Learning about other's beliefs

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There was a short clip on a Black history programme of Enoch Powell making a speech, it is amazing the ideas some people have about the future isn't it?

I didn't see that programme trisher but I do remember his notorious 'rivers of blood'speech. Was that it?

Part of a speech where he spoke about how in the future "the black man would have the whip hand over the white man"
Not sure if it was the same speech, but along the same lines- just an example of how bias and prejudice lead people to make strange predictions for society.
The deleted post revealed similar ideas.

I think primary school is too young for this. He would have been better placed talking to secondary school Pupils , perhaps aged around 15. NOt sure what year that is classed as now, it all seems to have changed since I was more involved with schools.

Craftycat

Would your DD and SiL consider asking the HT teacher if one of them could sit in on the session when the Imam visits? That way they could answer the GC questions at home and maybe satisfy themselves all would be handled properly?

Just an idea. The HT may be planning a raft of talking visits from different perspectives.

Priest and Iman ad

Annibach yes, the return - they all expect a return, this is how they are all brought together at the end (which is also the beginning)

My grandson went to a synagogue when he was about 8, , all he seemed to remember was the nine branched candle holder but he couldn't remember the name (menorah) or significance.

I think it is very unlikely that the imam is going to give a serious theological lecture to primary school children or even to talk about Islam in any great depth. I think it is much more likely that he will look at the things that religions have in common – the importance of kindness, family, love and charity. The love of a single god who may be called different names. He may also talk about religious festivals and celebrations – something most children can grasp easily.

Children take in a great deal more than we sometimes give them credit for but may also be very confused about what they have heard, seen or read. Aggressive Islamophobia, which seems to be becoming even more widespread than the in the months following 9/11, does need counterbalancing. Children need to understand that not all Muslims by any means are terrorists or potential terrorists.

I think it is also helpful if children understand that a schoolfriend can't come for a sleepover because it coincides with his or her important holy day, can't come to tea because of religious constraints about food or can't come swimming in the holidays because it involves a group of mixed boys and girls. Incidentally, I am not saying that such things are good things or right things but people's beliefs – religious and cultural – inform their behaviour and that of their children.

Thanks absent - and others - for your calm and sensible comments.

As to the original post, I would be concerned that by removing the children from school on that day, they may perhaps get the impression that there is something undesirable about Muslims.

As a Muslim woman with sons and a daughter this saddens me. The media pl
Ortrays our religion as women beaters etc. But this is not Islam. Islam holds grateful respect for women. And I doubt the imam will be talking abut these things but probably about the prophets. Who are the same as those in Christianity by the way. And the holidays they celebrate. My husband has never hit me and never would and I am treated like a queen and my daughter like a princess. This is exactly why the right people should educate others on their religions. So people stop listening to the media. Yes there have been terrible things haopening but they are people using Islam's name to get the reaction they want. Islam does not teach any of these things thougb

Excellent answer absent

Lovely to hear it from your point of view Ohdear

Thank you. If anyone has any questions we do our best to answer then. My kids went to visit churches synagogues. And other places of worship. I don't see the harm in learning about others and if the school really thought it was promoting hatred of women they wouldn't invite him in. Sounds like they could do well to attend the assembly also. I would like to add I am white British also if that makes a difference

Do schools have RE as a lesson now? In my secondary school we had morning assembly ( Christian so hymn and morning prayers etc) but we also had RE lessons where we were taught basic of other religions how the started etc we learnt about Jewish , Muslim religion then

Should be how they started

My DGD had a school "trip" to a synagogue when she was in year 4, aged 8-9. I don't know what the children expected but I do know that she was very disappointed. They do have RE at primary school.

I enjoyed reading your post Ohdear123 but I think one of the reasons that primary schools invite religious leaders in to talk to the children and take them on trips to synagogues etc. is that Ofsted mark the school on its diversity. If the school is 99% English, Christian, then they have to find something to enable Ofsted to tick the box.

Add comment | Report | Private message Anya Tue 06-Dec-16 10:16:09
My GC have visited the Sikh temple, a mosque and a synagogue with Beavers and Cubs. They've also visited the Mad Museum, the bowling alley, the Guide Dog Centre, been carol singing, camping, night walks in the woods (one lot got lost!) been kayaking, sailing, up climbing walls, down a cave ...I could go on forever.

So this visit is just part of the rich fabric of life, nothing to get worked up about AND an experience which is offered by more than just schools, proving that other organisations see the benefit too.

Ignore the first line, I accidentally posted this on the wrong thread then copied and pasted it on here!

I agree with you gilly bob but if he was going to promote something bad he wouldn't be let in. They would have checked what the content of his talk would have been to make sure it was appropriate and also age appropriate. Oh and we took them to the different places of worship. Not with school. Because it's not always something a school can do.

Please post more often, Ohdear123 on other threads and whenever you can. Very often people say things about those of other religions, cultures, politics, races, colours etc etc without having the least knowledge or personal experience. That makes them liable to see them through a hazy lens - sometimes rosecoloured specs, sometimes ones clouded by prejudice and fear. Posts from someone such as yourself are very useful.

Ok I will keep that in mind. This is the first time I've been on gransnet. Purely because I saw this thread and thought it is my duty to say something.... I'm a regular reader on mumsnet. Though I don't post. Maybe I should start.... I just hope people don't look at me walking down the street and think my husband beats me and I am planning to make a bomb.....because I can asure you that would be very far from the truth. We work. Pay our taxes and raise our kids to respect all walks of life. We have our opinions. But tend not to share due to the havoc it seems to cause. Even though many others of no religion would think the same. I do wear a head scarf. But I don't cover my face. I wear westernwestern cotes. Jeans and a tunic. Maybe a car die if it's cold. I like my heels and colourful scarves and try to make myself as open as possible. We aren't all stuck non the middle ages. I am lucky in that I have many friends from all different backgrounds and have been accepted everywhere I go because I try to be open and friendly and smile. So important to smile. I always get nice comments about the kids behaviour and appearance. And I am happy. But still even with a smile on my face. Happy kids people still think I am oppressed. .... I wandered who the oppressed ones actually are sometimes. X

sorry for the spelling mistakes. must turn auto correct off of my phone!

I think there are oppressed wives in all societies - oppressed husbands too! In this country, as in most "civilised" ones, it is against the law to beat or bully a wife (or husband!) but it still happens.

There are people everywhere whose nature it is to want to control, by fair means or foul. In some cultures, the traditional supremacy of men reinforces the instinct to be the leader of their particular clan or family group. The law has to lead the way to brand them outcasts and make such behaviour so unacceptable that it becomes a rarity. The rise of a militant mindset does work against that progress.

Well said elegran.