Plan B Forum

Parents today accused a primary school of trying to 'blackmail' them after they were told their children would be marked down for racial discrimination if they did not attend a workshop on Islam.



The headmistress of Littleton Green Community School, in Huntington, Staffordshire, wrote to parents telling them about the school trip to the Explore Islam workshop at Staffordshire University next week.

They were told the Years Four and Six children would be looking at religious artefacts on their visit - and threatened with being labelled as racists 'throughout their school career' if they did not go.

Littleton Green head Lynn Small wrote to parents and carers of children at the school on Wednesday, saying the visit was organised to fulfil the part of the national curriculum requirement that children 'experience and learn about different cultures'.

She said the trip would give pupils time to 'explore other religions' and said they would be looking at exhibits 'similar to those in a museum'.

But the letter said: 'Refusal to allow your child to attend this trip will result in a Racial Discrimination note being attached to your child's education record, which will remain on this file throughout their school career.'

It went on: 'All absences on this day will be investigated for their credibility and will only be sanctioned with a GP sick note.'

Today angry parents criticised the school's 'ludicrous' threats and accused Mrs Small of attempting to 'blackmail' them into sending their children on the trip, which they have been asked to pay £5 a head for.

Mother Gillian Claridge, 55, said: 'How dare they threaten to brand the children racist at such a young age? It's going to make them feel like little criminals.

'The very nature of religion is all about choice - on this occasion they were not being given any choice at all.

'It was draconian move and it has left a lot of parents fuming.'

Mother-of-four Tracy Ward said: 'I was shocked by the letter. To be told my kids have got to attend this workshop is disgusting.

'Everyone should have a choice, but that’s my opinion and I don’t want a stain on my kids’ record as a result.

'They are not old enough to be called racist.'

Her sister Donna, whose daughter also attends the school, said: 'It’s not our religion. We should have a right to stop our children going.'

Stacy Waldron, 26, who has an eight-year-old daughter at the school, said: 'I feel my child will be racist if I don’t allow her to go.

'This is my choice, not hers, and she shouldn’t have to pay for it.'

Around 100 pupils were expected to take part in the course, which involves students being shown Islamic artefacts including a Koran and a prayer rug.

Around 100 pupils were expected to take part in the course, which involves students being shown Islamic artefacts including a Koran and a prayer rug

rubato wrote:The nice thing about 'crazy education' stories is that there are so many schools led by such a large number of people paid indifferent salaries so that oversight of hiring and promotion is, well, somewhat imperfect.

Maybe you'd suggest that you can't blame the Crusades on "Christianity" then

rubato wrote:The nice thing about 'crazy education' stories is that there are so many schools led by such a large number of people paid indifferent salaries so that oversight of hiring and promotion is, well, somewhat imperfect.

The number alone guarantees that there will be instances of idiocy every news cycle or three allowing those addicted to outrage to experience their favorite emotion.

MGenl: Blaming 9-11 on Islam makes as little sense as blaming Mi Lai or the Murrah bombing on Christianity.


yrs,
rubato