The Minority Rule, Well They Do In This School.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2575724/Parents-fury-pork-sausages-banned-school-menu-replaced-halal-meat.html

/// Pupils aged between three and 11 at Brinsworth Manor Infant and Junior Schools in Rotherham - which Ofsted identifies as having only a small number of pupils from minority ethnic groups - will no longer be able to enjoy sausages, bacon or ham. ///

[THECORBYLOON]

You weren't happy when a majority held sway either, http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1304196-4.html, is there a connexion, I wonder...

[LazyGun]

I cannot find a reference in the article where it is confirmed that a changed, more inclusive menu will ban the provision of sausages, bacon or ham. If this is confirmed as being the case, then it is simply a wrong-headed step by the school and local authorities.

Personally, I am not in favour of halal slaughter, nor of accommodating religious sensibilities if it unduly inconveniences others, but I would have no issue providing they were adding to the menu a clearly labelled halal /schechita alternative.

If they want a more inclusive menu the way to do that is by offering a greater choice and informing parents and children of that greater choice, not by reducing choice and banning certain types of meat, such as pork products like sausages, or ham. Too often, it seems we are told that the authorities favour offering a single halal only alternative meats other than pork, without necessarily labelling it as such on the grounds of cost, and I would consider this to be wrong, too.

The story requires additional confirmations; At the moment only the DM is carrying the story, as best I can tell, and the statement from the authorities in the DM is both anodyne and short on detail. I would want confirmation that the pork products have been entirely withdrawn or banned from the menu before getting too upset.

[viv38]

If this is the case, then I think the non muslim parents should get together and protest long and hard !

[emmie]

i tend to agree with viv, if remotely true then the parents should collectively protest to the school board.

[AliceTickband]

emmie.....if the 80% of non-muslim parents went to the governors with this I would not be surprised if they were branded 'racist'.

[sp1814]

This is a little confusing.

The report does not have any comments from the schools themselves, but the food supplier states that halal and non-halal meats are supplied. It would've been useful to see the letter from the school, or to have had a representative from the school interviewed to explain exactly what the 'minor adjustments' actually are.

However, the following statement has made my day:

"The halal children have always had the vegetarian and fish options."

Halal children???