Batley, Yorkshire.

[manchestermyself]

See: www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/protest-batley-grammar-school-completely-20258762

Why no arrests (or fines)? Compare/contrast with the recent events on Clapham Common....

Furthermore, looking it from an educational point of view.... what has happened here? In schools these days we very much work as a team to create and organise schemes of work and individual lessons. Staff rarely go off-piste so to speak, did this teacher? He seems quite young and inexperienced (5 years in the job I believe) to be Head of the R.E. Department, so did he create the resource unilaterally, or was it part of a scheme of work created by, or with others?

Finally, the media reports all say the school has apologised 'unequivocally', but some say so has the individual concerned, whilst others say not. So which is it? Could it be that the school has apologised on his behalf, which would be wrong if he feels he has done nothing wrong.

So to bring this news up-to-date:

The teacher has been cleared, but he dare not return to work:

inews.co.uk/news/teacher-suspended-showing-picture-prophet-muhammed-refuses-return-work-bartley-green-fears-life-1059949

In other matters (slightly related) in the run up to the by-election, there was to be a free speech rally in Batley today. But it has been banned by city council, citing covid rules as one of the reasons.

This seems inconsistent to me, did the authorities (specifically Kirklees Police force) disperse the angry mob that gathered outside Batley grammer when this all kicked off? Or did they stand aside and allow 'mob rule'? It seems to me that as ever, the authorities continue to tip-toe around certain groups, whilst others are treated harshly - see also the policing of the Sarah Everad vigil too.

See: exbulletin.com/world/1012552/

I'm glad he has been cleared of causing deliberate offence as I don't believe he intended to cause offence. I know things got heated on another thread about this at the time, and I still think they were inappropriate materials to use.

Of course, nobody should be scared to return to work and anyone involved in the making threats should be dealt with according to the law.

It's pretty awful.

I think there's room for a debate as to whether the image was appropriate.

A debate.

But death threats? A teacher unable to return to work, a family unable to return to their home? That's utterly unacceptable.

I'm glad Amanda Spielman has said this is unacceptable. It really is.

The linked article says the entire RE department aren’t returning because of safety concerns. Wow.

An entire family displaced and unable to tell people where they are. Completely unacceptable.

Did he get back to work (in Batley) in September? Does anyone know - I can find nothing on this.... odd really.

Some news stories just die away and are forgotten about, when they shouldn't be.

Sorry that should have been 'did they' because as @Goldensyrupissticky says it ended up with the whole department staying away from their workplace.

@patkinney

Did he get back to work (in Batley) in September? Does anyone know - I can find nothing on this.... odd really.

Some news stories just die away and are forgotten about, when they shouldn't be.

When they are inconvenient. I feel ashamed of the teaching profession for its wider response to this. Unions should have been expressing outrage; school should have supported him. How cab teachers teach with fear and censorship dictating content rather respect and openness?