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
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

678 replies

Headscarfs123 · 13/09/2011 00:15

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?

OP posts:
GothAnneGeddes · 13/09/2011 01:20

If this is true ( and I really hope not), then OP you are not being unreasonable, especially if Sikh boys are still allowed to wear turbans.

PM me and I can put you in touch with some organisations who will help you fight it.

reelingintheyears · 13/09/2011 01:20

OP..you say your children don't wear headscarves and are past the book bag checking age..

Why are you so upset about this?

reelingintheyears · 13/09/2011 01:22

What i mean is....

Why aren't the parents of the girls who are being told not to wear headscarves getting upset about it?

Original poster
Headscarfs123 · 13/09/2011 01:26

in uj and unaware of holland link.

OP posts:
worraliberty · 13/09/2011 01:28

Oh well given the fuss and furor this story has caused in Holland...you won't need to worry as I'm sure your story will be all over the National press by Sunday at the latest.

I'll follow it with interest Smile

Original poster
Headscarfs123 · 13/09/2011 01:28

reeling I imagine they are. I think we can all care about things that don't directly impact on us.

OP posts:
Original poster
Headscarfs123 · 13/09/2011 01:29

maybe the way forward!

OP posts:
cantspel · 13/09/2011 01:34

My youngest is in a catholic secondary (we are catholic)
From this years intake of 124 pupils 74 are non catholics but all 74 either are looked after children (ie is care of some sort) under instruction for the catholic faith or from another demonitation faith school.
The school is over subscribed and so there are no places left as community places.

Thepoweroforangeknickers · 13/09/2011 02:16

Grin [grim] at muslin girls

Barbeasty · 13/09/2011 06:51

Worral, there is no rule saying that a catholic school has to reserve community places in return for state funding. They can set whatever admission criteria they like, so long as it complies with the admission code.

This often means that baptised catholic children are top of the list, and can include further categories including mass attendance and for secondary schools a preference for those from a catholic primary.

If your local school is reserving community places then this is a decision made by the diocese or school, not a legal obligation.

The schools can't refuse to take a pupil because they aren't a practicing catholic, but in reality if its published admissions criteria gives preference to practicing Catholics and enough apply to fill all the spaces you will get a school with 100% catholic pupils.

Our parish primary is about 60% catholic, but that's because only 60% of the applicants are catholic.

DownbytheRiverside · 13/09/2011 06:58

Is it the headscarf or the niqab they have banned?
I don't know if this is the school you are referring to.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ireland/8023079/Irelands-Catholic-schools-ban-full-Muslim-veil.html

Whatmeworry · 13/09/2011 07:02

Welcome to Mumsnet...there is a certain something about new MNers who start controversial threads as their first MN post, no?

HerdOfTinyElephants · 13/09/2011 07:23

There's also a certain something about posters who can't be arsed to read the whole of the thread and see where the OP has stated that she's namechanged and why. It might not be true, obviously, but then you might be a hairy-handed truck driver named Brian yourself, no?

Serenitysutton · 13/09/2011 07:27

I went to a crappy catholic school, not desirable in the least. Where I live now catholic schools are the excellent ones. I kind of feel like I shouldn't have to join in with all thE pretendy church attendance bollocks as I actually am catholic and suffered the crappy education to prove it. So basically I should just be able to rock up and claim my childs place.

Headscarves are not actually a religious symbol which turbans are so I think it's a misguided comparison.

Whatmeworry · 13/09/2011 07:32

It might not be true, obviously, but then you might be a hairy-handed truck driver named Brian yourself, no

And which do you think has the higher probability? :o

Must go now, have to wind up me tachograph.....

FemaleEuknickers · 13/09/2011 07:41

Headscsarf, do you children attend the school? Do you wear a head scarf?

Original poster
Headscarfs123 · 13/09/2011 07:44

Ignore Brian whatmeworry, it is true and as I said, thanks herdofminielephants, I am a regular...you know terrywogan's cock, penguin,pombear, steam mops...

No not that school and yes the head scarf. I wonder whether they are using that point of view serenity although the girls who wear them certainly see a religious value and some will probably not be able to attend if the change is continued with.

OP posts:
Original poster
Headscarfs123 · 13/09/2011 07:45

Yes children go, I don't wear a headscarf no.

OP posts:
aldiwhore · 13/09/2011 07:51

I think its a disgraceful to treat people. I just do not get the fear of religious symbols being worn? I'm agnostic, bordering on atheism (but with 'hope' lol) and religion doesn't offend me, nor do the people who choose to dress in accordance with their faith.

I am all for school uniform though (for pure ease if nothing else) but don't see why on earth school colours can't be incorporated to include everyone.

I'd be fuming on the behalf of the girls, their parents and the gross lack of respect from the school.

Animation · 13/09/2011 07:53

Chilldren having to wear a headscalf is ridiculous anyway - poor things.

I was only a patriarchial rule anyway - something a man thought up.

The sooner these silly rules get overturned the better.

Let children be children and feel the wind through their hair!

Animation · 13/09/2011 07:56

A headscalf is NOT a religious symbol. Some man in authority said that - and it wasn't a God.

aldiwhore · 13/09/2011 08:00

I don't care whether its a patriarchial hangover to be honest, it means a lot to some people and it should be allowed, so long as its in the school colours. I have no objection to crucifixs either... an actually it doesn't HAVE to be religious for it to be important... it could be something sentimental. I wore a ring at school, I had to wear tape over it during cookery, PE and drama but I wasn't forced to remove it.

I actually agree that no child should be made to be part of any religion, but as I also believe that all parents bring their children up within their own belief structures, its going to happen.

tethersend · 13/09/2011 08:02

Of course headscarves should be banned in favour of nice, sensible catholic wear

Riveninabingle · 13/09/2011 08:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Swipe left for the next trending thread