UK's strictest Headmistress taken to school over banning prayers in the playground

[cakeorwine]

Top London school taken to high court over prayer ban | London | The Guardian

I don't believe that schools should have a compulsory act of worship.
However - it seems that there has been a ban on prayer rituals on the premises.

"The prayer policy was introduced in March last year by the school’s founder, Katharine Birbalsingh – frequently described as Britain’s strictest headteacher – when the school found itself the target of abuse and harassment after pupils were seen praying in the school playground by passersby. About 30 students took part, some kneeling on their blazers as they were not permitted to bring in prayer mats, the court heard.
Before these events, the court heard that prayers were not expressly banned at Michaela, though it had no dedicated prayer room. The new policy had the “practical effect of only preventing Muslims from praying because their prayer by nature has a ritualised nature rather than being internal”, the court heard.
The pupil’s lawyer said it was in effect “a ban uniquely on Muslim prayer”, stopping pupils praying “at a time as required by Islam”. In contrast, it would not, she said, prevent a Christian child sitting quietly in the corner of the playground from praying"

I think it seems that prayer mats were banned - and I think it seems they were banned from kneeling on blazers.

If someone wants to pray in the playground voluntarily, then they should be able to. It's not an act of compulsory worship.

I can see why they wanted this kept quiet.

If someone wants to pray in the playground voluntarily, then they should be able to. It's not an act of compulsory worship.

Absolutely! No one should be forced to pray and no one should be forced not to

She's a monster.

You could argue its a health and safety issue in a playround. A more suitable option would be to have a prayer room. When I was at high-school those that wanted to did so in our tutor room if prayers fell over lunch time but ypu couldn't expect others to stop talking ( howling) or messing about. Personally I used to just wait till I got in from school to make up any prayers I missed. School is for teaching and learning and that should be the priority. It really doesn't need to be any more complicated that that.

Surely that's just going to encourage some kids to start "praying" as a kind of protest against the rules.

If they don't want passers by commenting on them praying in the playground then let them come inside for the five minutes of prayer. Such an easy adjustment to make.

They actually could assign a prayer room for them. They do that in my sons school but its quite sad that they're stopping Muslim kids fron praying, when it's very important to them praying 5 times a day!

During the shorter days it's much more important because by the time the child gets home the assigned time for that specific prayer has passed. During the summer months - its fine, the child can pray at home. They are only.asking for a quiet space for a few months of the year - in essence. A real life Miss Trunchball (one of her rules was no praying) More strength to those children

I agree she's made a mistake here.

Apart from that - I think she's a fantastic principal and I wish more principals had the scope and freedom to follow her methods (looking at you, Ofsted.)

Can't say any of my Muslim friends ever prayed at school and they all grew to be good Muslim women and men. If its during break time then I can't see the issue myself.

Maybe the uk is more tolerant these days or people are more proud of their faith, but I have noticed much more praying in the last 5 years, such as trafford centre and public places

Why wouldn't you give them a prayer room? I've spent most of my career at Roman Catholic schools and we always find a space somewhere for muslims to pray.

It would be pretty obvious to knowledgeable people if a Jewish child was praying too.

when the school found itself the target of abuse and harassment after pupils were seen praying in the school playground by passersby

I think there is an element of protecting pupils involved.

Setting up a quiet/ prayer room for break times is an better option... but then you're looking at staffing levels, availability and costs.

Banning all private prayer is not right. It is akin to banning thinking.
Students who have to be obvious about their prayer due to rituals should be encouraged to play in areas that are more protected from public view.
It is equally not nice that the kids have been picked on by ignorant folk.
Teaching about different religions adds to tolerance of different religions and cultures. Educating rather than banning is best.

Frankly I think religion has no place in schools, they should all be secular. I recognise this isn't going to happen unfortunately, in the meantime it needs to be minimised.

As regards banning religion being akin to banning thinkng - I would counter that and say some religions seem so closed they do ban thinking. The protests at Batley and the need for a teacher to go into hiding due to showing a picture is an example of this.

Yet anothe molehill thats bringbturned into a mountain.

TBH it sounds like a playground craze but someone's got their oar out. Guaranteed to end badly.

There can't seriously be any cost to designating one small space in a large school for occasional prayers. Staffing, too, would be minimal, and indeed Moslem staff would probably be glad to have a designated prayer area.

People like Birbalsingh who make a big thing about obeying rules never seem to extend that principle to themselves. See also this school's attitude to its responsibilities to pupils with SEN.

@Sceptre86 "Personally I used to just wait till I got in from school to make up any prayers I missed. School is for teaching and learning and that should be the priority. It really doesn't need to be any more complicated that that."

Completely respect this as your personal choice, but also realistically for many or most practicing Muslims it's not the preference or the choice they'd make when duhr ends before school does. And nor should we have to!

They need a prayground.

Cost is reflected in the space required and for staff to attend... unless you find someone who is willing to do this for free. But then you'll be looking at staff designated break times (which they have to take by law...)

Looks like the school wanted to brush this under the carpet and asked for the hearing to be held in private and for reporting restrictions to prevent the school being identified. The judge has disagreed and it will be a full public hearing.

If it's at break times, they can simply designate a space that is unused at this time. If Moslem staff want to pray there, that may solve the staffing problem.

Trafford centre has had a dedicated prayer room since it opened 20 odd years ago.

it is down to the individual if they wish to pray or not, but those who want to should have those needs accommodated. In reality if the school allocated a small private space for those who wished to pray it would be a complete none issue.

Surely if devout muslims are praying it puts pressure on the other muslims to follow suit.

In reality if the school allocated a small private space

But it could be the majority of the school? Which is not a religious school.