged. I was not forced to wear it, I had a choice, wear it and visit the monastery or don't wear it and stay out, that is a choice, the same as your Daughter has, no one is being "forced" as you put it.
This is just a matter of respect whilst visiting their holy place. It is no good trying to compare it to what you done or didn't do in a Catholic church. This is a different religion with different cultures.
This is just a matter of respect whilst visiting their holy place. It is no good trying to compare it to what you done or didn't do in a Catholic church. This is a different religion with different cultures.
Dunaplimsol, I'm not sure who is at fault on the Christmas light thing, is it the council for being afraid of upsetting them, in which case it is not the Muslims who are at fault, it is ourselves or the council for being spineless and dis loyal to our own traditions, either way it is absolutely ridiculous that out traditional decorations are not able to be displayed.
If Muslims or any other religious group don't like it, they have choices to make don't they!!!!!
If Muslims or any other religious group don't like it, they have choices to make don't they!!!!!
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