School forces girls to wear head scarves

[Salu]

http://www.tes.co.uk/2295738

This school has come up with a great alternative......

Female students at a new Islamic school will be forced to wear head scarves regardless of their religious beliefs, it emerged today.

Pupils at the Madani High School in Leicester will have to cover their heads as part of the new £17.8million voluntary-aided school's strict uniform policy.

The decision was taken by school governors despite the fact that at least 10% of children enrolled at the school - which will replace the existing Leicester Islamic Academy (LIA) when it opens in 2007 - will be from faiths other than Muslim.

[orangebird]

Anyone care to explain to me the difference bewteen being forced to wear a scarf when it's not your religion, and being asked NOT to wear one when it is?

[David F]

well there you go just shows up what its really like. We ie white british have to be PC or all hell breaks loose.Just look at Jack Straws statements and what happened.Now we have a school who wants to force others to do there thing.Talk about inbalance

[Macca371]

Any school which receives state funding shouldn't enforce religious clothing, it should ban it. France have the right idea.

---------- Post added at 13:21 ---------- Previous post was at 13:20 ----------

Originally Posted by orangebird

Anyone care to explain to me the difference bewteen being forced to wear a scarf when it's not your religion, and being asked NOT to wear one when it is?

Because one is being forced and one is being asked?

[Tuftus]

I wonder how long it will be before a "human rights" court case evolves out of this?

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

I think what the school is saying that head scarves are part of their school uniform. It's their strict uniform policy.

[Macca371]

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

I think what the school is saying that head scarves are part of their school uniform. It's their strict uniform policy.

It's undeniably suggestive of religion, and one in particular. It is against the very purpose of a uniform, to give the impression of equality.

[hatedbythemail]

im shocked. and look this dorset school also has headwear as part of its uniform. that poor boy. www.fernfirst.dorset.sch.uk/prospectus/uniform.htm

[fireman328]

Crazy world, this PC stuff has gone too far.

[eddie00001]

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

I think what the school is saying that head scarves are part of their school uniform. It's their strict uniform policy.

But there are plenty of state schools that have a strict uniform policy which doesn't include any form of head dress/hats etc, yet allow head scarfs to be worn for religious/cultural reasons in the name of diversity. So, therefore the reverse should also be allowed, especially as they are funded by the taxpayer.

[hatedbythemail]

and c of e schools which have muslim pupils attend religious assemblies and services hosted by the church with which they are allied? this, incidentally, something which muslim pupils and parents accept without complaint.

but the key issue for me is the government's insistence on closing established schools and replacing them with academies which are invariably co-funded by religious groups - mainly christian. i personally would like to see an end to faith schools and an even greater emphasis in the curriculum on religions and allied cultural issues so that we can foster mutual respect between those of different faiths and those with no faith.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

I think what the school is saying that head scarves are part of their school uniform. It's their strict uniform policy.

Yes, but the head scarf is not a more-or-less neutral piece of clothing like a grey skirt or black shoes. It has explicit religious significance. It's difficult to find an exact analogy but I think it's not unlike a Catholic school compelling everyone to wear a crucifix. You can imagine the uproar were a muslim pupil at such a school to be required to do this.

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Originally Posted by Macca371

It's undeniably suggestive of religion, and one in particular. It is against the very purpose of a uniform, to give the impression of equality.

Its an Islamic Faith school who's religion asks women to cover their heads. Its the school uniform. I was "forced" to wear a tie for about 6 years, oh and shorts in summer too. It happens in all schools with a uniform.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

Its an Islamic Faith school who's religion asks women to cover their heads. Its the school uniform. I was "forced" to wear a tie for about 6 years, oh and shorts in summer too. It happens in all schools with a uniform.

It's an Islamic faith school that was built with £15 million of taxpayers' money. I am all for religious schools being able to decide exactly who they admit, what they teach and what they wear, but not when they are part of the public, state-funded network that we all pay for and have the right to send our children to.

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Originally Posted by hatedbythemail

and c of e schools which have muslim pupils attend religious assemblies and services hosted by the church with which they are allied? this, incidentally, something which muslim pupils and parents accept without complaint.

My primary school was Church Of England, and I'd say just in our year the percentage of muslim pupils was a minimum 15-20%. We went to church every week, sang 'christian' songs in assembly, partcipated in harvest and productions of Navity plays at xmas, all without complaint from either the pupils or the parents.

This school in question is a muslim faith school with rules regarding uniform. A non muslim choosing to attend the school for whatever reason will be aware of these rules at time of application.

I was reading something recently about how a lot of non muslims wish to send their children to muslim schools because of the success of students in the national curriculum subjects. Well if you want to do that fair play, but while your their you should be subject to the same rules regarding uniform.