Crazy teacher ?

[enigma]

My nine year old daughter came home from school a few days ago clutching a consent form to visit the mosque in Glasgow - fine. The thing is though , she has now informed me that she will have to be covered up and have her head covered in a headscarf or she will not be permitted to enter. Any child who refuses to cover up will not be permitted to attend the trip , which I was really unhappy about. I am not a racist and absolutely defend the right for any individual to have the freedom to exercise their right to hold whichever beliefs they may have and to be allowed their relevant place of worship. I can not however understand why my daughter should be forced to adhere to religious customs which are not her own. I realise that this may be a touchy subject for some but I wonder what would happen if a muslim child was visiting a chapel and was ordered to bare their head and show their face , then bless themself and take communion , in order for them to enter. The media would have an absolute field day with a story like that. I am not catholic but have been in a chapel many a time for friends' weddings , funerals etc and would not bless myself nor take communion because I am not catholic ...................

[loukr]

Enigma - I went to visit a mosque once, and you do NOT need to follow their religion to get into it.. that is ridiculous... Basically this one had 2 entrances, one for muslim men and one for muslim women and other religions/tourists etc, in which you were not allowed to the front of the mosque (where the men prayed), as this was against their religion. the only thing I had to do was remove my shoes and if wearing a hat, remove that too.

I cannot see how they can ask your child or any of these children to act as though they were muslim, which is what it sounds. I think you should speak to the head teacher about this to be honest... good luck

[andy-hughes]

To answer pie+mash's question - we all feel exactly the same, that political correctness is being used inappropriately.

The notion of stopping / removing something 'in case Muslims are offended' is an utter nonsense. Apart from the press-grabbing fundamentalists, i am sure that Muslims are happy to co-exist with other faiths, and would be perfectly happy to see Christmas lights in what is, nominally at least, a Christian country.

With regard to your question enigma, I would by-pass the school and contact the mosque directly, and find out exactly what is required by visitors in terms or appropriate attire - i wonder if the school is being over-cautious in requesting full head and face coverage?