Reducing right and wrong to religion

[Ellemmenn]

I work in a school (no official religious denomination) with 95% population of Asian pupils. Whether Indian, Pakistani, Bengali, the very vast majority are Muslims, and there are times when it becomes clear that they are quite unaware that this isn't representative of other schools in the area or the UK at large. Though I'm not a Christian, I'm just assumed to be, because I'm white. They'll say, why should you get two weeks off for Christmas when when we're only allowed a day off for Eid (never mind they they get the Christmas holiday too!).

We've been told to avoid actively discussing the conflict in the Middle East unless part of a planned PSHE lesson or tutor activity, but it's obviously coming up all the time in conversation between them and even linked to lessons. Most of our pupils are drawing Palestinian flags on their hands and we've been told not to allow them to actually do this instead of working, but not to make them remove them. I'm just struggling with with repeated comments that it's awful to 'kill Muslims' or 'well on obviously we're marching for Palestine, we're Muslim', and 'we need to destroy Israel'. While I want to respect their opinions, I'm getting pupils looking down on me for for pointing out that innocent civilians are innocent civilians whatever they believe and that this isn't just a case of Judaism vs. Islam. They're very aware of Islamophobia, but much less so of the increase in anti-semitism.

I guess I don't know what to say to them (they already think I'm wrong for not following their faith) as they are children and reducing it to sides they support, but wonder if I am naive to expect anything different than caring more about those you share religion and identify with.

Children are a product of their upbringing whatever that faith or non faith is. They listen to their parents and family and repeat what they hear. Told hatred of others from very young.

It's sad. We are all humans. This tribal cultural and faith type belief belief being hand down of hatred for others with different cultures and beliefs.

Children are a product of their upbringing and communities.

If the school line is to not discuss the current events in school (probably because the likelihood is that it's very difficult to cover it in an appropriate way off the cuff) then once a reminder has been given to students it becomes a behaviour issue because those students are choosing not to follow instructions and get on with their work. It's not a matter of picking sides. They are there to learn and the students with the loudest voices shouldn't get to dominate the lessons.

Any racial or religious hatred expressed towards any group should be referred to the appropriate leader to be dealt with according to school policy.

Children talking about how Israel needs ro be destroyed is extremely disturbing.

I live in a majority non white borough in London. At one point my son was the only white by in his class and it does have an impact where there are such a large number of views all in one direction. One boy in his class at one point said he thought 50% of the UK or less was qhite (it is 82% white in reality) as you can end up living in a little bubble where everyone is like you are even in this country where the biggest religion is Christianity and atheism is about half the people. So the reality is that England/Wales if we limit ourselves to that is 52% atheist and 46% Christian so 98% is those two groups with a tiny de minimis muslim/hindu/jewish etc minority.

I like the Danish solution of spreading people around so there are no concentrations of badly off areas where everyone has one view when they come to a nation but it has been controversial there and is not easy as people like to live with others like them when they arrive and always have everywhere including in Soho in London etc etc.

Some groups will actively seek to ensure their children do not hear different views eg about rights to women or gay people. In a sense our freedom for parents to bring up children as they choose including in cults or isolate and home schooled is part of our rights and freedoms but it is frustrating at times as the children who result from those kinds of homes then hold different views from the rest of us (not that the rest of us all hold the same views either I suppose).

we need to destroy Israel

That's disgusting, do you pull them up on it?

This will get worse sadly. Especially when schools are leading pro Palestine marches of their own as someone has posted on another thread and some on them use as an opportunity to promote hate and influence young minds
When adults with megaphones spout their opinions with hatred to listening children is it any wonder!

Sadly it causes more division 😥

Your school really needs to be proactive in how it helps students understand diversity, in the same way a majority Christian/white school should. Diversity of opinion as well as religion, ethnicity, lifestyle etc. You could ask your SLT about this or make some suggestions. Comments about destroying Israel also need to be dealt with seriously.

School is a really important place to counteract the polarisation of society and the ‘British values’ stuff is meant to be all about this.

I think its predictable that the students care more for those that share their faith. As their educator you have the opportunity to show them the perspective of the other side, help them to recognise their biases and to call out racism.

I'm curious how much anti-Jewish rhetoric you hear? Are the students called out when they use anti-semitic slurs?

Of course a Muslim child saying that Israel should be destroyed will be tolerated because we are tolerating protestors in the street and adults on social media and in real life openly saying the same.

Nazi Germany anyone?

People should be ashamed of themselves.

I feel a bit guilty for being sceptical when I constantly hear the words 'innocent children'.
I do understand what people mean when they use the words. They mean the children have not done any hateful things so far in their lives, but their innocence can be taken away so very early in their lives, by what they are taught out of school.
I have in mind a 5-year old Irish boy, in the 1960s, who was at great pains to make it clear that he was a Protestant and the German lady, in one of those programmes about Germany in the 1930s. She'd been friends with a Jewish girl at school and then was taught to hate her, in effect. If I remember correctly the ex-Jewish friend was killed on the street one day and I can't remember whether the interviewee had taken part in that but I have a nasty feeling that she had.

It is very difficult for teachers in some schools. I am not surprised newcomers to the UK and their children like to be in areas where there are others like they are but it does mean you get quite a bit of groupthink on all kinds of issues. IN a sense that is why we set up C of E and Catholic schools in the UK so these issues are nothing new - do we want integration or side by side but separate?