Veil row

[AB Asks]

A 24-year-old Muslim teaching assistant is fighting against a tribunal ruling that she cannot wear a full-face veil in the classroom. Pupils complained that they could not understand her well as they could not see her lips move; she was then suspended and sacked. The 'veil' row is hot on people's lips at the moment; is it religious discrimination to sack a person who will not refuse to remove their veil? Or is it practicality issues such veils pose that people detest? What do you think?

[Gromit]

Oh no, not this again.

AB ed should be stoned to death!!!

[Hugh Spencer]

I was teaching primary aged children for 38 years and it is only when you are in a classroom situation that you appreciate how important it is for the children to be able to see your lips when you speak to them. Also, the veil will slightly muffle the words which are spoken. On purely that basis, veils on people who have anything to do with children in school should be forbidden. It is not fair on the children in that class.

[Gromit]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Current-Af fairs/Question308485.html

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question30 9556.html

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question30 7323.html

[crete]

i think this topic was flogged to death months ago, its hardly topical.

[Supernick]

Get with the program AB. This is not hot news at the moment, but was a couple of months ago.

[jenstar]

I think AB Ed has been recycling last November's subjects. He/She/It was asking about the Turner Prize the other day. Who gives a toss about that except for during three weeks in the autumn?

[Pinky99]

I think you are being a bit harsh on the AB Ed - this is now back in the news as the lady concered is going back to fight against the earlier ruling

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/64 30349.stm

[Marvelman]

She should be told finely that she can not wear a full faced veil, and if she does not like it sod off to a country where she can. everyone is fed up of this stupid woman playing the race card, as well as children not hearing her, i would think that she would frighten them to death.

[stokeace]

i agree with you marvelman can you imagine that in a school in stoke?id take my daughter out of there straight away and so would dozens of others.how the hell can she eat an oatcake with that thing over her gob?

[Marvelman]

lol, like it stokeace,

[stokeace]

lol only us stokies know what we are on about mate...

[curiosity]

It i not acceptable and is not even worthy of debate, enough time and energy is spent walking on egg shells.

[chitchat]

Marvelman - I agree wholeheartedly with you. Its about time these people stopped playing the race card and joined the society they are living in. If not there are plenty of muslim countries where she can wear it. I'll even carry her bags to the airport - stupid woman.

[saxy_jag]

When I taught English (GCSE, not ESOL) to adults, I had a couple of muslim ladies among my students. It's fair to say that I could understand them very well, so good was their spoken English. The veils were fine enough not to muffle what they said, although facial expressions were impossible to read. As they relaxed in the company of fellow (male) students over the weeks, they began to leave the veils off. No noticeable difference in their speech, but it was a real joy to see them laughing and being 'real' women, communicating to their full potential.

But I agree with Hugh Spencer. I think children need to be able to see facial expressions and mouth shapes in order to learn effective communication skills. My adult students already had a good command of language, but children are still developing in this area. They learn by imitation, so what they're going to learn by imitating a woman who is unable to communicate fully is that women should not communicate fully, as men do.

In an Islamic school, that may be OK. But we are talking about a state school here where although many children are muslim, some are not. If parents wish to provide their children with a state education, then one woman's beliefs should not be allowed to hinder that.

[whiffey]

Good old Britain. Given the way we are charging down to destruction, this appeal will succeed. Next step, possibly the disguising of Christian churches lest they offend any of our minorities.

[stokeace]

yes whiffey i agree they will probably order that domes replace the steeples and church towers to appease the minority in our society [or are they the minoroty]....

[mrknowall]

At first i thought no they shouldnt but after going out last night a lot of our women should have them on

[stokeace]

lol mrknowall it could replace the old tesco bag i suppose

[Grunty]

This is also topical again because of the suspect for the failed London bombings. He was seen and recorded by security cameras dressed as a Muslim woman. What would we expect the police to do next time?

[stokeace]

shoot him in the head hopefully.