Attend Islam class or be branded racist

[chris watton]

According to this story at least:

DM said:

School wrote to parents telling them their eight-year-olds had to attend workshop on Islam - or be branded RACIST on their permanent record
Headmistress Lynn Small wrote to parents about multicultural school trip
Children will attend 'Explore Islam' workshop at Staffordshire University
Pupils would receive 'Racial Discrimination note' if they didn't go, she said
Parents at Littleton Green Community School in Huntington complained
Staffordshire County Council stepped in and head had to apologise

THE ORIGINAL LETTER FROM SCHOOL HEAD LYNN SMALL TO PARENTS

Dear Parent/Carer,

As part of the National Religious Education Curriculum together with the multicultural community in which we live, it is a statutory requirement for Primary School aged children to experience and learn about different cultures.

The workshop is at Staffordshire University and will give your child the opportunity to explore other religions.

Children will be looking at religious artefacts similar to those that would be on display in a museum. they will not be partaking in any religious practices.

Refusal to allow your child to attend this trip will result in a Racial Discrimination note being attached to your child’s education record, which will remain on this file throughout their school career.

As such our expectations are that all children in years 4 and 6 attend school on Wednesday 27th November to take part in this trip.

All absences on this day will be investigated for their credibility and will only be sanctioned with a GP sick note.

If you would like to discuss this further please contact our RE Coordinator, Mrs Edmonds

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2511841/Sc...
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I know it's the DM, but the letter appears genuine. I think the headmistress was trying to be a little too PC for her own good.....

[chris watton]

Mr_B said:

Time for a new school head I think. Her audacity in having no problem on playing the race card is a reflection on much of today. If you tried that blackmail in any other area, you'd be leaving yourself wide open to a legal case.

Never thought of that. I guess it is tantamount to blackmail, especially in the way she worded the original letter.

[chris watton]

Mojooo said:

4v6 said:

Or we could just bar any religious bullsh*t being promoted in schools and stop trying to fill kids heads with sky pixie nonsense.
The use of threats to try and co-erce the parents by attacking the children because mom and dad dont want ideological boogeyman stories taught as fact is pretty despicable and akin to indoctrination techniques practiced by uncle adolf and co and cant be tolerated.
Its telling that the words "cultural education" immediately conjure up the religion of peace and tolerance rather than Inuit culture or say Australian Aboriginal culture, or arent they as important?
In my ever so humble opinion islam is getting far too much promotion and needs a whole lot less.
If they want to teach culture in schools, try English culture, learn about yourself before you learn about others.

its called education not promotion

according to the report the school has a duty to teach about other religions/cultures - it is not clear if this particular trip was about islam - but so what if it was - given that its such a favourite talking point isn't it more relevant?

For me (at least), this wasn't/isn't really the problem. The problem I have is the way the original letter was worded - Attend or be branded racist on your child's permanent record. This is what I think is beyond the pale.

[chris watton]

Daniel Hannan said:

What is the single most depressing aspect of this letter. Is it the idea of labelling eight-year-olds racists? Is it the moronic conflation of religion and ethnicity? Is it the ugly grammar ("As such our expectations are that all children in years 4 to 6 attend school on Wednesday…")? Is it the bullying tone? Is it the unconscionable choice of font? Is it that someone can write that way and yet hold a position of authority in a school?

Or is it this: that how ever many times prime ministers declare multi-culturalism to be a failed ideology, a petty, officious, bossy, self-righteous, self-serving, Leftist chunk of the public sector remains stuck in 1980?

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100...

[chris watton]

I remember even as far back as the late '70's/early '80's, we were given the option of NOT attending RE classes, but given the choice of an alternative class instead. But that was a totally different world back then, I guess...

[chris watton]

standards said:

Oh nothing important. Thinking about the meaning of life, how you should live, how to treat others, how to die. What is it to be human. All completely unimpotant stuff.

...And for that, the most basic of life skills, you need faith and/or religion?