Schools 'are Under Attack From Religious Groups', Head Of Ofsted Warns

[naomi24]

One of the biggest threats to education in Britain is schools coming under attack from religious groups wanting to change how they operate, the head of Ofsted has warned.

Chief inspector Amanda Spielman said ministers and local authorities must do more to support schools that come under “undue influence” from religious and community groups.

Throwing her weight behind those that stand up to pressure groups, Ms Spielman said it is often young girls who end up having their rights curtailed. In a letter to MPs, she included “community pressure” on a list of what she believes are the “major risks” to quality of education and school effectiveness.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/schools-are-under-attack-from-religious-groups-head-of-ofsted-warns-a3978971.html

Time to say a decisive ‘No’?

[naomi24]

AL, this isn't about teaching religion. It's about religious groups wanting to change how schools operate.

[BANANASPLITS]

"Meh.. can't beat em join em! Wouldn't be a problem if everyone was a Muslim."
in a 100 years time you could be right spath!
glad i wont be about to see it

[anotheoldgit]

naomi24

Oh I am so sorry, I just thought that the report that some schools are enforcing a segregation policy, and it may have a bearing on your thread.

But obviously not, so I shall no longer contribute to this thread.

[AuntLydia]

Naomi Yes I know, I don't agree Religion should be brought into schools in any other way that a 'subject'.
However....as much as I do not like the values preached in Islam, schools to a certain extent have always bent Ccertain rules to accommodate those pupils whose families do not have Christian values. I remember JW children being kept away from school assembly which was always Christian based with hymns and prayer. We had a Jewish family who were allowed to bring their own packed lunches in.
In a civilized society we need to accommodate those who have different beliefs to us even if we disagree with them - with the caveat that it does not effect anyone who does not have those beliefs .
The Religious and Pressure groups ( and I think we can guess their affiliations) are not 'attacking' schools, this is melodramatic nonsense. They are pressuring the schools who have banned children from wearing certain religious garments, and making children eat during Ramadan. Frankly I think these actions of the school are wrong. Teachers would not make a JW child sing hymns or say prays as they respect the beliefs of the parents. The Muslims should be given the same respect.

[spathiphyllum]

Most schools are quite christian with prayers (mainly primary school) and hymns sung. Also harvest festival is relation to Christianity as well as Easter, Christmas etc. .etc. .etc..

Most children aren't religious, especially christian, after going to these schools. Why if Islamic practises were referenced / touched on do you think this would promote a generation of Muslims?

[mushroom25]

//They are pressuring the schools who have banned children from wearing certain religious garments, and making children eat during Ramadan. Frankly I think these actions of the school are wrong. //

the hadiths governing Ramadan do not require children to observe the fast until they reach puberty. fasting can affect the ability of children to concentrate and can be more of a risk either when Ramadan is in the spring, during exam time, or when the hours of daylight can result in fasts of 12 hours or longer.

[naomi24]

Aog, Islamic schools are known to embrace segregation, etc., but this is about to mainstream schools. If you choose to bow out of this thread, that’s your choice. I’m simply trying to keep my thread on track.

AL, your post surprises me – it really does. Why should we respect a philosophy that is detrimental to girls? I seriously don't understand why anyone would even suggest doing that. That aside, religious requirements are, in the main, accommodated anyway but this is about changing the way the schools operate.

Mushroom, children who have reached puberty are still children, and for children especially the requirements of Ramadan are neither sensible, nor healthy.

[AuntLydia]

Naomi I am not asking you personally to respect a religion I'm saying one can respect a persons choices even if you don't agree. Schools should not prevent pupils from fulfilling their or their parents wishes for religious reasons, unless it impedes on other pupils who do not follow that religion. You would not expect a child from a vegetarian family to have to eat meat for school dinners, or a Jewish child to eat sausages. Only if those parents then came to the school demanding meat and pork be taken off the school menu in order not to offend their children -then that wold be unacceptable of course.

[AuntLydia]

Islam has been fasting at Ramadan for a very long time. I wonder how the children have managed up to now?
To put it in perspective there are children every day going to school without nutrition and having a red bull for lunch with a bag of chips.

[SparklyKid]

Hi AL, I do enjoy your posts but feel this is more preaching than teaching. You said …..
My youngest, still at private school, has to go to church once a week .

[naomi24]

AL, should we be condoning practices that are detrimental to 50% of students? Really?

[AuntLydia]

Sparkly kid -he has to go to church with the school every week. They have their own church and once a week have a religious assembly there. I could not be further from Christianity if I tried, but sitting once a week listening to drivel being poured out and mouthing to a few songs has not changed him in the least.

[SparklyKid]

Did not change me either. The same stupid songs again and again.

I can hear them now, "We will now sing hymn No. 22 but seeing as it is torn out of the hymn book we shall sing hymn No. 11 twice.

[AuntLydia]

Naomi, I'm suprised you are not 'listening' to what I'm try to say. By allowing a religious practice no one is 'condoning' it. I'm sure Teaching staff do not condone JW's beleifs regrding blood products and the like, but they allow them not to take part in C Of E assemblies or RE classes.
You do not have to either like or condone something to believe that a person has the right, as long as its within the Law, to follow their Religion and as long as they do not expect those who do not believe in their Religion to change there modus operandi.
The schools are trying to prevent the children from doing something, not the Religion trying to make the school make concessions. Subtle difference

[kvalidir]

I would like to see all schools be purely secular and a ban on religious schools. I would like to see RE taught as a subject, where all major and relevant minor religions are taught about and where pupils get the chance to visit others places of worship. this should not be voluntary but a compulsary par of their education. It's fine I think as part of that for schools to 'celebrate' all major religious days of all religions, so Christmas is fine, Easter is fine, Eid, Festival of Light, etc, but in an educational rather than religious sense.

[ludwig]

Religion should have no place in schools, other than as a subject for academic study. I might be wrong but I believe this is the situation in France.

Children shouldn't be brainwashed into joining religious cults, ort taught superstition as fact. If they want to join one later, fair enough.

[SparklyKid]

Any aspect of religion has absolutely no place in any school.

These things should be left up to the family outside of an educational environment.

[naomi24]

AL, I am listening to what you’re trying to say but I don’t think you’re listening to me – or to the head of Ofsted.

//The schools are trying to prevent the children from doing something, not the Religion trying to make the school make concessions.//

That isn’t correct. Read the report. //One of the biggest threats to education in Britain is schools coming under attack from religious groups wanting to change how they operate//

Religion is trying to make the school make concessions. That’s precisely what it’s trying to do.

[AuntLydia]

Naomi I've gone back and read the article over again. From what I can gather the headteacher of St Stephen’s primary in Newham faced 'harassment ' for trying to ban girls from wearing the hijab and fasting at school. On the basis of her idea being found unacceptable by the children parents, she then wrote a letter to her MP who then approached the Commons, rather like chinese whispers, concerned that too little support is given by the Department for Education and local authorities to schools that face pressure from groups in the local community or national pressure groups.
The article seems to be about a relatively small story blown out of proportion for Political ends.

[naomi24]

AL, In her letter to the Commons public accounts committee the head of Ofsted wrote, “You will be aware of a number of high-profile examples in recent years.” Newham is just one example. This is not a 'small story' as you put it. It's something that should seriously concern us.