Katharine Birbalsingh – the head teacher of Michaela Community School.

Children's rights matter here

They have rights too

I think a room dedicated to prayer and meditation could be a valuable asset in a school. There's no need for it to be exclusively Muslim. They could have a set time, as could other religious groups. There could also be a time for anyone to take part in silent prayer or meditation. The staff might appreciate a quiet place as well as the pupils.

As for the bullying out of school, report it and let the police deal with it. In school deal with any religious discrimination, even by pupils of the same faith with the same policies you would use for other instances. If the bullying continues call in the parents, if the parents refuse to cooperate and the child continues to bully, suspend the child. It might also be helpful if KB were to build relationships with the religious leaders in the area.
A secular school does not need to ignore the spiritual , cultural and psychological needs of its pupils and a place of peace and contemplation could enrich the school.

VioletSky

Children's rights matter here

They have rights too

Yes, all children have rights, what about the rights of the children in this case who are being bullied, what about the rights of other children who are being disturbed by children getting up in the classroom maybe during lessons disturbing others?

rafichagran

VioletSky

Children's rights matter here

They have rights too

Yes, all children have rights, what about the rights of the children in this case who are being bullied, what about the rights of other children who are being disturbed by children getting up in the classroom maybe during lessons disturbing others?

Quite.

Can you imagine?

Children of various faiths claiming that they have to go to pray at certain times, all being excused from lessons and disrupting others, bobbing in and out of class when they felt like it.

Schools are places of education, not mosques, churches, chapels, meeting houses.

Teach tolerance, of course, but there did not seem to be much tolerance shown to those who did not adhere to the more extreme rules of Islam, including other Muslim pupils.

Unfortunately Islam is at this moment being shown as an intolerant faith.

Tolerance like respect should be equal and fair to all.

Glorianny,
Secular schools do not need ignore the spiritual , cultural and psychological needs of its pupils,
but neither are they places where pupils should use bullying to achieve their demands, whether they are spiritual , cultural or psychological. (The last two mentioned are what you would probably call going off the focus of the topic if someone else posted it.)

Katharine has received bomb threats. I’m reminded of that poor teacher who is still in hiding.
I thought the islamic faith was about loving your brother/sister.
Sending bomb threats doesn’t quite fit with the above.

I believe it is up to parents to attend to the cultural and spiritual needs of their children, not the school.

If the child has psychological needs the school can support the pupil and help the parents seek the appropriate help for their child.

petra

Katharine has received bomb threats. I’m reminded of that poor teacher who is still in hiding.
I thought the islamic faith was about loving your brother/sister.
Sending bomb threats doesn’t quite fit with the above.

Well, QED

And what about the teacher in France who was beheaded - was it last year? - after allegations against him by Muslims that were later discovered to be lies.

The mere fact that anyone would write off an entire faith based on the actions of a few is surely proof of discrimination?

Again - I have no idea what you are talking about.

🤔

If the only way you can justify your views is by referring to extremist actions you really are clutching at straws.
The use of a prayer or meditation room would not have to be during lessons time. It could open at break and lunch times.
It could also be used for religious studies, which is still taught inschools which follow the National Curriculum.
Although they have some choice RE is also still taught in Free schools

Glorianny

If the only way you can justify your views is by referring to extremist actions you really are clutching at straws.
The use of a prayer or meditation room would not have to be during lessons time. It could open at break and lunch times.
It could also be used for religious studies, which is still taught inschools which follow the National Curriculum.
Although they have some choice RE is also still taught in Free schools

Isn't the Muslim Call to Prayer set at specific times during the day - which won't necessarily slot in with break or lunch time?

And it should be remembered that KB called this ban to deal with an emergency situation against the backdrop of bullying, abuse and threats.

Setting aside a room for prayer would have to be organised - a suitable room has to be found for a start, and I think the room would have to have some kind of 'gatekeeper', if it is true that Muslim children who were praying kneeling on their blazers were also being bullied.

This 'event' was disrupting the tight schedules that the school is run by so KB had to do something, and quickly. It's very easy to condemn and criticise when you are not the one put on the spot.

It's also worth remembering that the intake of Muslim pupils has increased under KB's headship, so there are obviously some contented Muslim parents and students who find the school's strict code acceptable.

I believe the woman has the best interests of all her pupils at heart, she is not some Islamophobic monster attempting to discriminate against Muslim children and make them unhappy at school. She simply wants them to focus on their studies, work hard, and be the best they can be.

And why did the parents and pupils sign the contract with the school at the beginning of the year if they were not happy with the school rules and its ethos?

I would love to know how Glorianny would cater for all the other groups or even individuals who feel they are being bullied, who would like a safe room to go to, in terms of providing a location, a gatekeeper.
I’d hate to divert from the focus of this thread, but I personally know a group of children who would have liked a place to go to escape the attentions of those trying to coerce them into joining their activities.

I'd like to know how Glorianny would react if this was a Christian group trying to enforce their beliefs on their fellow pupils.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LtJMWilTMc

For those interested and unbiased enough to invest 37 minutes of their time, this is an interview with KB. Hear it from the horse's mouth before you come to judgement. I found her honest, caring and truthful. I might also mention that 50% of the school's intake is now Muslim so potentially the 'one little room' could have to accommodate up to 350 pupils!! She explains very clearly why the school has the ethos it has, and why it decided all school meals had to be vegetarian. For 8 years the lack of a prayer room wasn't a problem, now suddenly it's the be all and end all..........

Her name suggests she is a Sikh/Hindu, not that it makes any difference and besides, I could be wrong …

Her parents come from very diverse backgrounds but are both Christians. She doesn't declare any allegiance as far as I recall.

For 8 years the lack of a prayer room wasn't a problem, now suddenly it's the be all and end all ..........

Yes, someone with an agenda.

Callistemon21

^For 8 years the lack of a prayer room wasn't a problem, now suddenly it's the be all and end all^ ..........

Yes, someone with an agenda.

Definitely an agenda…

I think it's going to be an interesting legal case they are discussing whether a school can be completely secular, it may be one of those legal cases which can be used in the future whichever way the ruling goes.

The girl who is taking the school to court for its inability to provide a prayer room was in fact suspended from the school last April for threatening to stab another student.

It’s all over the internet, with no denials from any sources.

I agree VS but as no one contributing to this discussion has done so, I don't understand your need to say so.

Good grief GrannyGravy. It looks as if this particular student needs a lot more guidance than a prayer room in school is going to offer.

Galaxy

I think it's going to be an interesting legal case they are discussing whether a school can be completely secular, it may be one of those legal cases which can be used in the future whichever way the ruling goes.

Even free schools are state-funded and, as such, should adhere to the Education Act:

Current legal situation
Schools in England and Wales are legally required to hold daily acts of collective worship which are "wholly or mainly of a Christian character".
They could hold assemblies of other faiths too, as long as the majority in a school year are Christian based.