A council has launched an investigation into why parents from five schools in Thurrock chose to remove children from lessons covering Islam.
...and Essex has a strong contender!
Further details were revealed during a meeting on Wednesday when the issue was debated with one mother speaking out to confirm why she decided to take the drastic action.
Heather Rogers, 31, from South Ockendon confirmed she had taken the unusual step but not because she disagreed with the religion.
Perish the thought!
She said: "To me this is not about Islam, it is the fact that my kids came home and called it an 'intensive' study. If they said it was an intensive study on Christianity, I would have done the same.
“An intense study just sounds full-on. Maybe if it was worded better and they just said this week we would do such and such and explained it each week it would have sounded better but instead it’s an intense study.
"When I was growing up we would learn about all religions but I don't agree with an intense study. Schools should teach about all of them equally so that children can decide to be part of a religion if they want to."
Sure, sure, that sounds plausible. But what about the people that do this for other reasons?
While she stressed that she did not take issue with the religion of Islam, some parents who had also removed their children at the same time told her that they had done so because they disagreed with Islam being taught in schools at all.
She said:
"Unfortunately, with social media a lot of people only see part of the story and are a bit blinkered to understanding the whole religion. When they think of Islam they think of terrorism and destruction, but that is only extremists. Some parents do have the wrong impression because of all the media hype."
Right. Got it. The media hype. Sure. Not all the hundreds of thousands killed, maimed or ruined?
“If they are pulling their children out for the sake of it being Islam then they need educating to know that although terrorists can be linked, that is extremism not the religion."
Clearly, people who say Essex has no philosophers are wrong.
Our local primary has touched on the subject and then I tell the kids the truth of the matter when they get home, if they had a mosque visit scheduled then we would make a point of refusing to allow the visit whatever the outcome.
ReplyDelete"Mum, we had a talk on Islam at school today. It was really interesting. Can I have my clitoris cut off by Gran and my labia sewn up? You know that awful girl Gloria? She is so gay, we're going to throw her off the school roof tomorrow at break and then stone her if she's still alive. Peter was asked to go and see one of the Islamic teachers, and when he came back, he said his bum hurt. Also, I am not going to talk to Ruth any more as she is Jewish and she smells and doesn't deserve to live. Why are you wearing a dress that shows your arms and legs? That makes you a whore. Can I be Muslim, Mum? Can I? Can I?"
ReplyDeletePenseivat
"...and then I tell the kids the truth of the matter when they get home..."
ReplyDeleteIf only all parents did that...
"Can I be Muslim, Mum? Can I? Can I?"
LOL!