Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Batley Grammar School

207 replies

Brahumbug · 26/03/2021 06:29

I am outraged that a howling mob of thugs has been allowed to gather at Batley Grammar School to threaten a teacher and demand his sacking. The headmaster has issued a groveling, spineless apology. The threats have been condemned by such as the National Secular Society. The cause if this nonsense? During a lesson on blasphemy, its self the ultimate victimless crime, the teacher showed cartoons of Muhammad. Free soeech is once agsin under attack by religious groups claiming special privileges for their beliefs, absolutely disgusting.

OP posts:
TooOldandTired · 26/03/2021 14:56

BarbaraofSeville
So no concern for the teacher and his family who have had death threats. The police should have dispersed the protesters (most of whom I understand are NOT parents) and the school should not have suspended the teacher or apologised. That is what is disgraceful, not an online petition.

Anordinarymum · 26/03/2021 14:57

@PrincessNutNuts

Does anyone know why that teacher chose to do this?

Based on their decision to deliberate distress half their class, they don't seem like the kind of person who should be allowed anywhere near children to be honest.

Why don't you read the whole thread instead of jumping in and talking shite
BuggerBognor · 26/03/2021 14:58

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

SprungisSpringYaY · 26/03/2021 14:58

The father, Mohammed J, wrote a message online saying: ‘ I would like to convey my support for the school and also the teacher concerned. He has taught my daughter and she speaks very highly of him and I believe he has provided a strong platform for my daughter to understand and view RE within the context of critical discourse.

'I would not hesitate to see him teach my daughter again. I am therefore confident that the teacher concerned did not mean any offence and i hope following an investigation he returns to his role at the school.’

TooOldandTired · 26/03/2021 14:58

@PrincessNutNuts

Does anyone know why that teacher chose to do this?

Based on their decision to deliberate distress half their class, they don't seem like the kind of person who should be allowed anywhere near children to be honest.

What BS, he was teaching about blasphemy. So you really think the teacher, not the multiple men illegally protesting is the problem. FFS, it's not illegal to offend people in this country, not that you would know it.
tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 26/03/2021 15:01

@PrincessNutNuts

Does anyone know why that teacher chose to do this?

Based on their decision to deliberate distress half their class, they don't seem like the kind of person who should be allowed anywhere near children to be honest.

What evidence is there he deliberately distressed half the class?

How do you discuss and debate blasphemy without looking at examples? And if one religion is out of bounds for discussion which is fair game?

Condoning this protest is the firs step to condoning the murder of the teacher in France for a similar "crime".

lunar1 · 26/03/2021 15:05

That poor teacher and his family are going to end up in witness protection. This is a case where the media attention has thrown petrol on the fire.

PrincessNutNuts · 26/03/2021 15:07

I skimmed it @anordinarymum Did I miss where it was explained why they chose to do this to Muslim children?

Perhaps they didn't know it would be hugely distressing and controversial and didn't deliberately set out to cause trouble?

BluTangClan · 26/03/2021 15:08

I think these parents gathered outside the gate should participate in the offending lesson that the teacher gave.
Maybe it would broaden their narrow minds.

chubley · 26/03/2021 15:12

Also local to me, and I live in this constituency. Always still think of
poor Jo Cox every time I'm at the road where she was murdered. Tracy Brabin the MP put out a wishy-washy statement earlier today twitter.com/TracyBrabin/status/1375418637448777728

Have been looking at yesterday and today's coverage, and yes, many of the protesters were clearly too young to be parents and too old to be students. It's very concerning that the protesters say they are going to come back every day until the teacher is sacked - what happens after the Easter holidays? They won't let this go .

www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/live-angry-parent-protest-batley-20250996

It's great that a petition has been started, but I can't see how the teacher can possibly go back there, given the risks to his personal safety over a long period of time, potentially.

TooOldandTired · 26/03/2021 15:12

@PrincessNutNuts

I skimmed it *@anordinarymum* Did I miss where it was explained why they chose to do this to Muslim children?

Perhaps they didn't know it would be hugely distressing and controversial and didn't deliberately set out to cause trouble?

Maybe because he teaches in a secular school in a secular country he didn't ask anyone what their religion is or care. That is the whole point or a secular education. If you don't like it move your kids.
errorofjudgement · 26/03/2021 15:25

@SprungisSpringYaY

The father, Mohammed J, wrote a message online saying: ‘ I would like to convey my support for the school and also the teacher concerned. He has taught my daughter and she speaks very highly of him and I believe he has provided a strong platform for my daughter to understand and view RE within the context of critical discourse.

'I would not hesitate to see him teach my daughter again. I am therefore confident that the teacher concerned did not mean any offence and i hope following an investigation he returns to his role at the school.’

Thank you- I really hope this message of support from an actual parent at the school gets more attention. Thank you for sharing
BuggerBognor · 26/03/2021 15:25

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

TooOldandTired · 26/03/2021 15:29

@BuggerBognor totally agree, there is another thread on here and the number of people saying the teacher is a disgrace etc. is scary. WTF is happening in this country.

manchestermyself · 26/03/2021 15:31

Here are some things that I want answers to and some things I hope might happen (but won't).

All media reports mention the unequivocal apology made by the Head Teacher whilst some also add that the RE teacher has also apologised unreservedly, but other outlets say he hasn't - so which is it? Has the RE teacher actually apologised or has the school apologised on his behalf? which would be so wrong, if they have.

Why have the teaching Unions not spoken up about this?

Gavin Williamson has said the right things, but here is something else he could do: apparently a Muslim Charity that works with the school called 'Purpose of Life' (it has provided computers) has said it will not support the school anymore AND it revealed the poor teacher's name. All the ICT from this charity should be dumped in a skip and the DFE should replace it. The charity should lose its charitable status. How dare they talk about withdrawing their 'support' for the school when actions from one of their members could lead to the death of a teacher. Some charity that is! Prosecutions should follow too, under incitement of violence laws for those who have revealed the name or called for violence against him.

Finally, it is too late now, but this school should not have closed today, it should have been open even if it needed 10,000 police to do so. There should have not been any protest there on Friday morning, it should have been broken up proactively like the Sarah Everard vigil was on Clapham Common the other week, to not do that just reinforces the view that it is one rule for one, one for others - as we saw in 2020 when the authorities stood aside for #BLM and the statue topplers in Bristol.

JanewaysBun · 26/03/2021 15:47

This mob is disgusting and they will only have themselves to blame if a rival BNP group turn up to fight them

I notice no women have been allowed to attend the protests. Toxic masculinity at its finest.

Fwiw I am religious, people often make fun of my religion. Who cares? You do you and I'll do me, if I got upset about it then I would only have myself to blame.

Shame it wasn't a group of mums protesting, the police would have them on the floor in seconds Smile

PrincessNutNuts · 26/03/2021 15:52

[quote BuggerBognor]**@PrincessNutNuts* Law trumps religion - there has not been any law* against blasphemy since 2008 (and it hadn’t been enforced for about 50 years before that, iirc). There is certainly no law against offending people.

So we have a teacher who has not broken any laws being hounded by a mob. And law enforcement doing sweet FA about it (despite apparently quite enjoying biffing the odd protesting female).

And people like you being apologists for nutters.[/quote]
I don't think you should put words into my mouth.

I just asked a question. Which nobody seems able to answer.

There's no law against a teacher distressing children, but if I was a parent at that school then I'd be asking questions about why they did it.

Originalyellowbelly · 26/03/2021 15:55

The men who turn up at the school despite having no children attending have no real interest in what is taught in the classroom, they are there just to cause trouble. Sadly when opposing groups turn up all the blame will fall on them and the police will turn a blind eye to the trouble makers.

ZooeyS · 26/03/2021 15:56

The headteacher is a complete coward and I am furious that the people protesting outside the school gates are being afforded a level of respect that the women at the Sarah Everard vigil, or the predominantly peaceful protesters in Bristol, were not.

Freddiefox · 26/03/2021 15:59

This mob is disgusting and they will only have themselves to blame if a rival BNP group turn up to fight them

Two peas from the same pod, equally Extreme

MiddleParking · 26/03/2021 15:59

*I just asked a question. Which nobody seems able to answer.

There's no law against a teacher distressing children, but if I was a parent at that school then I'd be asking questions about why they did it.*

It’s because your question’s based on the premise that he DID do it, for which there is zero evidence.

MrHannigansCat · 26/03/2021 16:10

How many students were actually "distressed" though Princess?

Do you live near to this school and understand the local area? I do. The police should have dispersed the protesters, they should not have been allowed to congregate outside the school gates. It is intimidation pure and simple.

If parents felt that strongly about their religion they should choose a different school.

Frequentflier · 26/03/2021 16:14

I do not know the area, but regardless of area or children or parents hurt feelings, all religions should be up for ridicule and debate in a secular state.

EsmaCannonball · 26/03/2021 16:14

When I was at school we were shown extremely offensive Nazi posters of Jewish people. The teacher was not attempting to 'distress half the class' but rather to educate us about the inter-war period. Showing something does not automatically mean approving of it.

Hm2020 · 26/03/2021 16:18

They look like thugs not protesters imagine how intimidated the other pupils must feel never mind the teachers! Disgraceful and the head teacher shouldn’t have apologised coward