Teacher told my child that child is not a Muslim

[Jkam24]

My daughter has recently started reception and asked me today if our family are Muslims, to which I said yes. She then started crying saying her teacher told her that she (my daughter) is not a Muslim. Is it unreasonable to be angry about this?

I did at that age. I was raised as a Catholic, so we went to chapel every week, So I did actually have a concept of it.

It didn't take away my choice. I was baptised, made my first communion, confession, confirmation. I no longer practice, but I still have the values it taught me - treat other people the way you want to be treated. Disagreed with most of it, but it gave me a moral compass which I am grateful for.

If she cares about her career she will have to reflect on it.

Caring about children is already established by saying it, but humanity is still too primitive for that with religion still existing at all.

@Jkam24 - I can appreciate that as a fellow teacher you do not want to get the teacher into trouble, but I think by reporting it to the head, in a non-complaint way, you will actually be doing her a favour.

If she says something similar to a Jewish or Sikh child, it could land her in some serious trouble (I am assuming that someone with the naivity to say what she did probably doesn't have a grip on the subtleties and differences between religious and ethnoreligious).

Also, if she were to say it to another Muslim or Christian (or any other religion) child whose parents were not as understanding as you, she could end up with a facing some serious consequences and potential abuse!

***

On a separate note, I am astounded at the number of people who were telling you not to even bother going to have the conversation.

I was a little older (about 7) when we moved house from a town to a small village with a one form entry, small class school. We moved onto a housing association estate the house came with my dad's new job as a caretaker. My parents got a local decorator in to do some work and he happened to be the husband of my new teacher.

I was quite excited by this and the next day at school said to the teacher "Your husband is decorating my house" in front of the rest of the class.

She apparently took great offence at this and loudly called me a liar in front of everyone, claiming that her husband was working away. As a punishment I was made to sit in the corner.

Naturally this upset me a lot and I of course told my mom as soon as I got home who immediately went down the school to confirm what had been said and have words with the teacher - I can't recall the outcome, but it turned out that this teacher was basically a snob who looked down on anyone who lived on the estate and thought they were all stupid. I was an advanced reader when I moved schools and was already a free reader, but again, I wasn't believed and she put me back down to Village with three corners books, because she didn't think anyone who lived on the estate could possibly be a free reader at 7. After yet another complaint from my mom, she left me alone - never let me join the choir or any extra-curricular activities she ran though!

I dread to think how horrendous my time at that school would have been if my mom had done what many here were advising the op to do and ignore the concerns.

That teacher never changed - there was an incident a few years later when a young lad from the estate, whose dad had died very suddenly, was taken to school by his nan. He was, understandably, very clingy to her, and the same teacher made some vile comments to him about being a baby!

I was sorry to hear that OP, it's quite shocking!

I understand about your concern about not wanting to escalate the problem.

It's all a bit weird, not sure what is the right thing to do?

Your clever little girl was right though

@Jkam24 I would be reporting this to the Head, clearly some members of staff need reminding that their personal views should be left outside the classroom.

A misunderstanding I'm sure. As a 4 year old I insisted my school friend had grey hair. Despite my mum saying it was blonde I was sure it was grey.

The teacher has admitted she said it.

OP, well done for keeping your cool.
That must have been difficult.

And I bet there's some red cheeks on this thread now 😉

I'm the same. One of my earliest memories is being in my father's arms at a crowded Mass. I was born on a Tuesday and I was at Mass with him five days later. I certainly knew I was a Catholic by the time I started school.

Just wanted to add that at that Mass when I was five days old the priest offered to Baptise me at the end of Mass. My grandparents attended the same church so they were also my godparents.

Like the ones who knew it never happened?

It depends how the teacher said it. If she is little, she might have been telling her a few times and the teacher could have said 'your not Muslim are you?' in a joking ' I don't believe it' kind of way. It depends on how it was said really. You could ask the teacher to clarify it or you could just leave it too and keep an eye as to whether it's a one off or a regular thing

Even if you are overthinking it OP, that's understandable given the current climate, I would too. Let us know what the teacher said.

Exactly. I am incredulous on Facebook at the amount of people who fall for obvious AI posts. Posts on forums are more subtle, but also often nonsense too. I fall for it myself sometimes.

This seems mad to me. When your child is entered on the school database there is a field for religion. Presumably you selected `Muslim when you filled in the forms. That's your child's religion and it will stay that way unless and until they reach an age when they choose to change it.

We are Catholics from an Irish background. Even in my teens and twenties when I was a non-believer I still identified as Catholic. It was cultural as much as religious.

My adult DC have all grown away from the faith and no longer practice but would tick Catholic on any medical form - because even they no longer believe anymore they are still more Catholic than any other faith. They have a background of belief that has shaped them. They no longer adhere to it and actively reject some of it but even the act of rejecting it is an integral part of their background and ethnicity.

EDITED TO CHANGE THE LAST PARA

Isn't a child identifying with a particular religion whilst in school simply expressing a personal view that shouldn't need to be expressed too?
What did the child say to cause the teacher to reply as she did?
They're isn't any hard proof that any religion is actually the true calling is there - just faith.

Teacher has admitted it.

She has updated us. Go on "see all".

RTFT

Let's not forget this IS still a Christian Country. I wouldn't go to a school in Tutkey or any other school on any other country and critise any Muslim teacher because I chose to put my child in an education system that didn't meet or suit mine or my child's needs or religion. I'd go somewhere that did 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Jkam24 I don’t agree with you. It DOES matter and is completely inappropriate for a teacher to tell a child of any religion that they are not that religion. The teachers personal beliefs about this don’t come into it
I’m wondering whether you might not be born/raised in the UK? As this comment by the teacher would definitely be considered a serious error and an important training need.
Malice is irrelevant here, it’s simply not ok.
If we reframed it and said the teacher told a Jewish child that they aren’t Jewish. It becomes obvious that this seriously not ok.
You should definitely take this up with the head. It’s important and should be corrected, which won’t happen if you don’t do this

Doesn't matter how advanced you say she is, she is still only very young and is very likely to get muddled up like any other child. My son used to come home telling us the most random.stuff when he was in the early years at primary. Took it with a pinch of salt and clarified anything with the staff if we needed to when we felt it was something important he'd got mixed up. Chill out a bit 😅

Turns out she did..

Fortunately that is not how schools in this country operate.

Thanks CatrionaBalfour. Didn't realise that