To think a school can't legally suddenly ban the headscarf for muslin girls!

[Headscarfs123]

So our local catholic school has banned the headscarf this week...disastrous for some of the girls but also against church advice that headscarfs are fine, against DFES advice about consultation and sensitivity to religious groups, against best practice as this type of change should involve the governing body? discriminatory on religious and sexist grounds...Sikh boys can keep their turbans.

Aibu to think that the school is legally in the wrong?

Headscarfs - I'm not sure if I'm looking at the right school website, but the one I'm looking at has in the first paragraph on the home page:

"... Jesus Christ is at the centre of everything we do, the beginning and end. We want each girl to be able to find and follow Christ, to learn to value prayer and to want to serve others."

This seems an odd mission statement when they have non-Christians amongst their pupils, no?

Away from the scarf wearing discussion - I have an uncomfortable feeling about this school and it ethics... AND the Headteacher.

....the attitude of this school is direspectful and demeaning to these young adults. It's no way to treat people.

I am glad the OP has flagged it up - this school needs to be brought to account, because in this instance their actions feel racist.

it is terrible that a 17 year old is being denied an education because of her choice to wear headscarf.

i am sure if she knew in advance the school wouldnt let her wear her headscarf she would have chose another school.

she has been denied the opportunity to do this as have the other pupils who wear the scarf.

does the local press know about this?

is their a mnet rule about not mentioning what you read here to others?

Hmmm..... is the right of religious expression more fundamental than a school's ethos for 'uniform'?

But posie this isn't theory it is reality and as such is subject to certain guidance. I don't know of any schools that outlaw headscarves because you have to have quite a strict criteria for challenging religious clothing. Wearing of the hijab has been successfully challenged but the school had already widely consulted and presented an appropriatevalternative. This sort of thing hasnt happened, even the catholic guidance specifies that a headscarf is appropriate, the LEA has policies on inclusion, the DfeS iscquite clear on uniform and the roles of governors and consultation.

But the horrid bit is that this was presented to the pupils and that they were taken in groups and put on the spot whilst told head scarf off or home. The excluded girl is year 13... Completely unfair to change this without notice even IF it turns out the rule can be put in place. Pupils certainly have the right not o be bullied by senior staff who have changed the rules.

I think there has been a shift, fairly sure the mission stuff is new. It does sit oddly alongside the knowledge of quite a diverse school community and the one point about developing the individual.

This does feel racist and unethical, that does reflect on the head agreed.

Oh and I believe local press do know.

Mnet rules wouldn't be binding anyway, everything here is as I understand it and it is on a public forum...

so has it been in the local press? is their community awareness about this? in bradford?

is the school in an asian area? i understand bradford is quite divided?

have you spoken to any of the girls or their parents?

posie, the fact is many, this girl may be included, wont take of their scarf in front of non related males. this is not debatable for them. so knowing that, i would say this is unreasonable and they should have atleast given her the chance to apply to other 6th forms to get an education, but now she may have to miss a year of school due to this rule.

"Hmmm..... is the right of religious expression more fundamental than a school's ethos for 'uniform'"

I think it's how they're going about it and speaking to these young adults that gives them away - that feels unethical. These are young adults, and should not be talked down to like this. It says more about the Head, and the autocratic climate of the school to me, putting these Muslim adults in their place - hiding behind some uniform policy. I don't buy it.

"It's not hatred of Muslims, it's a loathing for something that most people see as divisive for both community and gender. The covering of women is not reasonably comprehensible if you have no faith in a, patriarchal, God. The reasoning behind the covering is misogynist and controlling. I'm sure you can see it with objective eyes."

I have no faith - I prefer to cover up (not with scarf) and not wear revealing clothes.

Misty - re hair - with you girlfriend.

Nailak nope not spoken to the girls themselves, I know some are yet to tell their parents who I don't know anyway.

There is increasing community awareness and i understand press have been approached.

Don't think the news is very out there yet... Imagine it will be if the school doesn't change.

Is bradford divided? In patches but plenty of integration too. Bit less of the latter if this school gets its way.

I agree animation, that is my reading of it too.

so how do the girls feel? and what do they think their options are? according to your dd? and why havent they told their parents, and what do they think parents reaction will be?

are they going to school with no scarf?

I know some are very upset, some very angry. Don't know why they haven't told families, I think the way it was done put them on the spot so much some may not have wanted to remove their veil and others just don't want to be at the centre of a heated debate. I think there is much that goes on in the lives of this age group that they don't bring straight home.

Obviously they aren't keen to leave their courses.

Have not read the whole thread, but children are guarunteed the right to practise their religion under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (our govt is a signatory) would be interesting if ANY school were to not uphold these rights- extract below-

Article 14 (Freedom of thought, conscience and religion): Children have the right to think and believe
what they want and to practise their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying
their rights. Parents should help guide their children in these matters. The Convention respects the rights
and duties of parents in providing religious and moral guidance to their children. Religious groups around
the world have expressed support for the Convention, which indicates that it in no way prevents parents
from bringing their children up within a religious tradition. At the same time, the Convention recognizes
that as children mature and are able to form their own views, some may question certain religious
practices or cultural traditions. The Convention supports children's right to examine their beliefs, but it
also states that their right to express their beliefs implies respect for the rights and freedoms of others.

yes

very underused and little known, the convention on the rights of the child

giveitago Fri 16-Sep-11 13:52:22
"It's not hatred of Muslims, it's a loathing for something that most people see as divisive for both community and gender. The covering of women is not reasonably comprehensible if you have no faith in a, patriarchal, God. The reasoning behind the covering is misogynist and controlling. I'm sure you can see it with objective eyes."

I have no faith - I prefer to cover up (not with scarf) and not wear revealing clothes.

Misty - re hair - with you girlfriend.

Covering of women, ie the requirement by any authority, is not the same as choosing to cover just because you like it.

My question regarding religion and 'uniform' is just a question, I am not sure. I do find it weird that people, in 2011, choose to follow religion...especially when science has answered some of the questions religion was invented to deal with. But, obviously, I am not religious and haven't been indoctrinated to believe such things....so possibly shouldn't comment. [dons sequinned gag]

Headscarves.....you now mention veil? That is not a hijab.

If we're discussing veils then that's totally different, isn't it?

Personally I think the Head is being a wanker, I can understand reasoning behind banning the hijab but it should be as of 2013 so anyone that doesn't like the policy can choose elsewhere.

veil .. it involved...shouldn't multi task.

Ah well if it's a veil then definitely not fit for school. There's no way of a teacher effectively teaching someone who has her face covered. I hope this school stands it's ground.

I think the veil is offensive.

why is the veil offensive?

For the comfort of teachers in Britain I think veils should be banned in schools, it's extremist.

I'm rather closed to the veil argument, tbh, I've thought about it and can on ly conclude that it's a political/oppressive/convenient (ie somedays you wear it some you don't) garment. If it's sometimes worn then it's never about religion. 16year olds that choose, I use that term loosely, are doing it to please someone or to piss someone else off. They're not old enough to ostracise themselves from their classmates.