Swimming lessons in some Staffordshire schools should stop during Ramadan to ensure Muslim pupils "do not swallow water", a council has suggested.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has issued an 11-page Ramadan guide for schools to help pupils who may be fasting when the school year starts in September.
It said swimming was acceptable to Muslims but posed a high risk of swallowing water that may break a fast.
//"The overriding consideration should be that children do not feel disadvantaged in school activities because of their religious observance," the council added.//
So why should non-Muslim children be disadvantaged by having lessons suspended due to the religious observance of others? If Muslims want to opt out of specific lessons, their choices shouldn't be allowed to affect the rest of the school.
lets face it though, not many schools will be open during august will they. and its even more doubtful that teachers will be there, let alone taking kids off to the pool.
They will have to publish ANOTHER leaflet on what English folks can do in their country as an alternative to swimming during these ever-increasing periods.
this is my local council..the same council that sold off a piece of land valued at £100,000 for £1.00 yes a quid...to the muslim population of stoke on trent so that they can build a mosque...the muslims soon found the £10000s of pounds to build it though..this council bends over backwards to accomodate the needs of the muslim populus in stoke on trent and then they wonder why the b.n.p and the e.d.l are so prominent in the area..
I don't believe it has come to this! Ramadan is a moveable feast, hence it can occur in any month of the year. Probably bearable in December, not so much so in June. Strict muslims can opt out of activities which are against their religion, as can any religious group. Are we now to abolish carol services and nativity plays for the same reason? I strongly suspect that these initiatives do not come from muslims but from those with a malevolent intent on destroying the status quo and stirring up racial and religious discord where none exists in order to further their anarchic agenda.
From my wife's experience - she taught in an inner-city school with a large Muslim intake - primary children are allowed water when fasting - a little rerlaxtion of the rules is permissable - particularly since they are no obliged to fast before puberty.
Is it the most extreme face of being a Muslim, that implements such a rule?
I am told there is nowhere in the Koran, that decrees a woman should be fully covered up ....with a burka?
who is that lays down such laws in a Western society?
same with swimming baths scenario?
further to my previous post i forgot to add that the council only charges the muslims a £1.00 a year yes a quid for ground rent on this mosque...this ''rent'' was on the understanding that the mosque had a bulding built adjacent to it for the use of ''the wider community''...guess what the additional building is not being built and guess what else???? thats right the ground rent remains the same...£1.00 a year....no wonder the citizens of my hometown are totally brassed off....