Dinner Lady...the Other Side Of The Story

[sp1814]

Remember earlier this week, when we discussed the sacking of the dinner lady who served the Muslim kid gammon and was subsequently sack?

Some of us commented that the story (as reported by the Daily Mail), seemed 'wrong'.

Presenting the other side of the story:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/08/02/alison-waldock-row-muslim-parents-speak_n_3694477.html

Does this now change anyone's opinion one the story?

[arwyn]

Roman I agree with you, I don't have children at school now. I know that is all this dinner lady is allowed to order. If parents are concerned they should ask at their school.

[emmie]

rowan
which is exactly what i said on the other post.

[Gromit]

Perhaps the 7 year old had been told and knew to avoid Pig, Swine Hog or Pork, but was confused when told the meat was Gammon.

Would the girls appearance not have alerted the dinner lady that the child might be muslim, and asked her if she was.

Has she decide to take them to a tribunal yet? Why the delay?

[hc4361]

Most schools, hospitals, pubs, restaurant chains, football grounds, etc serve Halal routinely.

We don't eat any meat or poultry except pork when we eat out.

[hc4361]

Gromit, how can you tell by looking if a child is Muslim? Not all wear a hijab and in the family's photos on Facebook the girls are not wearing any headgear

[emmie]

hc i remember you said that...
seems wrong doesn't it that halal can be on the menu, be it school or restaurant and you not know.

[arwyn]

I've just goggled and got a very short list of infant schools in my city. one school on the list is a R.C school.
I know the list has missed schools off this list.

[hc4361]

emmie, don't forget the New Zealand lamb sold in all supermarkets from Waitrose to Aldi is Halal, without being labelled as such.

[Mamyalynne]

I am still trying to work out how she got a cooked dinner when she had a packed lunch, though it is something I would have tried at 7.

[hc4361]

mamy, probably the dinner lady, having to serve 200 children and whittle out the 40 with special dietary requirements, didn't have time to check whether this girl had paid.

Or the girl swapped her packed lunch for a canteen token, or whatever the school uses.

[Just-Jude]

The child was dressed casual at home, but wore a burka to school, maybe she had trouble seeing the gammon if her headgear wasn't positioned properly.

[hc4361]

She did not wear a burka to school. What a ridiculous thing to say

[FredPuli43]

Surely no employer sacks an employee with long service for just one act of this nature. The damages would be high, the costs high, and the publicity wouldn't do the school or the local authority any good either

[emmie]

so she is a serial pork dispenser or perhaps she just messed up... either way we haven't heard any more...

[emmie]

think i remember this, what i find odd it does say multi faith school, yet all the meat is halal,

http://swns.com/news/dinner-lady-sacked-serving-muslim-children-non-halal-meat-31756/

[FredPuli43]

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridge/Gammon-being-served-to-Muslim-pupil-by-sacked-dinner-lady-was-not-a-one-off-headteacher-20130801055000.htm

That's what he head understood from the direct employer. The lady was sacked because she displayed a peculiarly casual approach to these matters

[ummmm]

What is so wrong with halal?

[emmie]

“The school reflects and celebrates the diverse cultures that make up the community it serves and respects the beliefs and values of our children and parents.”

does that include parents who aren't told their child eats halal, what a load of bunkum.,

[hc4361]

emmie, that is because it is impractical to serve halal chicken and non-halal chicken (or beef, or lamb).
I feel very strongly about it. The law states that animals can be slaughtered in approved Halal abattoirs for consumption by those whose religion demands it. It is not supposed to be for the general public which it increasingly is, without knowledge.

I have tried to get my MP on the case, with little success. I don't know who to campaign to.