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 was a bit hesitant to approach the teacher as it will be an uncomfortable conversation, as it's both difficult as I don't wish to believe the teacher could have said it in a negative manner but there is also a small but real chance that it could have been intentional. Genuinely thanks to most of you - I'll do it although I'm nervous. Definitely not angry (although a bit cross probably would have been more accurate) anymore.

Please don't make sweeping statements about those of us posting on here. Many of us would be horrified by Islamophobia as much as any other intolerance or prejudice.

If your child is very fair skinned and has a western name then the teacher might have made an incorrect assumption.

I am not the same skin colour as my children. Today, at an external after+school club, someone tried to give me a child they presumed was my daughter, presumably because she has similar skin colouring to mine.

You clearly have a bone to pick since you’re all over this thread. Why don’t you create your own regarding whatever is truly causing you upset. Let OP get the advice she needs and stop derailing the thread.

Don't be nervous, you're speaking to her to clarify the situation, not accuse her. I hope that it works out to your satisfaction, but if it doesn't, then you will have to take it to the Headteacher.

Your daughter has only been at school for a week, its going to be a long 7 years if you get 'angry' at this.

Well obviously she thinks she's Muslim or she wouldn't be upset when the teacher told her she wasn't. She was just confirming with her mum.

BluntPlumHam thank you. This person is clearly being willfully ignorant and hostile, whilst pretending not to understand why this could potentially be an issue for someine - I'd just ignore

You also don’t know the context.

How muslim your child really is? Is she already reciting the Koran or because you are muslim , you think your child is already aware what being muslim really is

Derailing? OP hinted at something amiss that we should all have already been thinking before 'clarifying' some sense of feeling the teacher might want to prevent the child from being a particular religion... Since when is that something that racists do? Because I think there's rather more to it than that, because that's nonsensical rather than offensive.

FFS ask the teacher what she said then decide if you're going to be angry or whatever.

It would be such a bizarre thing for the teacher to say that I suspect a misunderstanding... I hope you get it cleared up and your daughter feels at ease

What my child heard and what was said does not always match at that age, could have happened but I would be extremely surprised

DeftPoet perhaps angry was too strong, a bit cross would be a better description. She's been in some form of school since she was 1 just as an FYI to your assumptions.

I can't imagine a teacher saying that, unless she misheard your DD.
Did your DD ask?

Check with the teacher about what she actually said.

I agree with @moondune and @User364431 A 4 year old might belong to a Muslim family but they can't possibly hold a religious belief yet.

Maybe that's why she cried.

Why on earth would you find it offensive if Muslim children were referring to things as ‘haram’ 🙄 your family is not Muslim so surely you wouldn’t care if something was haram or not.

also educate yourself on micro aggressions - you ‘ve pretended to offer the OP advice just so you were able to write how Muslims have apparently offended you, children no less.

ridiculous behaviour 🙄😡

Yeah, check with the teacher 'I'm sure it's a misunderstanding, but DD was upset yesterday because she thought you said.... and I want to reassure her' I'm pretty sure it'll turn out to be crossed wires.

Atinydropofcherrysherry she is aware our family is Muslim and asked for clarification. I have not dictated to her what to believe in, only what I / our family believe, but that's beyond the point. The point is does a teacher have a right to decide any which way about a child's religious background or inform her she isn't of any religion during to her age?

Well when in school (I was often helping out on special days or outings) and kids refuse to hold hands when told to by the teacher because it's haram I do have a problem with it. As did the teacher. Religion has nothing to do in state school. Or you choose a religious school.

Same as if a christian child referred to everyday behaviours as sinful I suppose

Does that sound ok?

She started school no longer than a week ago and in that time multiple teachers have told you she’s advanced and one has told her outright that she’s not a Muslim?

Who specifically has said how advanced she is?

As if a teacher would lose her career over saying that to a 4yr old. And even if in the incredibly unlikely case the teacher is Islamophobic how does telling your daughter she’s not Muslim aid her cause?