Perhaps The Prince Should Sort Them Out.
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Punidhed!
119 Answers
I would really like some opinions on this please.
My seven -half year old daughter came home today saying that she was punished in her R.E class because when they played some Indian (Pakistan) music it made her giggle.
She just thought it was strange sounding music, but the teacher sat her down and told her to write a letter of apology to the Muslims in the class.
I am absolutely livid to say the least and really would appreciate some feedback on what I should do.
thanks in advance
My seven -half year old daughter came home today saying that she was punished in her R.E class because when they played some Indian (Pakistan) music it made her giggle.
She just thought it was strange sounding music, but the teacher sat her down and told her to write a letter of apology to the Muslims in the class.
I am absolutely livid to say the least and really would appreciate some feedback on what I should do.
thanks in advance
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Quote "The other thing is that the Headteacher will probably be expecting to deal with an angry ranting parent. - If you calmly and clearly express your position but are happy to leave it at that, you'll probably build up some political capital with the school for some time in the future when you may need it." Unqoute
Very good advice Jake, Thankyou.
I surprised myself yesterday to how calm I was even though inside I was reeling. Today I will do the same.
Hi Icemaiden, this beggers belife, a lot of threads go the way I think, It is not the people that cause il feeling in this country it is the likes of the P/C Cranks, there are just 3 questions that I would like to ask, Is this Britain? Are WE paying for the rights to have RE, iF THE PROBLEM WAS THE OTHER WAY ROUND, WOULD THE TEACHER HAVE TAKEN THAT COURSE OF ACTION, I will let you all think about that. Good Luck with your direction of Justice, If I was in your shoes I would not let this drop.
It takes all sorts doesn't it?
I'm not having a go at you, icemaiden. In fact, I can see how you might think the teacher's behaviour was over the top.
But your child's not been thrashed. She's being taught to show sensitivity to others. I genuinely don't understand why you're so up in arms about this.
Sometimes you have to devolve authority to your child's teachers. If you march in and demand answers everytime they take action that you disgree with (and which relates to behaviour you haven't even witnessed), can you not see how that ties the teachers' hands? No wonder they end up not being able to control the kids. No wonder we end up with unruly teenagers.
I'm not having a go at you, icemaiden. In fact, I can see how you might think the teacher's behaviour was over the top.
But your child's not been thrashed. She's being taught to show sensitivity to others. I genuinely don't understand why you're so up in arms about this.
Sometimes you have to devolve authority to your child's teachers. If you march in and demand answers everytime they take action that you disgree with (and which relates to behaviour you haven't even witnessed), can you not see how that ties the teachers' hands? No wonder they end up not being able to control the kids. No wonder we end up with unruly teenagers.
Further to my original posts and your subsequent clarification, I agree with jake and Ludwig.
The children should have been told to stop giggling and when it continued should have been told why it might not be appropriate to giggle. End. If it continued then simply remove them from the class.
Writing a formal letter of apology oversteps the educational environment in my opinion and I would take issue with this directly to the Head and explain your understanding of the situation (in a controlled manner) before asserting what you wish to happen from now on. This can either be your request to withdraw them from participating in RE, or a written apology from the RE teacher to you and to your child.
As I said earlier, I would also raise this with the QCA and LEA, to assess whether this is a particular directive from the higher authority (not God!) or whether the school is acting outside of the realms of general education, religious over-tolerance or just pandering to the presumed sensitivities of a select few.
If everything is as you say, and you find that you are just meeting a brick wall, then perhaps contact the local paper � but please do bear in mind what this exposure might mean to your child.
I would imagine many children listening to a Gregorian chant might react with equal humour - that is, if it doesn�t send them to sleep beforehand.
The children should have been told to stop giggling and when it continued should have been told why it might not be appropriate to giggle. End. If it continued then simply remove them from the class.
Writing a formal letter of apology oversteps the educational environment in my opinion and I would take issue with this directly to the Head and explain your understanding of the situation (in a controlled manner) before asserting what you wish to happen from now on. This can either be your request to withdraw them from participating in RE, or a written apology from the RE teacher to you and to your child.
As I said earlier, I would also raise this with the QCA and LEA, to assess whether this is a particular directive from the higher authority (not God!) or whether the school is acting outside of the realms of general education, religious over-tolerance or just pandering to the presumed sensitivities of a select few.
If everything is as you say, and you find that you are just meeting a brick wall, then perhaps contact the local paper � but please do bear in mind what this exposure might mean to your child.
I would imagine many children listening to a Gregorian chant might react with equal humour - that is, if it doesn�t send them to sleep beforehand.
There is an issue amongst all this that everyone seems to have missed.
I am absolutely of the opinion that the teacher's actions were inappropriate. Many of the reasons I would take issue with it have already been stated by other posters.
However, the thing that stands out in my opinion is the bigger picture and long term consequences of the way the teacher handled this. By this I mean what the teacher has actually achieved by overreacting. Has she taught your daughter and the other giggling children that they should respect other cultures? Thinking from a 7 year old's point of view, I very much doubt it.
What the teacher is more likely to have achieved is to make those children she felt deserved punishment foster resentment of the Muslim community/culture because of the way they will feel they have been treated with regard to the incident.
Now had she explained to the children, addressing the whole class in fact, that laughing was perhaps not appropriate behaviour at that time and asked how they think it would make them feel if others were to laugh at something they felt was important to them, it might have made them think about it in a more positive way. It would even help to teach them empathy for others. A 7 yr old is still learning to consider how their actions affect other people and it would have supported that concept to the benefit of the whole class, regardless of cultural background.
Far from fostering acceptance and understanding of cultural differences, the teachers chosen course of action and the following consequences of your (justifiable in my opinion) desire to take this up with the school has been entirely counter-productive to everybody concerned.
Tolerance and acceptance of ALL cultures for eachother is what should be taught and that is NOT the what this seemingly over-zealous teacher has achieved.
I am absolutely of the opinion that the teacher's actions were inappropriate. Many of the reasons I would take issue with it have already been stated by other posters.
However, the thing that stands out in my opinion is the bigger picture and long term consequences of the way the teacher handled this. By this I mean what the teacher has actually achieved by overreacting. Has she taught your daughter and the other giggling children that they should respect other cultures? Thinking from a 7 year old's point of view, I very much doubt it.
What the teacher is more likely to have achieved is to make those children she felt deserved punishment foster resentment of the Muslim community/culture because of the way they will feel they have been treated with regard to the incident.
Now had she explained to the children, addressing the whole class in fact, that laughing was perhaps not appropriate behaviour at that time and asked how they think it would make them feel if others were to laugh at something they felt was important to them, it might have made them think about it in a more positive way. It would even help to teach them empathy for others. A 7 yr old is still learning to consider how their actions affect other people and it would have supported that concept to the benefit of the whole class, regardless of cultural background.
Far from fostering acceptance and understanding of cultural differences, the teachers chosen course of action and the following consequences of your (justifiable in my opinion) desire to take this up with the school has been entirely counter-productive to everybody concerned.
Tolerance and acceptance of ALL cultures for eachother is what should be taught and that is NOT the what this seemingly over-zealous teacher has achieved.
I also agree with the other posters who have advised that going to the media with this is not a good idea. Think carefully about what you might be setting your daughter and yourself up for. Consider the fact that the media want a meaty story and will likely edit the story to get the most sensation from it.
No matter how it is portrayed however, someone, somewhere will accuse you of racism. Think of the consequences of your family potentially becoming some kind of unnecessary target. It really isn't worth the hassle and won't gain you anything in the long run.
I agree wholeheartedly with what Octavius has said with regard to the whole situation. He always gives good advice.
No matter how it is portrayed however, someone, somewhere will accuse you of racism. Think of the consequences of your family potentially becoming some kind of unnecessary target. It really isn't worth the hassle and won't gain you anything in the long run.
I agree wholeheartedly with what Octavius has said with regard to the whole situation. He always gives good advice.
A very well put answer Aprilis. Thank you. And Octavius.
I will not be going to the media regarding this situation. As Aprilis says, they could twist and edit the story in order to make it juicier. Besides, I wouldn't expose my Daughter to any possible nasty comments, alienation and reactions by the public.
I would simply like an apology for my Daughter and I from the Class Teacher. I don't hold up much hope that we will get this, however, letting the Head Teacher know how we feel is a start.
I will not be going to the media regarding this situation. As Aprilis says, they could twist and edit the story in order to make it juicier. Besides, I wouldn't expose my Daughter to any possible nasty comments, alienation and reactions by the public.
I would simply like an apology for my Daughter and I from the Class Teacher. I don't hold up much hope that we will get this, however, letting the Head Teacher know how we feel is a start.
Good luck with the Head, icemaiden. Keep us posted.
BTW, as an early poster on this one I only suggested hinting at going to the media, not actually doing it.
I still think the punishment was wrong for the "crime." All kids get fits of the giggles, and treating it as a racist incident is plain wrong.
If you have no joy with the head, I'd still consider writing to the Governors.
The school needs to clarify their policy on what they view as racist incidents.
BTW, as an early poster on this one I only suggested hinting at going to the media, not actually doing it.
I still think the punishment was wrong for the "crime." All kids get fits of the giggles, and treating it as a racist incident is plain wrong.
If you have no joy with the head, I'd still consider writing to the Governors.
The school needs to clarify their policy on what they view as racist incidents.
I'm afraid that an apology wouldn't be enough for me icemaiden, not even in writing. I would want to know that she understands what she is apologising FOR. Lip service cuts no ice with me I'm afraid.
She would need to convince me that she takes on board the reasons WHY I think what she did was ill thought out and counter-productive. Otherwise she is never going to accept that what she did was inappropriate and thus render any apology completely meaningless.
Failing that, I would follow Octavius's suggestion of taking it up with the LEA etc.
She would need to convince me that she takes on board the reasons WHY I think what she did was ill thought out and counter-productive. Otherwise she is never going to accept that what she did was inappropriate and thus render any apology completely meaningless.
Failing that, I would follow Octavius's suggestion of taking it up with the LEA etc.
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