Post by: RadioFreeSeaLab on October 31, 2007, 02:37:03 PM
Quote
Teachers' Muslim dress order
By ANDREW PARKER
Published: Today
A SCHOOL was yesterday accused of MAKING teachers dress up as Asians for a day to celebrate a Muslim festival.
Kids at the 257-pupil primary have also been told to don ethnic garb even though most are Christians.
The morning assembly will be open to all parents but dads are BARRED from a women-only party in the afternoon because Muslim husbands object to wives mixing with other men.
Just two members of staff a part-time teacher and a teaching assistant are Muslim.
Embrace
Yesterday a relative of one of the 39 others said: Staff have got to go along with it or lets face it, they would be branded racist.
Who would put their job on the line? They have been told they have to embrace the day to show their diversity. But they are not all happy.
The day aims to belatedly mark Eid, the end of Ramadan.
Sally Bloomer, head of Rufford primary school in Lye, West Midlands, insisted: I have not heard of any complaints.
Its all part of a diversity project to promote multi-culturalism.
By ANDREW PARKER
Published: Today
A SCHOOL was yesterday accused of MAKING teachers dress up as Asians for a day to celebrate a Muslim festival.
Kids at the 257-pupil primary have also been told to don ethnic garb even though most are Christians.
The morning assembly will be open to all parents but dads are BARRED from a women-only party in the afternoon because Muslim husbands object to wives mixing with other men.
Just two members of staff a part-time teacher and a teaching assistant are Muslim.
Embrace
Yesterday a relative of one of the 39 others said: Staff have got to go along with it or lets face it, they would be branded racist.
Who would put their job on the line? They have been told they have to embrace the day to show their diversity. But they are not all happy.
The day aims to belatedly mark Eid, the end of Ramadan.
Sally Bloomer, head of Rufford primary school in Lye, West Midlands, insisted: I have not heard of any complaints.
Its all part of a diversity project to promote multi-culturalism.
Post by: Bigjake on October 31, 2007, 03:11:27 PM
Waiting for comrad shootinstudent to show up and explain how this is a good thing we all must embrace.
Post by: De Selby on October 31, 2007, 03:22:06 PM
I don't see any reason why a private school should be prohibited from celebrating whatever holiday it wants-if they don't like it, they don't have to work there, and if the parents don't like it, they don't have to send their kids there.
Post by: Perd Hapley on October 31, 2007, 05:06:49 PM
All that aside, do you mind if some people disapprove of what the school does? How do you feel about it?
Post by: De Selby on October 31, 2007, 06:33:00 PM
All that aside, do you mind if some people disapprove of what the school does? How do you feel about it?
Of course they can disapprove-what I was responding to was the allegation that this was somehow forced upon a hapless crowd that has no choice but to "embrace multiculturalism." The attempt in the article to connect the activities of a private group with no power to compel behavior from others to a giant plot to force everyone to be Muslim, or to accept other cultures, is pure hype.
Personally, I think it's a good thing that the school had a day like this. I support respect and recognition for all religious holidays. Complaining about an Eid celebration like this one is every bit as absurd, in my view, as the atheists who claim that they're undergoing forced Christianization because of a school Christmas party or an Easter breakfast event.
Post by: RadioFreeSeaLab on October 31, 2007, 06:56:23 PM
Post by: De Selby on October 31, 2007, 06:57:08 PM
The children didn't have a choice.
They shouldn't have had a choice either-their parents make the decisions about what they do and don't learn.
Post by: RadioFreeSeaLab on October 31, 2007, 06:58:10 PM
Post by: De Selby on October 31, 2007, 07:02:21 PM
You're telling me you'd be OK with your child's school having mandatory religious dress up days?
I believe that's what I just said-having a Christmas theme day, where the kids learn about Christmas, is not any worse than this. As long as the mission is for them to learn about what the other faith teaches and what members of that faith traditionally do (as opposed to actual religious participation), I have absolutely zero complaint.
There are dress up days to learn about ancient Rome, medieval Europe, and so on just as well. This is no different.
Post by: Euclidean on October 31, 2007, 07:21:44 PM
Post by: CAnnoneer on October 31, 2007, 09:54:02 PM
Post by: RadioFreeSeaLab on October 31, 2007, 09:58:13 PM
Post by: De Selby on October 31, 2007, 11:46:02 PM
There is an easy solution - privatize schooling. If people are forced to pay taxes that support public schools while they have to send their kids to private schools, then they are being forced to pay for a service they do not receive. Let's see how many people are willing or able to pay for the indoctrination centers then. Oh, that would be a load of fun to watch!
Yeah, just like they refuse to pay for Catholic schools-because they don't want their kids getting that religious message?
Post by: mfree on November 01, 2007, 04:24:13 AM
Right?
Or is this not really about "diversity" at all?
Post by: Joe Demko on November 01, 2007, 05:03:36 AM
You all did note that the story is from the UK?
Post by: mfree on November 01, 2007, 05:22:25 AM
Post by: Ex-MA Hole on November 01, 2007, 05:47:22 AM
We should press to have them make all dress as Hasidics Jews when Hanukkah starts. It's only fair, right?
Right?
Or is this not really about "diversity" at all?
Right?
Or is this not really about "diversity" at all?
Well played.
Post by: charby on November 01, 2007, 06:27:30 AM
We should press to have them make all dress as Hasidics Jews when Hanukkah starts. It's only fair, right?
Right?
Or is this not really about "diversity" at all?
Right?
Or is this not really about "diversity" at all?
Well played.
I haven't figured out this yet, if the oppressed group can segregate sexes based upon religion/culture and be supported by the liberal folks, why do they throw a fit if non oppressed group wanted to have a men's only club or something like that.
I'm using oppressed lightly.
Also what is going to happen when the Latinos do get a strong hold on this country with their male dominated society? What about if the Muslim religion does also? Are they going to be coddled by the liberals and will the liberals look away when the women are oppressed by current society standards?
Post by: CAnnoneer on November 01, 2007, 06:38:55 AM
Post by: Strings on November 01, 2007, 09:15:24 AM
*and no, I will NOT mention any names, as those on the list can easily kill me
Post by: HankB on November 01, 2007, 10:15:45 AM
Quote
A SCHOOL was yesterday accused of MAKING teachers dress up as Asians for a day . . .
Cossacks, Mandarins, and Samurai qualify as Asians, as do Buddhist and Shao-Lin monks, Mongols, and Brahmins. 
Post by: De Selby on November 01, 2007, 12:28:59 PM
We should press to have them make all dress as Hasidics Jews when Hanukkah starts. It's only fair, right?
Right?
Or is this not really about "diversity" at all?
Right?
Or is this not really about "diversity" at all?
Actually, yes-if there were a unit on learning about Jews and Judaism, and part of that was learning about what Jews traditionally wear and what their holidays are, I'd say that's a good thing. I'd also be highly suspicious of parents who became outraged at the school "forcing kids to accept Jews and the Jewish agenda"-in that context I think more people would rightly be suspicious as to what the real motivations for parental fears were.
Post by: De Selby on November 01, 2007, 12:33:41 PM
I haven't figured out this yet, if the oppressed group can segregate sexes based upon religion/culture and be supported by the liberal folks, why do they throw a fit if non oppressed group wanted to have a men's only club or something like that.
I'm using oppressed lightly.
I don't think that having a "learn about Muslims" day on Eid constitutes support for gender separation, anymore than a learn about the Indians or the colonial times would constitute support for slavery or wiping out Indians.
Quote
Also what is going to happen when the Latinos do get a strong hold on this country with their male dominated society? What about if the Muslim religion does also? Are they going to be coddled by the liberals and will the liberals look away when the women are oppressed by current society standards?
There are all kinds of "what ifs" in this world-my rule for worrying about them is to prioritize "what-ifs" that are at least somewhere near possible. The idea that there will be a "Muslim strong hold" on the UK or the US any time in the foreseeable future is fantasy.
I know of no liberals who want to change gender equality laws in either the UK or the US because of Muslims. A school having an Eid celebration has nothing to do with liberals and Muslims getting along (which they don't-Muslims overwhelmingly voted for GW Bush...but that's another story.)
Post by: Len Budney on November 01, 2007, 12:39:17 PM
I guess you could call it "force" if the public schools do it, because attendance is more or less compulsory. But private schools? The curriculum is what it is. Don't like it? Say so. Still not satisfied? Vote with your wallet. Until someone with a gun gets involved (blue uniform optional), "force" has nothing to do with it.
--Len.
Post by: jamz on November 02, 2007, 12:36:26 PM
Post by: Perd Hapley on November 02, 2007, 12:38:45 PM
Cool! Can we also have a celtic dress-up-day? I can think of several people* I'd like to see in nothing but blue paint...
*and no, I will NOT mention any names, as those on the list can easily kill me
*and no, I will NOT mention any names, as those on the list can easily kill me
Yes, I could. Now quit fantasizing about me, or my Viking wife will gut you.