Confuzzled
26-02-2007, 10:48
Muslims demand "Taleban-style" conditions in our schools.
That was the Daily Express' version of new guidelines for schools from the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB).
In fact, there was no reference that I could find to the Taleban anywhere in the report. Such are the dangers of polarising this debate by inflated language.
Indeed, the document stressed it was intended as "a source of reference" for schools when reviewing their policies in relation to Muslim pupils.
It set out to improve relations between communities.
Yet, what presumably upset the Express was the sheer length and detail of the requests that the MCB was making of schools.
The language was polite but there was a strong insistence that schools should adapt.
How reasonable were these requests? Were they, in fact, demands? And how practicable is it to expect schools to adapt so many of their practices to meet the needs of, not just Muslim pupils, but other ethnic or religious minority groups?
Proposals
The report rejects from the outset the policy that religion is a strictly private matter that lies outside the school's remit.
It says such an approach makes it "more difficult" for schools to respond positively to the "distinctive" needs of Muslim children.
Dress codes are one obvious source of potential problems. The MCB report is silent on the full-face veil.
But it does say schools "should accommodate" Muslim girls so they are allowed to wear "a full-length loose school skirt or loose trousers, a long-sleeved shirt and a head scarf".
It adds that the headscarf, properly tied, should also be allowed in PE and science. It also says that amulets containing Koranic verses "should not be considered as jewellery".
As for boys, the guidance says they should be allowed to wear beards. Like the girls, they should be allowed to wear tracksuits during sport and PE.
Changing for PE, which is a compulsory part of the national curriculum, is one of the more troublesome areas.
Many primary schools lack separate changing facilities for boys and girls. Younger children often change in classrooms. This guidance says they should use portable partitions.
It argues that all schools, including secondaries, should ideally have separate changing facilities with "individual changing cubicles".
Muslim children "should not be expected to participate in communal showering".
The compromise of allowing Muslim pupils to shower in bathing costumes is not acceptable either, says the guidance, because Islam also forbids being in the presence of nakedness.
Sports involving physical contact (basketball, for example) should happen only in single-gender groups.
Swimming is fraught with difficulties. Again schools are urged "to make every effort" to provide single-sex swimming lessons, as well as allowing Muslim girls to wear full leotards or leggings in the water.
During Ramadan, some pupils might wish to be excused swimming if they fear that swallowing water would break their fast. .
There are many other areas in which Muslim pupils need special consideration:
they cannot take part in dance
school meals must include halal options
Islamic Studies should be offered to all Muslim pupils in RE at Key Stage 4 (GCSE level)
schools "should consider" offering Arabic to Muslim pupils.The list is long: there are stipulations covering music, drama, art, school libraries, provision for prayers, school visits, and raffles.
Read here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6391271.stm
That was the Daily Express' version of new guidelines for schools from the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB).
In fact, there was no reference that I could find to the Taleban anywhere in the report. Such are the dangers of polarising this debate by inflated language.
Indeed, the document stressed it was intended as "a source of reference" for schools when reviewing their policies in relation to Muslim pupils.
It set out to improve relations between communities.
Yet, what presumably upset the Express was the sheer length and detail of the requests that the MCB was making of schools.
The language was polite but there was a strong insistence that schools should adapt.
How reasonable were these requests? Were they, in fact, demands? And how practicable is it to expect schools to adapt so many of their practices to meet the needs of, not just Muslim pupils, but other ethnic or religious minority groups?
Proposals
The report rejects from the outset the policy that religion is a strictly private matter that lies outside the school's remit.
It says such an approach makes it "more difficult" for schools to respond positively to the "distinctive" needs of Muslim children.
Dress codes are one obvious source of potential problems. The MCB report is silent on the full-face veil.
But it does say schools "should accommodate" Muslim girls so they are allowed to wear "a full-length loose school skirt or loose trousers, a long-sleeved shirt and a head scarf".
It adds that the headscarf, properly tied, should also be allowed in PE and science. It also says that amulets containing Koranic verses "should not be considered as jewellery".
As for boys, the guidance says they should be allowed to wear beards. Like the girls, they should be allowed to wear tracksuits during sport and PE.
Changing for PE, which is a compulsory part of the national curriculum, is one of the more troublesome areas.
Many primary schools lack separate changing facilities for boys and girls. Younger children often change in classrooms. This guidance says they should use portable partitions.
It argues that all schools, including secondaries, should ideally have separate changing facilities with "individual changing cubicles".
Muslim children "should not be expected to participate in communal showering".
The compromise of allowing Muslim pupils to shower in bathing costumes is not acceptable either, says the guidance, because Islam also forbids being in the presence of nakedness.
Sports involving physical contact (basketball, for example) should happen only in single-gender groups.
Swimming is fraught with difficulties. Again schools are urged "to make every effort" to provide single-sex swimming lessons, as well as allowing Muslim girls to wear full leotards or leggings in the water.
During Ramadan, some pupils might wish to be excused swimming if they fear that swallowing water would break their fast. .
There are many other areas in which Muslim pupils need special consideration:
they cannot take part in dance
school meals must include halal options
Islamic Studies should be offered to all Muslim pupils in RE at Key Stage 4 (GCSE level)
schools "should consider" offering Arabic to Muslim pupils.The list is long: there are stipulations covering music, drama, art, school libraries, provision for prayers, school visits, and raffles.
Read here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6391271.stm