Education | The Revival

Islamophobia, a fear, derision, and/or hatred of Islam and Muslims, both an individual prejudice and a geopolitical instrument.

I can clearly say that the hate against Muslims and racism in general have their bases online more than being in the communities. What the far right have been trying to do is to show that their presence is much bigger than it really is. The main problem however is that the political system in Europe needs the right extremism as part of its existence and I can see that in the comments against “multiculturalism” by its leaders. While the political system is attacking the democratic rights of the people through privatisation, deregulation and strengthening security measures against them it needs a bigger infighting within the people and that is partly a fight against the Muslim

After many years of a negative portrayal, bias Against Islam and Muslims is deeply rooted in Western minds and it will be very difficult to eliminate it, Spanish journalist Yusuf Fernandez says.

The Islamophobia is a real problem in the Western societies, not only for Muslims but for the whole society because it is a hatred phenomenon, which is harmful for all people. Today, many politicians attack Islam and Muslims just to gain votes and in some countries girls are banned to wear headscarves at high schools or work places. Opening a mosque is also becoming more and more difficult in some countries.

Generally speaking, the image of Muslims in Western media is very negative and poor. When Western journalists speak about any issue, they are supposed to know the issue they are writing about. But this rule is broken when they write about Islam. They can then make claims that have nothing to do with the reality of Islam and Muslims. Muslims are presented as fanatics, terrorists or backwards people. Muslim women are presented as ignorant or submissive. These so-called “experts” ignore that Islam gave many rights to the women much before the Western societies did.

There are extremists in Europe who are staunchly opposed to multiculturalism in the continent and are not afraid of physically removing whoever they deem threatening their ideology for a consolidated Europe free of immigrants and Muslims. The most prominent example was Anders Breivik who massacred 77 people simply because they had voiced support for the people of Palestine in a demonstration.

An anonymous Christian extremist group in the Republic of Ireland has sent Muslim schools and mosques in the capital city of Dublin a letter threatening to attack any man, woman or child seen entering a mosque.

Referring to a planned €40m mosque complex in Clongriffin, north Dublin, letter not only threatened Muslims living in Ireland, but also anyone who is thought to be Muslim.

Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of the Immigrant Council, was quoted by the Irish Mirror saying: "The emergence of this letter and its threats is both sinister and alarming."

The letter contains much nationalistic rhetoric which has become ever more common in Europe lately, as the increasing population and political power of Muslims in the continent is for some testing the limits of multiculturalism and diversity.

There's a new mainstream anti-Muslim racism that is built on fears for the survival of Western values. That's the product of a nervous society in which social betterment is becoming increasingly difficult and in which there is a sense of omnipresent competition and struggle. The emotions generated by this are often not directed at a system, but at those who are different, at foreigners. This is also launched from the political arena and absorbed at grassroots level. Only recently, the conservative Bavarian party CSU suggested that foreigners should speak German at home.

There is a pervading belief that Islam is here to take over the West, despite any number of statistics which can demonstrate that A) that intent does not exist and B)It would not be possible without a radical shift in demographic trends. Wedded with that there is a willingness to blame the actions of a few extremists on all Muslims. That all results in Muslim Journalists receiving hate mail, not for their beliefs, but because they are Muslim. That is prejudice against the Muslim Religion. Would you send hate mail to Christian Journalists because of the KKK?

Although theoretically we live in a secular state, only church bells are allowed to ring out; the muezzin is not even permitted to issue a call to prayer on Fridays or public holidays. Muslim burials without a coffin are prohibited in all but a handful of federal states. The mandatory use of coffins dates from the seventeenth century, when it was introduced as a way of preventing the burial of a person who only appeared to be dead, by storing the body in a coffin for 48 hours. Muslims are not represented on the majority of broadcasting councils, although they also pay fees for public-service broadcasting.

We live in a shrunken world and millions of people are on the move; one of our biggest challenges is how we learn to live in proximity to difference – different skin colours, different beliefs and different way of life. According to a study by COMPAS, Muslims born and educated were given the impression of outsiders. The perception among Muslims is that they are unwelcome in Britain is undermining efforts to help them integrate into wider society. Most of them say that they have experienced race discrimination and religious prejudice. Muslims and Islam is promoted a fundamentalist and separatist by the western elite, which have negative impact on community and social cohesion. The number of racist incidents occurring in London Borough of Redbridge’s schools have reached their highest levels since record begin.

It is often quoted by the Western media that Muslim schools ghettoizes the children, and even lead to their radicalisation if they are not integrated. There is no evidence that faith schools lead to a “ghettoized education system. In British schools, pupils are encouraged to focus too much on their similarities rather than their differences. The integrationist approach merely results in Muslims feeling that their faith, language and culture is not respected.

A report by the Institute for Community Cohesion found that native parents were deserting some schools after finding their children outnumbered by pupils from ethnic minorities. Schools in parts of England are becoming increasingly segregated. The study focused on 13 local authorities. Many of the schools and colleges are segregated and this was generally worsening over recent years. This is RACISM because British society is the home of institutional racism. My statement regarding Muslim schools where there is no place for non-Muslim child or a teacher is based on educational process and not on racism. Muslim children need Muslim teachers during their developmental periods. For higher studies and research, Muslim teacher is not a priority

Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on January 6, warned the EU it should tackle “Islamophobia” amid rising anti-Muslim protests. Erdogan said Islamophobia is on the rise in Europe, complaining that racist organisations won sympathy in some Western societies with “each passing day”.

“The Islamophobia, which we constantly draw attention to and warn of, represents a serious threat in Europe. If the issue is not dealt with seriously today, and if populism takes European politicians captive, the EU and European values will come into question,” he said.

His comments came a day after controversial German group Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident or PEGIDA rallied 18,000 people in Dresden for a demonstration against “Islamisation” of Europe and “criminal asylum seekers.”

Many people ignored a call by Chancellor Angela Merkel to snub such street protests.

PEGIDA movement began with just a few hundred in October.

Extreme right-wing parties have grown in popularity across Europe in the past decade, surfing on anti-immigrant sentiments amid widespread discontent over the dismal economic situation.

Thousands also joined counter-demonstrations in several cities against PEGIDA. Ten thousand people joined a Muslim community rally against Islamophobia in Berlin where Merkel said her Government would do everything in its power to fight intolerance amid a growing anti-Islamic movement in the country. Merkel used the occasion to deliver her strongest condemnation yet of PEGIDA.

“What we need to do now is to use all the means at our disposal…to combat intolerance and violence,” Merkel said.

“To exclude groups of people because of their faith, this isn’t worthy of the free state in which we live. It isn’t compatible with our essential values. And it’s humanly reprehensible. Xenophobia, racism, extremism have no place here,” she added.

Bahray, a 20-year-old Eritrean Muslim man, was killed in a knife attack in the same day in the eastern German city of Dresden. Saxony’s Left Party Deputy Juliane Nagel pointed that the potential Islamophobic background of the murder should be taken into consideration.

According to the CCIF Islamophobia watchdog, about 130 students were rejected from class last year for outfits deemed too openly religious. This matter can be resolved easily, instead of creating hatred I think French of all religions and non-religious can coexist, My opinion is Muslims should have their own schools.

Why is it that when a woman in the east chooses to wear a hijab, it is called maltreatment but when she is forced to remove it in the west, it is suddenly liberation? But the reality? I have witnessed my friends and relatives being pulled aside at airports because of their physical appearance, i.e. their beard or hijab. I have seen students terrified that they will not be able to study in the US simply because of their Muslim name. When a Muslim man is involved in a terrorist attack, Islam is put to blame; it is called out as ‘radical Islam’, however, if a white man is under the same circumstances, he is labelled on media channels as ‘psychologically ill.’ Why is it that when a woman in the east chooses to wear a hijab, it is called maltreatment but when she is forced to remove it in the west, it is suddenly liberation?

Furthermore, the year 2018 marked an increase in Islamophobia at alarming rates in Austria, France, Netherlands, and United Kingdom as well as in the rest of the world. The Office for Documenting Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Racism in Austria stated in a report that an increase of approximately 74% of documented anti-Muslim racist acts was noticed in 2018. Vandalism at places of worship such as mosques also rose by around 50%, thereby breaching laws and resolutions focusing on the security and protection of individuals of all backgrounds.

It doesn't help that the depiction of Muslims in the press is almost entirely negative, or that the stories are often distorted (and in some cases completely made up). For instance, the Daily Mail admitted that the Winterville story they peddled for 14 years was a myth, and a former writer for the Daily Star confessed that a story about Muslim-only public toilets that generated so much outrage was a total lie, and there was more to the story about the dinner lady fired for serving a Muslim child gammon (she'd served the wrong food to vegetarian children as well so perhaps it was about incompetence and not pandering to Muslims?). So irresponsible and damaging. This country is overdue a debate on Islam. But sadly, the term Islamophobia is used to stifle the debate. People who have concerns about the impact of the religion in this country (which is a large majority) are immediately shouted down and labelled as Islamophobes. It happened with the Birmingham College incident last week as an example. Do you think Belgium recently banned the burqa, when there were barely even thirty women in the whole country who wore it?' If barely anybody wears it I can't see why you're so upset about it?

I'm not suggesting sweeping negative stories relating to Islam or extremists under the carpet, but tell the positive stories as well. Like how last Christmas Blackburn Muslims banded together and donated 5 tonnes of food and £1,000 to a Christian run food bank to feed the poor. Or how Muslim students in London set up a Ramadan Tent to feed the homeless. Or about the Muslim Snow Patrol who volunteered to clear our streets last Winter. Or the Muslim donors in Bradford who saved the city's last synagogue. Or the Muslims in Tower Hamlets who supported gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. Or the Inclusive Mosque initiative which seeks to open mosques that are mixed (not segregated) with women led players and are welcoming of gay Muslims. Tell those stories too. Islamophobia is firmly back on the radar of British politics. The increase in attacks against mosques and renewed support for far-right groups reminds us of the need to think seriously about how to root out anti-Muslim sentiment. And where are the Westminster politicians talking about this issue? Where are the constant condemnations of attacks on places of worship? There is a conspiracy of silence, which is only making things worse. We must accept this problem exists, and condemn it publicly and forcefully, before we can resolve it. Who is prepared to do that in UKIP Britain?

Prime Minister Imran Khan stated in his speech:

There is only one Islam and that is the Islam of Prophet (PBUH)…there are radical fringes in every society, but the basis of all religion is compassion and justice.”

With the passage of time, it seems as though many of us have forgotten that we are after all, one human community. Divisions based on religion and backgrounds have caused marginalization, which has further provoked radicalization. This way, each and every single individual is to blame for attacks that take place in our world today. We might have failed our Pakistani founders, such as Mohammad Ali Jinnah, but there is still time to instil qualities such as tolerance, empathy, and equity in our children and create a pathway of action towards a more just system.

In the wise words of Helen Keller: “The greatest result of education is tolerance.” Keller was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. And, with these wise words, I’ll conclude by simply stating that I need you to be the first to take a step to end Islamophobia to help better our world today.

Labour could set an example by refraining from the use fascistic slogans like 'One Nation' and 'British jobs for British workers'. As long as that kind of language does not change, Islamophobia or any other kind of phobia in the society will not disappear. For me, that article is also serving the marginalisation of Muslims in Britain whilst I'm sure it genuinely intends the contrary. Islamophobia in Europe is as old as Islam. What do you think the Crusade Wars were for? Plus Homophobia is quite old as well and not limited to Muslim people. Therefore inducing the whole debate to the raise of Muslim immigrants is so wrong and only perpetuating the case. Was there any Islamophobia prior to 9/11? And prior to 9/11, how many people knew there were Sunnis and Shia?

It goes without saying racism in all its pernicious forms should be opposed tooth and nail and that includes anti Muslim racism. In my opinion, an increased level of participation of minorities, Muslims included, in civic society and politics is possibly the best starter. If all people from minorities in the UK and elsewhere were to start joining trade unions, anti racist organizations, political parties, community based organizations, think tanks and soup kitchens, it would not necessarily herald the end of racism or racist sentiments. But by empowering minorities and enhancing their degree of participation in society, it could create an antidote to the ideology of intolerance exemplified by the likes of the BNP and EDL. The best way to fight intolerance towards minority groups does not necessarily have to entail silencing the intolerant but rather by empowering those who tend to find themselves at the receiving end.

Does anyone remember the recent story of the Bradford mosque which offered tea and biscuits to the EDL campaigners who were protesting outside it? No? Thought not. Just this one simple act was enough to change the minds of many of the EDL members present. The only side of Islam portrayed by the media is one of a hateful and intolerant bunch who are responsible for many of the world's woes. Nobody ever reports the positive side of the religion.

he Taliban kills 150 or so people, and the world condemns them, as it should. But the US kills over 500,000 children and the world calls the USA the beacon of democracy, the shining light on the hill? How can people think with the bells of cognitive dissonance ringing so loudly in their heads?

http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk

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Education

Relationship and Sex Education Lessons

A psychologist who claimed lessons on LGBT+ relationships can “corrupt” children. She a leading campaigner against relationship and sex education lessons. The Muslim convert - who set up the petition calling for parents to be able to opt out of relationships education - was filmed as she said that many young Muslims were “turning to same-sex relationships because they haven’t had the guidance.” In the video of Dr Godfrey-Faussett, uploaded in December, the psychologist argued that lessons on LGBT+ relationships – which use story books to teach about different families – are part of a “social engineering programme” to corrupt children." She also complained about the “queering of the Muslim community” and urged people to “work psychologically or in a mental health capacity” with Muslims who were attracted to the same sex. Dr Godfrey-Faussett said she felt she’d already been “publicly hung, drawn and quartered” by her professional body.

The Muslim Council of Wales defended their decision to invite Dr Godfrey-Faussett to speak at the event which they said was to provide "information and guidance" on the proposed changes. It was "reassured that she is committed to respectful and accurate dialogue on the sensitive topic of sex education in schools," a spokesperson told BBC Wales.

This is a Sharia law in Islam. And lgbt is never okay. In gynecology, urology & dermatology departments, we often get gay patients with terrible diagnoses. They always come with complaints relate to their sexual activities.

It is outrageous to be teaching tiny tots about sex, regardless of whether you are religious or atheist. Make it optional so that those who want it can have it and those who don’t they can leave it until the final year of the secondary school (15/16 years old). You are either a male or a female or a neutral gender (in some rare cases). Your gender was decided by your genes/cells/biological factors long before you were born. And here we are confusing the hell out of our tiny tots by telling them they can be man or woman or choose to make a big fuss about "gender neutral toilets"? These are nothing but modern attention-seeking horse-manure. Gay relationship, trans-gender relationship...what is all this? Before people start accusing me of ignorance, think about what happened to our society and why our children misbehave and why they don’t respect elders and why so many of them are violent and out of control these days. It’s because decades ago the snow-flake gov introduced policies which vilified parents, which portrayed parents as violent maniacs who have nothing better to do other than beat up their children. Laws prevented parents from disciplining their children and now all parents are crying for help because their kids are out of control and even violent. Teachers are needing counselling because kids do not respect them, they even beat up teachers. Social changes take decades before we see the results of new policies. Today we are teaching them all these mixed up sex/relation education, but in 40 years’ time these kids will grow up with lots of confused ideas about sex and relationship. The natural and the most beautiful relationship in the world is that between a man and a woman.

Children are not the properties of the state, they are "blood" and family members of the parents who spent so many sleepless nights and days sacrificing so much to care for those children and to provide them food, clothes, shelter and to give them a better future. There is no one, absolutely no one, on the face of this planet who would love your children more than you. National curriculum is not some holy book written in stone. Laws are amendments, meaning they are routinely amended. Nat Curr is also something man-made, meaning it contains flaws and it needs revising. It is absolutely pathetic to be teaching 8/9 year olds about sex, regardless of whether you are religious or atheist. Make it optional so that those who want it can have it and those who don’t they can leave it until the final year of the secondary school (15/16 years old).

A sweet fruit of sex education in primary schools. Indiscipline, incivility, binge drinking, drug addiction, gun and knife crimes, teenage pregnancies and abortion are part and parcel of British schooling. These are the reasons why majority of Muslim parents would like to send their children to Muslim schools with Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. Only less than 5% attend Muslim schools and more than 95% keep on attending state and church schools to be mis-educated and de-educated by non-Muslim monolingual teachers.

A couple of Pakistanis have adopted the British values of grooming young children. They are the product of the British schooling with non-Muslim monolingual teachers. I have been doing Jihad in the field of education for the last 40 years so that each and every Muslim child should be in a state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. I would like to see Muslim children developing Cultural, linguistic and spiritual identities so that they could keep themselves away from western barbarity of anti-social behaviour, binge drinking, drug addiction, teen age pregnancies and abortion and lot of other evils but people like you do not want to see Muslim children in Muslim schools in the name of integration. Now you have seen the result in the form of sexual grooming of young children which is a common occurrence in your culture.

Sex and Relationships Education up to now has been a disaster. Despite all efforts we still have one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Western Europe; one of the highest teenage abortion rates in Western Europe; epidemic level STIs amongst teenagers; frightening levels of child addiction to pornography; unprecedented levels of diagnosable mental illness among children; and police reports of alarming and growing numbers of child-on-child sex abuse, some including children as young as five.

This world is obsessed with Sex and Sexuality. Leave children to be children and let them enjoy it. Faith and Religion are very important together with Education. The two can work side by side. Please let children retain their innocence as long as they are able. I was shocked and horrified when I heard from the Coalition for Marriage about the behaviour of Ofsted with regard to the questioning of young pupils about marriage. If this is 'Modern Britain' we had all better be on our guard! They seem to show little of the tolerance they would urge on us. I am disgusted at this type of questioning put to children of such young ages. In my opinion it is not necessary, let children be children. They have to grow up quickly as it is, let them have some time when sex doesn't have to rear its ugly head at them. It shouldn't happen, certainly not at school. It is just another occasion of Ofsted interfering in faith schools.

What 4yr old (reception class) is going to understand anything about sex? I wonder how would you teach a 4yr old in a main stream school let alone a special needs school. Good luck with that plan. Why does society feel the need to sexualize children so young, the media, music industry do it already and idiotic parents let their kids watch and listen to sexual programs and music like holyoaks and Beyonce and wonder why their kids get knocked up so young. Kids don't need to be burdened with this. Seriously it will really destroy their world of pure innocence. They don't understand this and it will hamper their bonds with parents as they may not be able to digest the info properly. They just don't need this on their tiny minds. Let them enjoy childhood and the freedom that childhood brings with no worry of any of the things adults go through. This is just grossly unfair.

Let children be children. Tougher sentences for child abuse! Hang the Pedo not teach kids as tough as 4 about sex. Why can`t children be left to play, without being bombarded with all this sexual garbage?

What’s the point of the legal age being 16 when you are being taught at school that it’s ok as long as you practice safe sex. Nothing about love, respect, serious relationships or more importantly abstinence! Oh and something needs to be done about BOYS, too! Girls can’t be the only ones responsible for resisting pressure you know. More sex education in schools = more teenage pregnancies= more abortions. One of the problems is that now in schools we are taught safe sex at an early age, and not abstinence. The message was basically that sex at a young age is fine as long as it’s practiced safely. It should be taught that at such a young age, neither protected or unprotected sex is ok. The message is simply not clear enough.

It would seem that Ofsted are themselves intolerant and discriminatory. These questions are personal and intrusive. These idiots should be more concerned about the academic achievement and the wellbeing of the children. Schools should instruct their pupils that if they are uncomfortable with the questioning they should tell the inspector to mind his/her own business. Children are told to say no if inappropriately touched so they should be able to say no to inappropriate questions. What is happening is that the Government wishes to deal with the 'Trojan Horse' schools but fears being labelled 'anti-Muslim.' Using Ofsted to 'get at' Jewish and other religious schools that have not bought into the idea of SSM will enable the Government to 'clamp down' on all religious schools. In this way it hopes to avoid the charge of Muslim bashing when it finally makes some further ineffectual move against Muslim extremists running schools. Faith and education are compatible. Removing faith of any sort from education would be a logical impossibility. “Multiculturalism isn’t about conforming to one standard, but celebrating differences of perspectives, and so long as they are founded on tolerance and mutual respect, should be valued and protected.

The demand for Muslim schools comes from parents who want their children a safe environment with an Islamic ethos. Parents see Muslim schools where children can develop their Islamic Identity where they won't feel stigmatised for being Muslims and they can feel confident about their faith. Muslim schools are working to try to create a bridge between communities. There is a belief among ethnic minority parents that the British schooling does not adequately address their cultural needs. Failing to meet this need could result in feeling resentment among a group who already feel excluded. Setting up Muslim school is a defensive response. State schools with monolingual teachers are not capable to teach English to bilingual Muslim children. Bilingual teachers are needed to teach English to such children along with their mother tongue. According to a number of studies, a child will not learn a second language if his first language is ignored.

Indiscipline, incivility, binge drinking, drug addiction, gun and knife crimes, teenage pregnancies and abortion are part and parcel of British schooling. These are the reasons why majority of Muslim parents would like to send their children to Muslim schools with Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. Only less than 5% attend Muslim schools and more than 95% keep on attending state and church schools to be mis-educated and de-educated by non-Muslim monolingual teachers.

Muslim schools teach Muslim children that sex outside marriage is a sin. Homosexuality is also a sin. sex before marriage and homosexuality are western values and Muslims are not supposed to adopt them.

There are hundreds of state and church schools where Muslim children are in majority. In my opinion, all such schools may be opted out as Muslim Academies. There is no place for a non-Muslim child or a teacher in a Muslim school.

http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk

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Education

Child drawing on paper

Education has been a hot topic in the media recently. The question of what should be taught when has been a major concern since the effectiveness of some parents in Birmingham who opposed the changes that are to be brought into the Relationship and Sexual Education (RSE) curriculum, which includes normalising alternative or non-binary family structures.

One of the major arguments arguments brought in support of the change is that children will be taught what exists in the real world, so they will be better prepared. The argument goes that homosexuality exists, is real and many children will have parents that are homosexual, so the children need to be taught about it in order to prevent discrimination.

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God has created diverse human beings to live in this tiny global village of one family. Creation by its very nature is diverse with different species, different communities, different cultures and languages. These differences represent the beauty and wonder but diversity is sometimes not fully appreciated, resulting in all sorts of clashes. The British society and Establishment must learn to respect and accommodate others, as if in a family.

A civilisation is measured not by the rights it grants its majority but the privileges it allows its minorities. Muslim families are as entitled as any other religious group to schools that nurture their children's faith. Muslim pupils should be educated in Muslim schools because the current system is marginalising them. Teaching Muslim children in a Muslim school would remove the "problem of them being exposed" to values that conflict with Islamic faith. Muslim pupils are disadvantaged and marginalised in the city's state schools because the cultural heritage of the curriculum is "European and Christian".

No one has any problem when: Jews keep beards and wear their traditional caps Christian priests and nuns wear their religious outfits Buddhist monks wear orange robes Sikhs keep beards and wear turbans Indian aunties wear Sarees (cross streets and hang out in Wal-Mart) Yeah but if any Muslim male keeps beard or if any Muslim girl wears hijab then everyone has problem. It's Freedom when you go naked but it's extremism when you wear hijab - just plain hypocrisy! Looking at the case of France, a major secular nation, I believe it is also not allowing women freedom by not letting her to wear her choice of clothing as it supposedly "clashes with French secular values".

Multiculturalism is not about integration but about cultural plurality. It is not about separation but about respect and the deepening awareness of Unity in Diversity. Each culture will maintain its own intrinsic value and at the same time would be expected to contribute to the benefit of the whole society. Multiculturalism can accommodate diversity of all kinds – cultural, philosophical and religious – so that we can create a world without conflict and strife. Britain can assume the role of accommodation and concern for all peoples, for our planet and indeed for our survival. Multi-Culturalism is even more important and crucial after 9/11 and 7/7. Muslim youths are also likely to feel alienated by a focus on shared Brutishness, rather than multicultural diversity. Rather than promoting a single British “us” teaching should acknowledge that “us” can be diverse and plural. Children should be encouraged to explore differences in appearance, history and religion to reduce social and educational fears.

Dogs and pigs are unclean animals in the eyes of Muslims but west regards them as clean. This is one of the reason why Muslim parents would like to send their children to Muslim schools with Muslim teachers as role models. Muslim children need state funded Muslim schools with Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental period. There is no place for a non-Muslim child or a teacher in a Muslim school. There are hundreds of state and church schools where Muslim children are in majority. In my opinion, all such schools may be opted out as Muslim Academies. As a Muslim I'm taught that I have 2 kinds of brother, brothers in Islam, and brothers in humanity, that's why I love everyone unconditionally. I believe in the truth and the truth is that Islam does not allow the deaths of innocents and you're cherry-picking and misinterpreting and taking out of context.

In the

late 80s and early 90s, when I floated the idea of Muslim community schools, I

was declared a "school hijacker" by an editorial in the Newham Recorder

newspaper in east London. This clearly shows that the British media does not

believe in choice and diversity in the field of education and has no respect for

those who are different. Muslim schools, in spite of meager resources, have

excelled to a further extent this year, with couple of schools achieving 100%

A-C grades for five or more GCSEs. They beat well resourced state and

independent schools in Birmingham and Hackney. Muslim schools are doing better

because a majority of the teachers are Muslim. The pupils are not exposed to the

pressures of racism, multiculturalism and bullying.

Indiscipline, incivility, binge drinking, drug addiction, gun and knife crimes, teenage pregnancies and abortion are part and parcel of British schooling. These are the reasons why majority of Muslim parents would like to send their children to Muslim schools with Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. Only less than 10% attend Muslim schools and more than 90% keep on attending state and church schools to be mis-educated and de-educated by non-Muslim monolingual teachers.

None of 7/7 bombers and British Muslim youths who are in Syria and Iraq are the product of Muslim schools. They are the product of British schooling which is the home of institutional racism with chicken racist native teachers. It is absurd to believe that Muslim schools, Imams and Masajid teach Muslim children anti-Semitic, homophobic and anti-western views. It is dangerously deceptive and misleading to address text books and discuss them out of their historical, cultural and linguistic context. It is not wrong to teach children that Jews are committing the same cruelty in Palestine what German did to them before or during Second World War. It is not wrong to teach children that anti-social behaviour, drinking, drugs, homosexuality, sex before marriage, teenage pregnancies and abortions are western values and Islam is against all such sins. This does not mean that Muslim schools teach children to hate westerners, Jews and homosexuals.

A report by the Institute for Community Cohesion found that native parents were deserting some schools after finding their children out numbered by pupils from ethnic minorities. Schools in parts of England are becoming increasingly segregated. The study focused on 13 local authorities. Many of the schools and colleges are segregated and this was generally worsening over recent years. This is RACISM because British society is the home of institutional racism. My statement regarding Muslim schools where there is no place for non-Muslim child or a teacher is based on educational process and not on racism. Muslim children need Muslim teachers during their developmental periods. For higher studies and research, Muslim teacher is not a priority.

Stop treating foreigners like garbage and they will stop ruining your precious country. Why did you let them in in the first place if you didn't want them here? They left everything in their countries because of your promises. Are you so anxious to please that you can't say "no"? I would love to see you go to a foreign land where you don't have any friends, you don't even know anyone and you don't speak the language, and start from scratch. I would just LOVE to watch you do that. Let them integrate and stop segregating them. What I want is people being nice to each other. I don't care about race. The whole of British society needs diversity awareness course. Even all British MPs who are the product of British education system which made them stupid, selfish and corrupt. The native Brits must learn to respect and tolerate those who are different. You have failed to respect and tolerate Black community, who speaks your language, share your culture and faith. English, Irish, Welsh and Scott hate each other, sharing the same culture, faith and language. It is difficult for you to accept, respect and tolerate Muslims with different culture, languages and FAITH. You have no choice but to accept them for your own survival.

The host community must learn to respect and tolerate those who are different. Muslim immigrants have been arriving here because their skills are needed by the society and economy. With out constant flow of immigrants British society and economy would bleed to death. It is the duty of the host community to open their doors to invite immigrants for a cup of tea and listen to their issues and problems. Immigrants, legal or illegal are the creators of Britain new wealth, otherwise, inner cities deprived areas could not get new lease of life. The native Brits regard such areas as ghettoes. Integration is not religious and cultural, it is economic and Muslims are well integrated into British society and at the same time they are proud of their Islamic, linguistic and cultural identities, inspite of discrimination they have been facing in all walks of life. According to UN, 80% of British Muslims feel discriminated. They are less burden on social services. Immigrants made up 8.7% of the population, but accounted for 10.2% of all collected income tax.

Anyone who arrives from overseas, to work, to pay income tax , national insurance, who wants to contribute to our economy and society should be made very welcome in our country. The vacancies they fill are mostly the jobs that most local people avoid like the plague. A vast majority of economic migrants are ambitious,resourceful,possess,"A Can-Do" attitude and a very strong work ethic. just like the one's who leave the U.K. to make their fortunes in Canada,Australia,New Zealand, The U.S.A..Dubai etc. So the next time we are served in a shop,or restaurant, when we are cared for in a hospital or taking the night bus home,or ask directions from a stranger and," Shock of Shocks" they turn out NOT to be a White Anglo Saxon native English speaker. Perhaps we can be a little more compassionate, welcoming, considerate and refuse to,"Buy in" to the hysteria that the DM,U.K.I.P and all the other bigots would like to create. It's funny how British people complain about Europeans. But Europeans are not the ones on benefits. Europeans that come to Britain cannot afford to be on benefits and that is not how they were raised in their countries, that is why they migrate don't you think??? Otherwise they could sit on benefits in their own countries and still have (most of them) sun all year round! If it wasn't for foreign workers, Britain would be far worse than it is. Employers have found that foreign workers are prepared to work much harder than the locals so he employs mostly foreigners. This is not to say that the Brits are lazy, but I would say that people who immigrate from their home country do so in order to earn money and therefore they are prepared to work harder. The vast majority work hard, pay their taxes and contribute to the British economy. How are they able to move to the UK and get jobs? Simple - the 2.5 million Britons who are parasites on capitalism and too lazy to get a job. If the Britons who are state scroungers got off their lardy arses and got a job, there'd be no jobs for immigrant workers and they'd go elsewhere. The root of the problem is that state benefits in the UK are too high and people see no economic reason for becoming a decent member of society.

I have to say that this really can only be a good thing. If they are here for work, then great. These people provide better levels of service and are much more attractive and cosmopolitan. I have to say that I prefer the Mediterranean attitude to life. The Brits with their binge drinking, kebabs, street fighting and vomiting could really learn a thing or two from their new guests. So welcome, one and all. People from foreign countries have a reputation for working for a living, so what's the problem? It's people with a culture of thieving and dishonesty that I would baulk at.

Eight illegal immigrants are better than all those natives who spend all their lives on benefits. They are not illegal because they earn their living by working. They should be allowed to stay in this country. They are not doing anything illegal.

Muslim community in all western countries need Masajid, state funded Muslim schools, Halal meat, sharia laws, time off for Friday afternoon prayers in the Masjid, two religious holidays per year and Muslim cemeteries. West must learn to respect and tolerate those who are different. Don't these hypocrites idiots know what their ancestors did to Native American Indians they slaughtered 150 millions of Native American Indians! and also do they know that Great Britain invaded 80% countries around the world? They should call them terrorist first and as well call their ancestors terrorist! British did the same to Native American Indians and sadly they still treat Native American Indians badly! So Americans Indians know how you Muslims feel! They stolen Indian land and killed 150 millions of Indians the British did! They were forced to go to the white man's school and learn the language, culture and faith of the white man. Inspite of that, they are still the underdogs of the American society.

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I suggest those who see language only as a means of communication fail to appreciate that language equals cultural values and creates a bond between people - if you force a foreigner to speak YOUR language this opportunity is lost. This stuff matters in business and politics. the arrogance of the English speaker who shouts and waves his hands about is mocked around the world! Learning another language helps you understand the rules of language in general, and that has grammar too! Through learning a new language, you understand your own better. ANY foreign language will improve your grammar in your own language. Bilingual children know more grammar through their acquisition of grammar. They therefore understand grammatical relations better than monolingual children.

A primary school teacher asking her pupils in the classroom: What do you call a person who speaks 3 languages? Trilingual! what do you call the person who speaks 2 languages? Bilingual. And what do you call a person who speaks only one language? British!

English is not a peace building language for the Muslim children in British schooling. Majority of English speaking Muslim youths are extremists, find themselves cut off from their cultural heritage and are unable to enjoy the beauty of their literature and poetry. One can find English speaking Muslim youths in Syria and Iraq, in prison and in the mental hospital. Thanks to English language. English is the economic language of the Muslims while Arabic , Urdu and other community languages are the social and emotional languages of the Muslim community.

The UK is so backwards when it comes to languages. In Spain I have sat in a plaza watching a bunch of kids of various nationalities playing football and flipping between half a dozen languages from Arabic to Spanish to English and French and so on - all of them no more than 7 or 8, all of them with more than one language.

Bilingualism has positive effects on children’s linguistic and educational development. The level of development of children’s mother tongue is a strong predictor of their second language development. Mother tongue promotion in the school helps develop not only the mother tongue but also children abilities in the majority school language. Spending instructional time through minority language in the school does not hurt children’s academic development in the majority school language. When parent’s culture are recognized by the school, their interest and involvement in the curriculum often increase dramatically.

Migrant Muslim children in all western countries not only learn and be well versed in local language but also learn Arabic, Urdu and other community languages to keep in touch with their cultural heritage and enjoy the beauty of their literature and poetry.

One in six children in English primary schools do not have English as a first language.This does not mean that their level of English is poor or non-existent. In some cases it is very good. Being bilingual will help in their general education.Stop hating on the immigrants their children also have the right to go to school like the British children and the British children are not good in school!!!! "These are real languages: living languages that give people a huge insight into culture and give the children who can speak them additional opportunities. "Isn't that what education is about – enabling every child to achieve the maximum potential? What I'd love to see is an emphasis that this is an added value that that child has, a talent, and we should aspire to allow other children who may be monolingual to strive to become as bilingual as they possibly can be." The more languages one speaks, the greater is one's capacity to engage with, and profit from meeting other people... and you also learn a lot about yourself in this process.Fifty years ago it would have been harder to try and educate children bilingually, since the pressures to 'seem English' would have been greater, and for some immigrants the main priority was to Anglicize their children as soon as possible, which is fair enough. There has been a change in attitude and I reckon that now it is much easier and well accepted, but still some foreigners living in the UK seem reluctant to transfer their native language to their children. I teach 4-5 year olds and find that children learn a English much more quickly if they speak their home language well. If parents don't encourage their home language at home, children risk not speaking any language fluently.

Speaking English does not promote integration into British, American and Australian societies, and broaden opportunities. English speaking Muslim youths are angry, frustrated and extremist, thanks to state schools with monolingual non-Muslim teachers and English language. English language is not only a lingua franca but also lingua frankensteinia. Human right are also covers linguistic right. Cultural and linguistic genocide are very common. British schooling is murdering community languages like Arabic, Urdu and others. English is today the world killer language. Linguistic genocide is a crime against humanity and British schooling is guilty of committing this crime. Language is not just a language. It defines one's culture, identity and consciousness. It defines how we think, communicate and express ourselves. The fact is the most South Asian Muslims have come to know Islam by way of Urdu, the children's alienation from the language that connects them the heritage of their parents and grandparents is disturbing. As a matter of fact, one has to get to know his mother tongue well if one is to master any other language.

“A good grasp of one’s mother tongue is an essential base for a child who then has to get to grips with the language of their host country,” reckons Amelia Lambelet of the Fribourg Institute of Multilingualism. Therese Salzmann, an expert in multilingualism at the Swiss Institute of Youth and Media, agrees. “The teaching of mother tongues reinforces self-confidence and gives the child a feeling of security.” She adds that “taking account of a child’s double cultures is a determining factor in their social integration and professional success.”

We should celebrate bilingualism and multilingualism. Through studies and views from distinguished English Professors brought to our attention through this article there is the need to bolster the status of community languages which adds to young people’s self-respect, self-esteem, and it is an acknowledgement, a recognition of their home language and culture.

The availability to sit exams and take qualification in a community language in different levels is necessary in order to recognize and support the linguistic capabilities of young people today.

There is a dire need for the growth of state funded Muslim schools to meet the growing needs and demands of the Muslim parents and children. Now the time has come that parents and community should take over the running of their local schools. Parent-run schools will give the diversity, the choice and the competition that the wealthy have in the private sector. Parents can perform a better job than the Local Authority because parents have a genuine vested interest. The Local Authority simply cannot be trusted. The demand for Muslim schools comes from parents who want their children a safe environment with an Islamic ethos. Parents see Muslim schools where children can develop their Islamic Identity where they won't feel stigmatised for being Muslims and they can feel confident about their faith. Muslim schools are working to try to create a bridge between communities. There is a belief among ethnic minority parents that the British schooling does not adequately address their cultural needs. Failing to meet this need could result in feeling resentment among a group who already feel excluded. Setting up Muslim school is a defensive response. State schools with monolingual teachers are not capable to teach English to bilingual Muslim children. Bilingual teachers are needed to teach English to such children along with their mother tongue. According to a number of studies, a child will not learn a second language if his first language is ignored.

I regard Muslim schools not just Faith schools but more or less bilingual schools. I set up the first Muslim school in Forest Gate London in 1981. Special attention was given to Standard English, Arabic and Urdu languages along with National Curriculum. The teaching of Standard English will help them to follow the National Curriculum and go for higher studies and research to serve humanity. A Muslim is a citizen of this tiny global village, he/she does not want to become notoriously monolingual Brit.

The sound knowledge of one's owns language would appear to help – not hinder the acquisition of a second language and bilingual children may even have cognitive advantages and that the ability to speak more than one language is going to be increasingly important for the world of the future. Therefore, Muslim children and young Muslims have potentially a major educational advantage, although sadly this is not being developed well at present. British policy makers now recognise bilingualism as an educational asset rather than a problem. Education plays a central role in the transmission of languages from one generation to the next. The teaching of mother tongues is essential in terms of culture and identity. Arabic is a religious language for the Muslims but for Pakistanis, Urdu is also essential for culture and identity. Blind Muslim children in Bradford are learning to read Arabic and Urdu Braille, by a blind teacher who travelled from Pakistan. Now blind Muslim children are not going to miss out on culture, religion, language and the social aspects and integration into their own community and identity.

As a British Pakistani myself, and a Muslim, I am deeply proud of my heritage and language. At home i speak my own languages, Punjabi and Urdu.

A Muslim is a citizen of this tiny global village. He/she does not want to become notoriously monolingual Brit. A Muslim must learn and be well versed in Standard English to follow the National Curriculum and go for higher studies and research to serve humanity. At the same time they must learn and be well versed in Arabic, Urdu and other community languages to keep in touch with their cultural heritage and enjoy the beauty of their literature and poetry. English is their economic language while Arabic and Urdu are their religious, social and emotional languages. It is purely an educational question.

The largest ethnic minority groups in British schools are children of Pakistani origin: a community often accused of resisting assimilation and integration. Ann Cryer, the MP for Keighley blamed Imams for not speaking English. She should blame British schooling for not teaching Urdu/Arabic to Pakistani children, thus depriving them of understanding the Sermons in Arabic/Urdu. They are unable to enjoy the beauty of Urdu/Arabic literature and poetry. Imams are not part of the problem rather than the solutions. There is a proposal to teach Urdu as a compulsory language instead of French and German in British schools. The British Government is urged to remove the requirement in the National Curriculum that children between the ages of 11-14 study at least one European language. The linguistic abilities of large number of Muslim children were being ignored because they had to learn another European language as well as mastering English. The Government must promote the status of Urdu language instead of languages of European origin. Tim Benson, head of Nelson primary school in Newham said that the “nationalistic curriculum failed to recognize the staggering array of linguistic abilities and competencies” in schools such as his, where the pupils spoke more than 40 languages. The linguistic dexterity of families speaking an array of languages was celebrated but the “awesome achievements” of children mastering three or four languages were barely recognised by the education system. Social and emotional education comes with your own language-literature and poetry. A DFE's document clearly states that children should be encouraged to maintain and develop their home languages. A study shows that bilingualism is a positive benefit to cognitive development and bilingual teacher is a dire necessity and is a role model. The price of ignoring children’s bilingualism is educational failure and social exclusion. Bilingualism could be developed by bringing a partner from Pakistan. The kids will get better at both languages. One will speak English while the other will speak Urdu.

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Speaking English does not promote integration into British, American and Australian societies, and broaden opportunities. English speaking Muslim youths are angry, frustrated and extremist, thanks to state schools with monolingual non-Muslim teachers and English language. English language is not only a lingua franca but also lingua frankensteinia. Human right are also covers linguistic right. Cultural and linguistic genocide are very common. British schooling is murdering community languages like Arabic, Urdu and others. English is today the world killer language. Linguistic genocide is a crime against humanity and British schooling is guilty of committing this crime. Language is not just a language. It defines one's culture, identity and consciousness. It defines how we think, communicate and express ourselves. The fact is the most South Asian Muslims have come to know Islam by way of Urdu, the children's alienation from the language that connects them the heritage of their parents and grand parents is disturbing. As a matter of fact, one has to get to know his mother tongue well if one is to master any other language.

Tri-lingual 11 year olds in Hackney outperform monolinguals in reading tests and tell more elaborate stories University of East London A study of language and literacy use in the Guajarati Muslim community shows that children in multilingual families have complex patterns of language use and literacy development. They speak a dialect of Guajarati in the home and the community but have very little access to literacy in that language. They become literate in Urdu to interpret religious texts, but use the language little outside religious contexts. They study the Qur'an in Arabic. Far from being confused by these experiences, by age 11 the children perform above age norms for children of a similar social background in the borough. Unusually, boys are ahead of girls in their reading performance. The children who have encountered traditional stories through two languages rather than one tell more elaborate stories. The children who tell good stories in the community's dialect of Gujerati also tell good stories in English. However due to the lack of access to literacy in Gujerati, the children find access to literary Gujerati difficult. The study was carried out in Hackney between 1996 and 2000. It investigated the language use and literacy practices of 36 children (aged three and a half, seven and eleven) from a Gujerati and Urdu speaking community. The study also found that cultural community centres play a crucial role in slowing down inter-generational language shift Families who use a community centre have more literacy materials in Gujerati and tell more stories to their children. Access to leisure activities with children who share their first language helps children maintain the use of the family language with siblings and friends. Dr Raymonde Sneddon, who carried out the study, notes that contrary to the expectation of many English teachers, children can thrive on a complex diet of language and literacy. The children in the study demonstrated a strong awareness of their different languages and considerable insight into their different uses in their every day life. Children would benefit from having their language awareness skills more readily recognised and developed in school. The study was carried out with 36 children and their families through: Questionnaires and extended interviews of children and their families / observations in school, home and community settings / tape recordings in the home and in school /analyses of children’s drawings, writing and story telling in Gujerati and English / interviews with elders of the community.

Research has shown that bilingualism is beneficial for children’s development and their future. Children exposed to different languages become more aware of different cultures, other people and other points of view. But they also tend to be better than monolinguals at ‘multitasking’ and focusing attention. They are often more precocious readers, and generally find it easier to learn other languages. Bilingualism gives children much more than two languages!

More recent research also suggests that learning another language may have benefits in later life, delaying the onset of dementia symptoms, and slowing cognitive aging. The good news is that these benefits seem to exist even when people learn a second language later in life. So it is never too late – see our resources page for classes and meet up groups around Edinburgh.

As a British Pakistani myself, and a Muslim, I am deeply proud of my heritage and language. At home I speak my own languages, Punjabi and Urdu. I have always said, the more languages you know, the broader your cultural knowledge. Those who say you must only use one language narrow their perception of the world. Also, people who can learn languages are good at playing musical instruments. Languages should be taught more in school. When I speak in Arabic I feel like a poet and when in English, I feel like a philosopher. "This mental flexibility pays big dividends especially later in life: the typical signs of cognitive ageing occur later in bilinguals – and the onset of age-related degenerative disorders such as dementia or Alzheimer’s are delayed in bilinguals by up to five years." We are amazed by being able to speak multilingual which is great Ever thought of the One God Creator Who made these languages.

Multi-Culturalism is even more important and crucial after 9/11, 7/7 and terrorist attacks in various European countries. Muslim youths are also likely to feel alienated by a focus on shared Britishness, rather than multicultural diversity. Rather than promoting a single British “us” teaching should acknowledge that “us” can be diverse and plural. Children should be encouraged to explore differences in appearance, history and religion to reduce social and educational fears. The pressures of multi-Culturalism, racism, bullying and Islamophobia have forced the Muslim community to set up their own schools. Does the media label the troubles in Northern Ireland as Catholic terrorism, or Protestant terrorist, or Christian terrorism? No. There is bias and hate pointed right at Islam. As for race, why did white youths attack a Sikh thinking he was a Muslim? Answer skin colour. People see someone with brown skin and a scarf or foreign clothing and automatically assume they are Muslims.

I think the problem is that, as the UK has become more and more diverse, the curriculum has become more and more restricted. Young teachers (and that's most of them) don't often have the opportunity or the courage to step away from the set learning and try something different. No fault of theirs - the fault lies in our deeply flawed system. Try learning a new language. It will open up a different culture and new ways of seeing the world to you, more fun, and more friends. I recently went to a meeting were four languages were spoken, and none of us spoke them all. But we managed, and we achieved results that could not have been achieved had we each spoken only our native language. Many workplaces function very well on more than one language. 🙂 Don't succumb to nativist fear!

In Finland, every child who has a mother tongue which is not Finnish or Swedish (the official languages) is entitled to two lessons per week in their native language. In my city, dozens of different languages are taught in schools under this scheme. It enables the children to maintain/improve their mother tongue language skills in an academic environment, outside the home. This can have huge benefits for the country (eg economic) as well as for the children (language learning supports overall literacy). "Bilingualism is something we usually celebrate in adults yet not always in the classroom, where English is usually prioritised." - curious to see how the word "prioritise" has acquired a bad connotation. Surely schools should be to prepare children for life not just the workplace. But in both situations knowledge of more than one language is a bonus. Recognising respecting and encouraging our community languages rather than undermining and even mocking them might be the best place to start.

Muslim children must learn and be well versed in English to follow the National Curriculum and go for higher studies and research to serve humanity. At the same time they must learn and be well versed in Arabic, Urdu and other community languages to keep in touch with their cultural heritage and enjoy the beauty of their literature and poetry, otherwise, they would be lost in western jungle.

A Muslim is a citizen of this tiny global village. he/she does not want to become notoriously monolingual Brits. British schooling has been forcing them to become notoriously monolingual Brits. It is a fact that British schooling is the home of institutional racism and British teachers are chicken racist. It is a crime against humanity to deprive a child form his/her mother tongue. Arabic is a religious language and all Muslims must learn and be well versed in Arabic to recite and understand the Holy Quran.Ed is very proud of his comprehensive school because students were speaking 60 languages. After leaving school, all those who spoke different languages, could only speak English because there is no arrangement for them to learn their own languages at school. Even teachers discouraged them to speak their language in school. British schooling regards bilingualism as a problem and not an asset. The Mayor of London is the product of British schooling. He is very proud that he is unable to speak, read and write Urdu language. I do not blame him. It is the fault of the school.

Legally, the state has an obligation to respect the rights of parents to ensure that 'education and teaching(of their children) is in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions.'

The schools must satisfy the spiritual, moral, social and cultural needs of Muslim pupils. State schools with non-Muslim monolingual teachers are not in a position to satisfy their needs and demands. Bilingual Muslim children need state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. There is no place for a non-Muslim child or a teacher in a Muslim school.

Bilingual Muslim children need state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental period' otherwise, they would be lost in the Western JUNGLE. There is no place for a non-Muslim child or a teacher in a Muslim school. At higher level of education, a Muslim teacher is not a priority.

There are hundreds of state and church schools where Muslim children are in majority. In my opinion, all such schools may be opted out as Muslim Academies.

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Ofsted accused of Islamophobia over hijab questioning in Primary Schools and the toilet papers issue in a Muslim school

Of all the problems that lie in the British education system: poverty, socio- economic inequality, a system that feeds the preferences of certain classes, overworked and underpaid teachers, tick box exercises that schools implement just to impress Ofsted, the disparity that widens between resources available in the North and South, Amanda Spielman is worried about the Hijab! I'm speechless! I'm extremely disappointed that she’s used the term sexualisation in the wrong context. However, I'm not surprised at that; a few years ago a head of a school had to send Ofsted an email about the number of spelling and punctuation errors on an Ofsted report that had been published. That’s what Spielman should be worried about; Ofsted’s credibility. Not hijabs! What sort of message are we giving to young people? We teach and embrace unity in the classroom, break down barriers that the media has corrupted young minds with, and now we have Ofsted making things worse. On a positive note, this will bring young Muslim women together and together we will see lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs, Headteachers, engineers all of whom wear a headscarf!

I have a friend who has been teaching in a state school with majority of Muslim children and we discussed this issue. One thing that stood out for me was an observation that she made. She said that she realised girls wearing the hijab were doing better academically than girls that weren't, and they were also better disciplined. Statistically girls were doing much better than the boys at the school, but it was the girls that wore the hijab that were getting the highest marks. It's something interesting that we all have to try and understand.

Islam is a religion of modesty, in the way we talk, dress, interact, hold ourselves etc. We wear the headscarf only as part of retaining that modesty. It is a sign of our faith; that we submit to God, and to call this ‘sexualising of young girls’ is outrageous and disrespectful of our belief. To wear short skirts and crap tops is not seen as sexualising young girls but to cover yourself is? It seems like something bigger is at play.

I believe young girls in primary schools even young as 4 years old, have a tendency to copy their mums, elder sisters or just see other friends wearing the hijab. Girls at this age normally like to copy people they like, the way they would if someone wear a jewellery or shoes, its like a trend. I believe it is a normal behaviour of a young child who like to wear hijab. They can take it off anytime, there is no restrictions and due to this freedom is why children keep putting hijab back on.

Ofsted I understand is an organisation that inspects schools regarding teaching and learning and they also look at safeguarding too. With media giving wrong interpretation of Islam, I feel Ofsted is being sucked in the propaganda. I am aware they have to protect children welfare, however they are not putting this in context. Most parents including myself want their daughters to wear hijab but at certain age, as parents we struggle when it is the right time, without making child feel we are hindering their personality. Ofsted needs to realise the difference when a child not taking part in school activities…it does not mean it because she is wearing a hijab! It could be numerous of reasons I.e. not liking the activity, timings, circumstances at home changes so a cannot accommodate etc.

Young girls wear the headscarf a symbol of submission to God. A symbol of piety and modesty. Islam does not require a girl to wear the hijab until she attains the age of puberty however some girls choose to wear it before because they would like to practice wearing it. They may also choose to wear it because their older sisters/mother/aunties wear it and because they look up to them. Just as many young girls have an interest in makeup or dressing in a particular way because of their family members and role models that they look up to.

Islam teaches the importance of modesty and how Muslim women should wear the headscarf (hijab) when they reach the age of puberty. It is well within the rights of Muslim parents to teach their girls at a younger age about this concept in Islam. Furthermore some younger Muslim girls do admire and long to wear the hijab earlier as means of expressing their modesty and wanting to please God. As a result, their parents may accordingly encourage their interest in wearing the headscarf earlier.

I think the singling out of young Muslim girls by Ofsted and quizzing them is really invasive and inappropriate. Young Muslims are already aware of being portrayed as ‘the other’ in the media and this will further deepen the divide and make them feel targeted. A school should have no right to separate a group of children and question them for wearing a religious garment. I think the claim that hijab could be interpreted as sexualisation of young girls is disgusting and perverted.

Why should Ofsted of all boards interview these young girls? Would it not be better that teachers have a chat with parents if they have reason to believe a young girl is observing the hijab against her will? Schools should absolutely not ban young children from wearing a headscarf. It is an expression of their religious beliefs.

Ofsted accused of Islamophobia over hijab questioning in primary schools. The schools watchdog Ofsted has been voted UK Islamophobe of the Year. Ofsted won the dubious accolade at a ceremony organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission in London on Sunday evening.

Many in the Muslim community feel that Ofsted has targeted Muslim children over the past few years. Several high-performing schools in Birmingham were put in Special Measures by Ofsted and Muslim educationalists were forced out of their jobs following the “Trojan Horse” affair, which was later largely discredited.

A Muslim girls’ school in Stoke-on-Trent has been rated “inadequate” by Ofsted after inspectors discovered that pupils were not provided with toilet paper due to “cultural reasons”.

Staff at the fee-paying Park Avenue Girls’ High School said that toilet paper was available from the school office, but because most of the students were Asian, they preferred to wash rather than wipe. The school, which was visited by inspectors in October, and was rated “inadequate”, with the report identifying a “range of concerns”, including safeguarding problems and the discovery of “sectarian material” on the premises. Let pupils use loo paper!! Another reason for colonialists to undermine Islamic values. So this was the only thing Ofsted could find ? Muslims prefer water to papers.

The Ofsted report stated: “At the time of the inspection, it was not the school’s common practice to provide soap for pupils’ hand-washing, toilet roll in the toilets or suitable drinking water”. But headteacher, Abdul Ghafoor Salloo, defended the policy, insisting the school catered for the cultural needs of the pupils. Using tissue paper is very much hygienic...for it is used before and after water... It is very much Islamic...nothing absolutely wrong with it...so long as one uses water afterwards for a thorough cleansing... Put some toilet paper in, you need it still to take off excess, use water and dry later with the toilet paper.And yes what a stupid thing for them to say 'inadequate'. Lets face it these days its Ofsted that is inadequate. OFSTED is 'inadequate' for only using toilet paper - dirty buggers.

He said: “The children they do use the toilets and traditionally, because we are Asian, we wash, not only wipe. There are facilities for pupils to clean themselves.” But despite the various problems inspectors noted that the relationships between staff and pupils were strong and this had a positive impact on pupils’ behaviour. They added: “Pupils’ behaviour is good. They follow instructions willingly and are well behaved at all times while on the school premises.”

Muslims are obliged to wash their private parts with water and not just with tissues. A Muslim is obliged to wash his face, hands, feet,mouth and nose five times a day for prayers. There are hundreds of state and church schools where Muslim children are in majority. Not a single school has facilities for washing in the toilets. Muslim children are forced to use just tissues. Ofsted never criticised such schools for not providing this facility for the Muslim children. If a Muslim school is rated inadequate for not proving toilet tissues than what about state and church schools for not providing water for washing? What gives OFSTED the right, or indeed any Brits, to preach to minority groups about how they should live their lives. This is a cosmopolitan country, the Muslim community have the right to educate their children how they choose. What has being British got to do with your religious belief? In Britain there are Hindus Sikhs pagans Jews Buddhists atheist Zoroastrians Rasta's and many more should they all change their religious beliefs because they are British? Studying the Qur'an will certainly help towards these children becoming fully integrated citizens of the UK.

The former head of Ofsted, Sir Michael Wilshaw, criticised the wearing of the veil in schools and the current chief, Amanda Spielman, has said that Muslim girls will be questioned by inspectors about why they wear the hijab.

Ofsted’s recommendation for inspectors to question Muslim primary school girls if they are wearing a hijab has been condemned as “kneejerk, discriminatory and institutionally racist” by more than 1,000 teachers, academics and faith leaders.

The schools inspectorate announced this month that the policy was designed to tackle situations in which wearing a hijab “could be interpreted as sexualisation” of girls as young as four or five, when most Islamic teaching requires headdress for girls only at the onset of puberty. Muslim girls who wear the hijab to primary school will be asked why they wear it by inspectors. The reasons given will then be recorded in school reports, amid concerns girls are being forced to wear the headscarf by their parents. Imagine being questioned about why you dress the way your parents tell you at 8 years of age!? What do you say? “Sorry, I’ll tell them they are wrong”? Looks like Ofsted are now so busy with combating Islam that they will have no time to deal with education? The problem is, before they start the quizzing, they're making public exactly what the girls should get prepared to reply (by their family) to be allowed to keep the hijab. With all the time to rehearse. Any child asked by an inspector why she’s covering her hair should reply.. 'its a free country I can wear what I want''!! We do not need inspectors chasing Muslims just because we hate them. Looks like Ofsted are now so busy with combating Islam that they will have no time to deal with education?

But the move has been criticised as a “dangerous” decision that risked “reinforcing an anti-Muslim political culture in which Islamophobia or anti-Muslim racism has been institutionalised in schools and across the public sector”.

Why is it that we always have these conversations about girls? I never read articles about what boys should or should not wear. I have never read articles about what boys should be allowed to do, only girls. Maybe that is more the issue. Why? It would only be a good idea if you planned to make the families feel so unwelcome that they end up removing their children to be educated at home. But don't then be surprised at the number of home educated Muslim children rising. Maybe that's the overall agenda to make Muslims as outcasts?

A letter signed by 1,136 teachers, academics and faith leaders said: “It is a kneejerk, discriminatory and institutionally racist response that will violate civil liberties and create a climate of fear and mistrust in schools, and must be retracted immediately.”

Ofsted’s announcement in the form of a recommendation to inspectors rather than an update to the inspectorate’s official handbook was the latest of a string of requirements issued after the “Trojan horse” affair in Birmingham in 2014, which provoked controversy over fears of Islamist influence in state schools.

Amanda Spielman, the head of Ofsted and chief inspector of schools, said she respected parents’ choice to bring up their children according to their cultural norms, but wanted to tackle situations “where primary school children are expected to wear the hijab [that] could be interpreted as sexualisation of young girls”. The opposite to hijab wearing is the display of highly sexualised forms of many western women. Western men get to enjoy this without thinking they are entitled to help themselves to every woman wearing a skirt up to her bumcheeks. The bottom line (pun intended) gents, is you can look but not touch. If you are offended, look away you control freak prude.

Today's head of Ofsted has no background in education. She was forced upon the inspectorate by the Minister against the advice of those appointed to oversee such appointments. She has an agenda to make a splash and get out before that splash lands back on her. Pandering to radicals, in this case feminists, humanists and the like is all se is up to. She has not got the background or experience to make effective positive changes to education, so she has taken the easy way out, and politicised Ofsted.

Did the NSS also ask for Sikh boys to be quizzed about their turbans and Jewish children for their religious headgear (skull caps or wigs)? If not why are Muslims being exclusively targeted again. I hope they're also going to quiz Sikh boys who cover their hair..? No, thought not. Just pick on the girls.

Start by quizzing children if they are abused by parent who are alcoholics start by protecting children who are left homeless start by actually doing something usefully instead of targeting Muslims for wearing a religious symbol. Start by quizzing all children why they follow a religion after all they are smart in off to decide for themself. Will they ask Jewish kids if they are wearing their outfits voluntarily?

Freedom of religion is imperial . One can choose what to believe in an practise it , it's not the government' job to dictate what you should eat, how you should dress ,when you should pray ..it only has the power to coerce it' civilians but it should just focusing on providing services and infrastructure and education and so on. So they need to send inspectors instead of assuming that it's the parents brainwashing the kids. Interesting. Maybe they expect to find some 7 years old girls who will give them a detailed report of all the faiths they thoroughly researched before choosing Islam because it's the one they believe provides the answers to all their existential and philosophical questions.

Parents are free to teach their children what they want as long as it' not harming them physically or mentally. Its called education not force. I guess every parent has the right to educate their child into doing something which they believe is good (as long as its not a crime etc). It's the parents that they should be questioning, not the children. No good asking the girls. If they are made to wear it, they will be made to say they aren’t, since that’s what the Inspectors want to hear. Everybody knows who the Inspectors spoke to.

You are/will be brainwashing your believes to your future children on what to do and what not. If my daughter from a young age is willing to wear the hijab I will not oppose it and make her understand that it is empowering her when she reaches puberty and she will be ready for it. When you live in a over sexualised society I believe such precaution is important. The child will progress just as much as the kids not wearing a headscarf in what sense does it make them weaker...apart of you sexualising the children when the Muslim parent prepares them for the real life and teaches what's right or wrong . Who are you to tell ?

Where is the freedom of religion? Can she not express her identity at young age. Surely preparation makes one better . I do not want my children to be brainwashed by half naked girls instead I'll teach her what's right or wrong and that is my duty not yours not the government. Asking little girls why they wear a headscarf is silly. It is forced on them in one way or another, through dictate by parents, training, social pressure.

The letter, written by Nadine El-Enany, a senior law lecturer at Birkbeck Law School, University of London, Waqas Tufail, a senior lecturer in criminology at Leeds Beckett University, and Shereen Fernandez, a PhD candidate at Queen Mary University of London, said: “We, the undersigned, ask that Ofsted immediately retract its instruction to inspectors to question primary school children wearing the hijab.

“We find the decision to single out Muslim children for questioning unacceptable, and insist that no school children be targeted for action on the basis of their race, religion or background.

“While a wider conversation about the sexualisation of girls in Britain’s culture and economy is welcome, the singling out of Muslim children for investigation is unacceptable.

“The message the Ofsted decision sends to Muslim women is that the way they choose to dress and the decisions they make in raising their children are subject to a level of scrutiny different to that applied to non-Muslim parents.

“Further, the Ofsted decision reduces the hijab to a symbol of sexualisation and ignores other interpretations ranging from a display of faith to a symbol of empowerment and resistance. Constructing women and children who wear the hijab as being either sexualised or repressed is both reductive and racist in its reproduction of colonial and Orientalist tropes about them.”

I believe the head scarf or hijab, covering of certain parts of the body is our right as Muslim’s. It has been revealed in the Quran that we should do so, and also this was the example given to us by the prophet Mohamed's wives or women in Islam e.g Khadija who was a successful business women.

We feel free and independent from sexualisation due to wearing the hijab and dressing modestly. Before Islam I use to think I’m free to wear short skirts bikini’s it’s a free world but in reality I was miserable always trying to put on make up, dress to keep up with fashion and be revealing my body to the public which only bought about negative attention.

I feel liberated after wearing hijab. I don’t have to conform too pretence or show my body to everyone. I feel blessed that I am a Muslim and no one forces me to wear it I’m not married so my husband isn’t forcing me. My daughter if she would like to wear it then I would be very proud of her as she is doing an act of worship by wearing it, as obeying the commend of Allah and being obedient to him is a part of being Muslim.

There is no compulsion in lslam and most women and female children I know are not forced to wear it in fact the opposite they look up to the women who wear it and then decide for themselves to. In hijab we do not get negative or sexist comments made to us, if anything the inspectors should be questioning those schools who make young girls dress in mini skirts and question those girls about the skirts and sexualisation. If we are living in a free society where Sikhs are allowed to wear peg and turbans and have small daggers, Hindus are allowed to send their children with red dots on their foreheads, Christians can wear crucifixes around their necks if they wish too then why is it always the Muslim religion that has to answer? Quite simply if Muslim girls shouldn’t be allowed to wear headscarf in schools then all of the above should not be allowed either. Maybe the same question can be asked to Sikh children who cover, is that to do with sexualisation also?

Hijab is a part of our religion and identity it liberates us, we don’t feel forced, sexualised or oppressed in fact I can’t wait to go shopping to pick out new ones with my friends and I’m sure that’s what these girls think too.

Hijab is more than just a head covering. When a girl chooses to wear the hijab, she is choosing to represent Islam. To behave with dignity, treat others with respect, uphold the highest mannerisms, and be a positive influence within society. She is also asking others to treat her with respect, look past her appearance and value her inner characteristics. For members of Ofsted to claim ‘the hijab can be interrupted as the sexualisation of young girls’ is outrageous and a clear reflection of their ignorance.

If Ofsted start singling out young Muslim girls, they are not only sending the message that these girls do not belong but are also teaching other students that it is ok to treat them differently and not accept them.

The school environment has a substantial influence on the development of our future society and should be a safe place where all children are given the opportunity to flourish. Banning the hijab from schools would only teach the next generation that it is ok to be intolerant and disrespectful towards people who share different views. Which will cause irreparable isolation and resentment.

We live in a multicultural society and have rights regardless of being from the ethnic minority especially Muslim for my girls it is their identity a fashion statement freedom of choice and never forced upon them.

Everyone’s religious beliefs should be respected and valued I feel Ofsted are discriminating against a small minority of Muslims extremely bias will they ban the turban next and I hope this helps put a stop towards this ideology of discriminating against Muslims.

http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk

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Education

Al-Hijrah School Education of British Muslim Children

The government has ordered the takeover of one of England’s first state-funded Muslim secondary schools, an institution where a child died and offensive books were found in the library. An academic library should be free to hold any books, without political sanction -- in line with the principle of academic freedom.

The books stated that a husband can beat his wife and insist on having sex with her. They were found in the library of the Al-Hijrah School in Birmingham, which became state-funded in 2001. The prophet of Islam has 11 wives and none of them were ever beaten by him for any excuse.

Amanda Spielman, chief inspector at Ofsted, the schools regulator, said Al-Hijrah would be taken over by an independent academy trust on the orders of the Department for Education.

What gives OFSTED the right or indeed any Brits, to preach to minority groups about how they should live their lives. This is a cosmopolitan country, the Muslim community have the right to educate their children how they choose. What has being British got to do with your religious belief? In Britain there are Hindus,Sikhs, pagans,Jewish,Buddhists, atheist,Zoroastrians Rasta’s and many more should they all change their religious beliefs because they are British? Studying the Holy Quran will certainly help towards these children becoming fully integrated citizens of the UK.

How can parents safeguard our children, when they are stuck in school, from the intrusion of pretentious business concerns like Ofsted? Well, if I approached a ten-year-old and started talking to her about what lesbians do in bed, I'm pretty certain I'd be arrested. And it would be right to do so wouldn't it? Mind you, it would be no good the inspectors asking me what lesbians do in bed. At my age (7th decade) I still don't know. Have these Ofsted creeps been CRB checked? If so maybe they think it's a licence to perv. A stranger asked me a shocking question when I was an innocent 11 year old.....and I bolted from the creep in disgust. These Ofsted creeps need to be reported.

This is what's behind this: for every Muslim free school put in special measures Ofsted must find a Christian school to put in special measures so it can't be accused of targeting one particular group. The fruits of m/c. I'm not sure I know what lesbians do in bed.... Then, according to Ofsted, you are un-educated and un-British. Were these OFSTED Inspectors "carrying out orders" when they asked these questions, or did they devise them personally ? Do they have a manual of procedures to follow with (say) standard questions ?

The shocking level of targeting of the Muslim community of Birmingham is indicative of the normalisation of the dehumanisation of the Muslims of Britain. Under the pretext of "extremism", criminal undemocratic and unethical abuse of public institutions and the Muslims of the UK can occur without much accountability. This pervasive attitude, especially amongst officials like Michael Gove needs to change. Our schools are truly trying to develop our children to do well at schools so later in life they are able to stand on their own two feet, but if we stop our schools from doing this than our country will have up rise of unemployment, benefit issues, crime levels high, I think its time for you apologize and allow practitioners to do their job right.

It is wrong to assert that a small unrepresentative group of Muslim activists tried to Islamises a state primary school in Woking. The silent majority of Muslim parents would like to send their children to state funded Muslim schools. They are not extremists who want to change of ethos of those schools where Muslim children are in majority. It is the democratic right of every Muslim parent to see that their children receive balanced education, so that when their children grow up, they do not find themselves cut off from their cultural roots and linguistic skills. It is a question of common sense, humanity and reason that bilingual Muslim children must be educated in state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. The whole world believes that people who speak more than one language is a vital economic asset. Pupils who speak more than one language do not cause difficulties. It is the politicians and monolingual teachers who are the problems for bilingual pupils. Muslim school will help to cultivate the child into a healthy, fully flourishing individual with a passion for learning. There are hundreds of state and church schools where Muslim children are in majority. In my opinion, all such schools may be opted out as Muslim Academies.

Muslim schools should be inspected by Muslim members of the Ofsted. They understand the needs and demands of the Muslim children as well as their parents. Twenty leading educationalists and Muslim leaders have questioned Ofsted's impartiality in the Birmingham 'Trojan Horse' affair, education consultant Robin Richardson reflects on the factors behind its controversial recent inspections. What gives OFSTED the right, or indeed any Brits, to preach to minority groups about how they should live their lives. This is a cosmopolitan country, the Muslim community have the right to educate their children how they choose. What has being British got to do with your religious belief? In Britain there are Hindus Sikhs pagans Jewish Buddhists atheist Zoroastrians Rasta's and many more should they all change there religious beliefs because they are British? Studying the Qur'an will certainly help towards these children becoming fully integrated citizens of the UK. Like many Ofsted stories this is no news. There are lots of schools up and down the land without male teachers. Teaching is so female dominated you wonder why pupils are so poorly behaved. After all feminism blames men for everything and here are the results of female dominance...

There should be a positive co-relation between home and school, otherwise, the child would be lost in Western Jungle. A Muslim child needs a state funded Muslim school with Muslim teachers as role models during his/her developmental period. There is no place for a non-Muslim child or a teacher in a Muslim school. I am willing to bet there are lots of Brits who have jumped through hoops to get their children into high performing Catholic or C of E schools yet claim to be atheist. I am also willing to bet they would be the first to complain if their children were offered a place at a school with a high proportion of Muslim children. Faith schools are popular with families across denominations and none. If there was a 'don't like' message they would want a place. The whole problem with the "Trojan Horse" schools was that they were providing the education that parents wanted. Speaking to a head of one of the inspected schools it turns out that one of the failed six schools failed because of negative answers given by pupils. The following question was crucial. " Have you been told that it is morally ok for lesbians and gay men to have same sex relationships?" If pupils answered in the negative this was taken as evidence that the school had not taught tolerance and therefore didn't safeguard against extremist views. I heard a parent of a child at one of the Birmingham schools on News night say something like "as 90% of the children here are Muslim, the school should cater for their needs as Muslims".

DfE must close all state and church schools because all of them are the home of institutional racism and all native teachers are chicken racists. It is a crime against humanity to send Muslim children to state or church schools. Muslim community would like to protect their children from the evils of the western society. Muslim children in state schools with non-Muslim teachers are not in a position to develop positive self-confidence and self-esteem. You better educate your children and let Muslim community educate their children according the needs and demands of the parents.

Muslim schools teach Muslim children that sex outside marriage is a sin. Homosexuality is also a sin. Sex before marriage and homosexuality are western values and Muslims are not supposed to adopt them.

British values, which are said to include respect for legally protected characteristics such as homosexuality, religion, gender change, disability, race and marital status. what a warping of British values, the British values I was taught are respect for the institution of marriage, freedom of religious pursuit, freedom of speech, respect for the monarch. respect for others.

British culture. Watch BBC News about Rolf Harris and his evil deeds for the last 50 years. Muslims feel ashamed of British culture and it values.

Let's not pretend this whole "British values" nonsense is about anything else than targeting British Muslims and pretending that they are somehow different from everyone else in this country. Just as demonising Jews was once the means by which a country unified itself, so now Britons who are being viciously attacked by this Government and its super rich patrons are being asked to unite behind the flag and a vicious campaign against Islam. The neoliberal revolution, as damaging to ordinary people as the enclosures of the more distant past and the industrial revolution of the more recent, is about to claim more victims: our fellow citizens who happen to be Muslim. It is not British values our children will be taught it is simply the values that enable the establishment to continue on, in the same way they make sure that is what is taught in private schools will guarantee the continuation of 'born to rule' clones, brainwashed just as much, as detached from the rest of the population as they can be, fearful that the classes should dare to mix and actually start to understand or even empathise with each other, or God forbid work together towards a more equal society. Yes, it all stinks. Not helped too with the latest news that the only extra funding this Govt deems to fit to pass on to schools is to try and encourage state school children to join military cadet organisations. Now there's a tradition that continues on - providing the next generation of cannon fodder to again continue on what the rest of us in reality should be fighting against.

Indiscipline, incivility, binge drinking, drug addiction, gun and knife crimes, teenage pregnancies and abortion, homosexuality and gay marriages are part and parcel of British schooling. These are the reasons why majority of Muslim parents would like to send their children to Muslim schools with Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. Only less than 5% attend Muslim schools and more than 95% keep on attending state and church schools to be mis-educated and de-educated by non-Muslim monolingual teachers.

A couple of Pakistanis have adopted the British values of grooming young children. They are the product of the British schooling with non-Muslim monolingual teachers. I have been doing Jihad in the field of education for the last 45 years so that each and every Muslim child should be in a state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. I would like to see Muslim children developing Cultural, linguistic and spiritual identities so that they could keep themselves away from western barbarity of anti-social behaviour, binge drinking, drug addiction, teen age pregnancies and abortion and lot of other evils but people like you do not want to see Muslim children in Muslim schools in the name of integration. Now you have seen the result in the form of sexual grooming of young children which is a common occurrence in British culture.

British schooling is the home of institutional racism and native teachers are chicken racists. Teachers and head teachers turn a blind eye to bullying, it's a fact!! Even if there is an anti-bullying policy it doesn't mean they'll act upon it when they see a pupil being bullied. Schools do NOT tackle bullying by ejecting the bullies themselves but will gladly sweep the problem out of sight in case it blots their Ofsted rating which has become more important now than the education and well being of the pupil. Bullying is unacceptable. The bullies should be targeted, not the victims.Just watch 'Educating Yorkshire' to see how senior staff tiptoe round the bullies trying not to offend them. Also a general point - there are many teachers these days with a strange psychological need to interact with the trouble makers and retain them within their schools. They tell everyone how caring they are for keeping the badly-behaved in their schools, when in fact they are keeping a bad person who is causing misery and stress and anxiety to the other children. Not so caring after all, as they keep claiming they are. Teachers are supposed to protect your children, not indulge the bullies and allow them to reign in schools. The statistics for bullying are damming as are the statistics for the quality of education in this country............ever down we go.............where is the bottom of the pit? This is what I hate about schools in general. Many of them turn a blind eye to bullying. If they do catch a kid bullying another kid, they either do nothing at all or give the bully a slap on the wrist. What's worse is that kids are now turning to Facebook and other social media to continue the bullying outside the classroom. So actually, even a kid who transfers to another school can easily be bullied by the same kids they tried to get away from. When will schools listen to people and understand that bullying is serious?

British schools are not doing enough to tackle racism and promote race relations. Many teachers are unaware of racist attitudes amongst pupils. Schools have a responsibility not only to deal with racist incidents but also to prepare pupils for life in a multicultural and multiracial society.

A report by the Institute for Community Cohesion found that native parents were deserting some schools after finding their children out numbered by pupils from ethnic minorities. Schools in parts of England are becoming increasingly segregated. The study focused on 13 local authorities. Many of the schools and colleges are segregated and this was generally worsening over recent years. This is RACISM because British society is the home of institutional racism. My statement regarding Muslim schools where there is no place for non-Muslim child or a teacher is based on educational process and not on racism. Muslim children need Muslim teachers during their developmental periods. For higher studies and research, Muslim teacher is not a priority.

There is the increase alienation of the UK’s British Muslim population, through stigmatism and increasing inflammatory anti-immigrant/foreigner propaganda – which is doing more to marginalize than to integrate its citizens. A fact of life is that these are descendants of the former British Empire/Commonwealth on which the sun never set, many that have lived in the UK for generations, but have kept their religious beliefs, cultures and traditions, remaining largely within their own communities perhaps because the UK itself has its own highly stratified class system with little integration flexibility between its own ranks which has left its former colonies somewhat side-lined. The anti-Muslim drumbeat is relentless. In the wake of the “Trojan horse”onslaught against mainly Muslim state schools in Birmingham, which branded conservative religiosity “extremism”, politically directed Ofsted inspectors have now turned their attention to east London. Six Muslim schools in Tower Hamlets have been failed and a majority-Muslim state secondary school with good results has been put in special measures because of risks of “extremism”.

Children from minority groups, especially the Muslims, are exposed to the pressure of racism, multiculturalism and bullying. They suffer academically, culturally and linguistically: a high proportion of children of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin are leaving British schools with low grades or no qualification.

Native Brits must learn to respect and tolerate those who are different. The needs and demands of the Muslim community are different from those of natives. Muslims are in Britain not to give up their cultural heritage. They must integrate in their new home country, learn new languages and apply for political representation -- without forgetting their cultural heritage. It is important to learn Standard English, but their languages should not be neglected. Muslim children not only need halal meat or Eid Holidays but they need state funded Muslim schools with Muslim teachers as role models during their development period also. There is no place for a non-Muslim child or a teacher in a Muslim school. This is nothing to do with a Islamic Madrasas in Pakistan. The needs and demands of British Muslims are different from Muslims living in Pakistan.

Bilingual Muslims children have a right, as much as any other faith group, to be taught their culture, languages and faith alongside a mainstream curriculum. More faith schools will be opened under sweeping reforms of the education system in England. There is a dire need for the growth of state funded Muslim schools to meet the growing needs and demands of the Muslim parents and children. Now the time has come that parents and community should take over the running of their local schools. Parent-run schools will give the diversity, the choice and the competition that the wealthy have in the private sector.

http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk

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Education

What do you expect form Muslim community who has been victim of Paki-bashing in all walks of life by the British society for the last 60 years? What do you expect from Muslim youths who have been thoroughly searched by police in the streets? What do you expect from hundreds of school children who have been referred to the police by non-Muslim teachers? English hates Irish, Welsh and Scott hate each other and all of them hate Islam and Muslims.

Prejudice against Islam in the West developed due to historic rivalry of Christianity against Islam. The defeat of Christians by the Muslims in Crusades was a big shock for the Christian world. These deep wounds are still so fresh in the Christian world today that the parents, media, politicians and teachers feel it a duty to nurture the feelings of prejudice against Islam in the hearts and minds of their young generations. According to Runnymede Trust, Britain has become “an institutionally Islamophobic” society in which Muslims are demonised. Hostility towards Muslims is still a major problem and is not being taken seriously enough by race relations bodies. According to Dr. Richard Stone, there is now renewed talk of a clash of civilizations, a new global cold war, and mounting concern that the already fragile foothold gained by Muslim communities in Britain is threatened by ignorance and intolerance. According to John Gieve of the Home office, Islamic extremism might be a “symptom of disaffection”. The same disaffection previously surfaced during the riots that shook Oldham and Bradford in 2001.

The hatred of Islam and Muslims reaches such peaks that it presides over the strangest, most radical political about-face, sometimes. So, the nationalist far right now often presents itself as feminist (to better bash Muslims on gender equality) but also as pro-gay rights (to bash Muslims on their supposed homophobia) and even animal rights activists (to better justify banning ritual slaughter) etc. etc. etc.

Jews and Christian scholars, the so called Western Orientals have always tried to misrepresent Islam in their writings. They have always tried to spread baseless lies against Islam in a very authentic and scholarly style, hiding their deep rooted hatred against Islam. They have called all efforts to restore pure Islam in Muslim countries as “fundamentalist movements” against modern-day material progress and economic development. Lacy O’Leary in the book “Islam at the cross road”: “history makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myth that historians have ever repeated.” Even Gandhi refuted the false propaganda, otherwise, one could not find even a single Hindu or non-Muslim in the Indian sub-continent and on top of that Sikhism could not dare to emerge as a religion. India would be the largest Muslim country in the world. In the 20th century new images emerged, the fanatical terrorist, the stone-thrower and the suicide bomber. According to Lord Carey, there was a deep-rooted Islamophobia in Britain. There is a worrying ignorance of Muslim people and suspicion of their presence in the United Kingdom. It is assumed by many that Muslims wish to take over ‘our country and if we allow them to enter Britain in significant numbers they will in time make the country Islamic’.

Mr. Denis MacShane, the Minister for Europe urged British Muslims to adopt the “British norms” and not the way of the “terrorists”, in other words “Islamic way”. He provoked Muslims to choose between the “British way” and the way of terrorism.” Monica Ali’s, who was mis-educated and de-educated by the British education system, portrays Bangladeshi Muslims in Brick Lane as backward, uneducated and unsophisticated. This is the main reason why her book was selected for Guardian First Book Award. The content of the book is a despicable insult to Bengali Muslims at home and abroad. The book can be compared to Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses. The combined forces of racial discrimination and Islamophobia have been awesome in the marginalisation and alienation of the Muslim community. Muslims made to feel like an enemy within by Islamophobic attitudes. Hardening prejudice against Islam is creating a dis-affected underclass of young Muslims “time-bombs” likely to explode into violence, according to a recent report. Life for Britain 1.6 million Muslims has never been easy. For decades they have struggled in the face of discrimination in all walks of life. West is not based on Judio-Christian civilisation. This term should be abandoned to be replaced by Judio-Christian-Islamic civilisation. The new language should be used in all venues starting with media, academic statements by politicians, church leaders and Imams of Masajid. These are the words that define how we are related to each other’s.

The British establishment is wrong in thinking that Imams are to blame for extremism. Imams are not solution to the problem for extremism. Extremism is nothing to do with Imams. Extremism is not created from abroad, it is coming from within. Britain fails to help Muslim communities feel part of British society. Race trouble is being predicted by the Daily Express, because of an ethnic boom in UK major cities. Muslim communities need imams for the solutions of their needs and demands in their own native languages. Muslim parents would like to see their children well versed in Standard English and to go for higher studies and research to serve humanity. The fact is that majority of Muslim children leave schools with low grades because monolingual teachers are not capable to teach Standard English to bilingual Muslim children. A Muslim is a citizen of this tiny global village. He/she does not want to become notoriously monolingual Brit.

A report by the Institute for Community Cohesion found that native parents were deserting some schools after finding their children out numbered by pupils from ethnic minorities. Schools in parts of England are becoming increasingly segregated. The study focused on 13 local authorities. Many of the schools and colleges are segregated and this was generally worsening over recent years. This is RACISM because British society is the home of institutional racism. My statement regarding Muslim schools where there is no place for non-Muslim child or a teacher is based on educational process and not on racism. Muslim children need Muslim teachers during their developmental periods. For higher studies and research, Muslim teacher is not a priority.

A study claims that Black and Asian pupils are being held back in the classroom because schools are "institutionally racist". Let the minority communities educate their own children and you better educate your children for the well being of the British society. Islamic schools protect Muslim children from the onslaught of Euro-centrism, homosexuality, racism, and secular traditions.

It is easy to say" Go back to where you came from", but do not forget that British Muslims are actually born and educated here. They are in the unenviable position of trying to combine two different worlds. That is no easy. We do not want to change you lot but we would like to see our children getting balanced Islamic education along with National Curriculum. We would like our children to learn and be well versed in standard English to follow the National Curriculum and go for higher studies and research to serve humanity. At the same time we would like our children to learn and be well versed in Arabic, Urdu and other community languages to keep in touch with their cultural roots and enjoy the beauty of their literature and poetry. A Muslim is a citizen of this tiny global village. He/she does not want to become notoriously monolingual Brit. Bilingualism is an asset but British schooling regards it as a problem.

Native Brits must learn to respect and tolerate those who are different. Stop treating foreigners like garbage and they will stop ruining your precious country. Why did you let them in in the first place if you didn't want them here? They left everything in their countries because of your promises. Are you so anxious to please that you can't say "no"? I would love to see you go to a foreign land where you don't have any friends, you don't even know anyone and you don't speak the language, and start from scratch. I would just LOVE to watch you do that. Let them integrate and stop segregating them. What I want is people being nice to each other. I don't care about race.

There will never be an end to extremism and terrorism as long as Muslim children keep on attending state schools with non-Muslim teachers. Muslim children need state funded Muslim schools with Muslim teachers during their developmental periods. Muslim children must develop their cultural, spiritual and linguistic identities before they are exposed to wider world, otherwise, they would be lost in western jungle. It is a crime against humanity to send Muslim children to state schools with non-Muslim teachers. Children from minority groups, especially the Muslims, are exposed to the pressure of racism, multiculturalism and bullying. They suffer academically, culturally and linguistically: a high proportion of children of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin are leaving British schools with low grades or with no qualification. The demand for state funded Muslim schools is nothing to do with integration or segregation. It is purely an educational issue.

You better teach your children in your own schools and let migrant communities teach their children according to their needs and demands. British Establishment and society should concentrate on the evils of their own society and stop trying to change the way of life of Muslims. Muslim community does not want to integrate with the British society, indulging in incivility, anti-social behaviour, drug and knife culture, binge drinking, teenage pregnancies and abortion. Prince Charles, while visiting the first grant maintained Muslim school in north London, said that the pupils would be the future ambassadors of Islam. But what about thousands of others, who attend state schools deemed to be "sink schools"? In education, there should be a choice and at present it is denied to the Muslim community. In the late 80s and early 90s, when I floated the idea of Muslim community schools, I was declared a "school hijacker" by an editorial in the Newham Recorder newspaper in east London. This clearly shows that the British media does not believe in choice and diversity in the field of education and has no respect for those who are different. Muslim schools, in spite of meager resources, have excelled to a further extent this year, with couple of schools achieving 100% A-C grades for five or more GCSEs. They beat well resourced state and independent schools in Birmingham and Hackney. Muslim schools are doing better because a majority of the teachers are Muslim. The pupils are not exposed to the pressures of racism, multiculturalism and bullying.

There are hundreds of state primary and secondary schools where Muslim pupils are in majority. In my opinion all such schools may be opted out to become Muslim Academies. This mean the Muslim children will get a decent education. Muslim schools turned out balanced citizens, more tolerant of others and less likely to succumb to criminality or extremism. Muslim schools give young people confidence in who they are and an understanding of Islam’s teaching of tolerance and respect which prepares them for a positive and fulfilling role in society. Muslim schools are attractive to Muslim parents because they have better discipline and teaching Islamic values. Children like discipline, structure and boundaries. Bilingual Muslim children need Bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods, who understand their needs and demands.

http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk

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A real Trojan Horse

TROJAN HORSE HOAX- BRIEF RESPONSE by TAHIR ALAM ,former Chair of Park View Educational Trust

Mr. Clarke’s and Mr. Kershaw’s and EFA reports grossly misrepresent and mis-characterise our schools; what I ( and others) stand for and what I have worked for in education, namely high academic standards and inclusion and respect for all children in our schools. This includes British Muslim pupils. I utterly reject fictional accounts seeking to justify that there was some kind of sinister plot by extremists to take over Birmingham schools. I have been accused of things I know nothing about or presumed guilty by association because it suited a politically motivated, predetermined agenda.

Now British Muslim children in these schools are being failed academically and are subjected to discriminatory practices. For example, broadly Islamic collective worship is banned, Friday prayers banned, etc. Muslim pupils are being denied an expression of who they are as British Muslims.

It is self-evident that Trojan Horse Hoax is not about preventing extremism or safeguarding children but about preventing Muslim parents from having a legitimate and democratic say in how their children are being educated and perhaps also to ‘save the Muslim children from Islam!’

Discrimination and politics of division and hatred has been perpetuated by DfE and Ofsted in the Trojan Hoax fiasco. The legacy for the school community is clear, it is now run by individuals who are unrepresentative of the community they serve. More than 90% children in Trojan Hoax schools are of the Islamic faith background but now not even a token single Trustee is from this background. Why? Has the democratic principle and Equalities Act 2010 been ditched?

In creating high performing schools, I and others involved are very proud of what we have achieved for our children in these deprived areas that have historically been failing children for decades. Our hard work and sacrifices now ruined overnight. The drumbeat of excuses for failure has already begun with Mr. Mike Tomlinson complaining about ‘staffing issues’ in Trojan Hoax schools. Dramatic fall in results are predicted. Destruction is far easier than construction. Who created this situation on the back of undated, unsigned hoax letter? And why are the DfE and Birmingham City Council not interested in finding out who wrote the letter and why?

Our children were not at risk of extremism nor were we negligent in this regard. This would be unacceptable. Mr. Clarke’s cock and bull story is not worth the paper it is written on – as there was no extremist plot in Birmingham schools by ‘Sunni hardliners’. By the way the original Trojan Hoax letter said it was a ‘Salafi’ plot. I was not running one. I have been promoting participation in education by parents and continue to do so to address issues of a culture of systemic failure, bad practice, low expectations and to ensure that state schools meet the needs of our children enshrined in regulation and law.

Normally praiseworthy civic participation has been depicted as illegitimate or sinister ‘infiltration’. I am a law-abiding British citizen. What I or other parents do as citizen is not ‘infiltration’. Our children attend state schools and parents have a right to hold schools to account on how they are managed, academic performance and meeting the needs of pupils.

Mr. Clarke has accepted allegations as being ‘fact’ without independently verifying them or corroborating them with those accused. Top policeman got the most basic of facts wrong. For example, Mr. Clarke claims I was Chair of the Association of Muslim Governors (AMG); I have never been the Chair of AMG! This was not checked with me nor with people who ran AMG. Why? This example is typical (not an exception) of the shoddy and desperate approach of Mr. Clarke took to prove predetermined outcomes for Mr. Gove, who, on a knee jerk reaction, hired him to look for ‘extremists and radicals’. This was a witch-hunt. An educationalist was required not anti-terror policeman!

Having analysed and taken both written and verbal evidence from multiple sources over many months; The cross-party House of Commons Education Select Committee, in its damning reporting on the handling of the TrojanHoax Affair was rightfully adamant that there was no co-ordinated plot. The report ‘Extremism in schools: the Trojan Horse affair’ concluded:

‘No evidence of extremism or radicalisation, apart from a single isolated incident, was found by any of the inquiries and there was no evidence of a sustained plot nor of a similar situation pertaining elsewhere in the country.’

In fact ‘isolated single incident’ refers to was a BBC Panorama documentary. Mr. Clarke also tells us that ‘Al-Qaeda terrorist’ video was copied in the school. What he deceitfully omits is that this was a BBC Panorama program which was copied for the Police (Prevent) not for school use. Another typical example of careful crafting and omission to misguide the public to a desired impression and conclusion.

While compiling their reports Mr. Clarke and Mr. Kershaw never put a foot in any of the schools nor spoke to any children or parents but were nonetheless able to arrive at ‘credible’ conclusions.

This paranoid reaction to the Trojan Horse letter has done so much damage to the education of our children and unjustly vilified British Muslim children, parents, teachers and governors – an entire minority community. Indeed the Trojan Hoax has been milked to the maximum for political ends and much legislation justified on the back of the myth of extremist plot to take over Birmingham schools.

The witch-hunt continues by the DfE in seeking to ban governors and teachers in order to prove that there was some reality to the Trojan Horse Hoax. For the pupils it has taken away the very role models that had the potential to inspire young Muslims.

As a responsible authority, if the DfE was concerned about what our school were doing, the rightful and measured action would have been to conduct an investigation and we would openly and happily supported that and corrected things as suggested. Instead what we witnessed and experienced was a coordinated offensive through the media with leaks of Ofsted reports, EFA reports, etc to vilify schools and individuals. Focus of the multitude of overlapping investigation was to find by hook or crook evidence extremism or radicalisation that simply did not exist. This was unjust and wrong.

We must all work for a peaceful, safe and a just society in which all children and communities can thrive as citizens regardless of their backgrounds.

http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk

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