Talking Lebanon, Kashmir and socks at a Muslim school
They had asked me to attend a fundraising, but I couldn’t. In any case, it wasn’t the moneybags I wanted to talk with but the students.
This morning found me at a Muslim girls’ secondary school in Kilburn. I took coffee with the all–women staff – an amazingly stimulating group from as far afield as Brazil, Pakistan, Algeria and Dorset.
I took my shoes off and ventured across the carpet, where the girls were sitting cross-legged, waiting for my assembly. Again, a very engaged group – bright and interested.
The 11-year-olds were particularly taken with my socks. I had an unusually vivid striped pair on (see above and below), having forgotten that I would be divested of my shoes. They seemed to me to have a very comprehensive world view, to be very open-minded, and to take their faith very much in their stride.
They were all hijabbed, incredibly tidy and very disciplined. They had a fabulous sense of humour, and I found the overall experience uplifting. I can’t say I’m a tremendous fan of faith schools, but if they exist anywhere, then from what I saw this school is as good as any of them.
So what did I talk about? Lebanon, Kashmir (I told them it was one of the most beautiful places I’d ever been), experiencing life in Sunni and Shia countries and the contrast between them, and the prospects for life under Obama.
They listened attentively, asked sensible questions, and laughed a lot. There were a hundred girls present and they hailed from 57 different countries.
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Socked it to em eh Jon? Wonder if you can get hijab type coverings for socks, just a thought.
Why are you so negative Robert. Them and Us. IT is nice small story about a good experience.
I hear Sir Paul Smith is lookin for you Jon, to slap a writ on you for flagrant breach of copyright or did you have the socks before he got the mini. Might be a nice little earner mate if thats the case.
A single sex, single faith school – it’s them-and-us by definition, isn’t it? Sweet story though!
Not keen on faith schools either, but this is excellent stuff, gives rise to optimism that there can be such a thing as balance and young people with a healthy outlook. Would be good to hear more about such schools in the media.
Nowadays, any school that does a good job should be encouraged, regardless of origin or motivation. The one caveat has to be that the school teaches students to integrate into British society. That way, everyone benefits. The danger in any faith school is that it fosters a sense of “them and us”.
Your blog reinforces one key point, I believe. Children are all, naturally open and engeged. Adults ruin them through neglect and passed on bigotry. It would be good to see faith schools “twinning” with others of different persuasion to fight such a trend. Then faith schools may be able to make a massive contribution for good.
Sounds like a wonderful experience Jon.
You say that they hailed from 57 different countries like it’s a good thing.
Without meaning to be offensive, erm, John – why are you so surprised?!!
Your observations have the tone that they wouldn’t be attentive, funny, sensible, or indeed, like any other 11 year old girl, based purely on the fact they are at a muslim faith school and have hijabs on….
At best a pointless article and at worst patronising and divisive.
Would have been far more interesting to know what their views on Obama, faith schools, multiculturalism, jazzy socks and whether they wear them under their hijabs, than what your perception of them is.
Yours, a white middle class christian…
L
So what’s this all about? You just making stuff up?
Jon doesn’t say he is surprised, he’s just posting his observations from a trip he obviously enjoyed. How this is in any way divisive or patronising I do not know.
Some of us are actually quite interested in hearing Jon’s perceptions and don’t regard them as pointless, patronizing or divisive. God forbid anyone should have had a good time. I have always wanted to know what Jon wears under his shoes.
Having listened to the views of girls in a similar school – or perhaps the same one – last year on Radio 4, there would probably be too much material for a one-hour documentary. Brilliant.
But Jon,
We can usually see your socks when you’re presenting the news anyway.It can be somewhat distracting when trying to concentrate on a particularly complex sotry.The socks pictured on blog are frequent offenders.
It was such a treat to have you speaking at our assembly. You spoke with such humility and charisma, which is a side we don’t see when you are presenting the news. Journalism has always interested me, and your words were ever inspiring. I wonder if you could visit our school annually?
Best wishes.
flexible jon…impressive.
Thanks for this post.
With reference to politians’ expenses – this is stealing/fraud from the public purse. No voting by the public until all those politicians found guilty are sentenced to undertake Community Work. Or, better still – given a custodial sentence. The reality is ‘they’ are above the law.
Jon: Wonderful socks and I hope that you had a nice time talking to the children at the Muslim school….
Also, nice picture of your socks!
It is absurd to say that institutional racism is dead. It is still alive in the form of Islamophobia. . One of the deepest expressions of institutional racism affecting immigrant communities, and one that has been long documented is the unequal treatment of their children by the education system. They are motivated, but knocked back by their experiences of the school system. They are often treated more harshly and viewed with lower teacher expectation on the basis of teachers’ assumptions about their motivation and ability.
LAs are failing in their duty to combat racism in schools, according to OFSTED, Education system exhibits “aspects of racism”. A quarter of authorities are not doing enough to promote equal educational opportunities. A Brighton University study found that the Britain education system is institutionally racist, with pupils and teachers vulnerable to abuse by peers, teachers and management. I discovered the element of racism in early 70s. National Curriculum does not reflect cultural diversity and minority pupils are being held back by native teachers. London Borough of Newham was judged by OFSTED as unsatisfactory in tackling racism. There are big issues about racism in schools needed to be tackled but could not understand that Bilingual Muslim pupils need state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. It is a crime against humanity to deprive a child of his mother tongue but in the name of integration every thing is fair. Independent schools are also racist in nature. The parents of a Pakistani boy who was racially abused by his classmates and teachers are suing St. Christopher School.
Education report by Birmingham Advisory Service recommends that school lessons should take into account cultural differences in order to improve pupils’ performance. It calls for teaching “the need for mutual respect and understanding”. Minority pupils are underachieving at school because the curriculum is racist. The study found lessons often failed to motivate or interest pupils because curriculum did not provide enough positive role models. The curriculum needs to be more balanced and less Eurocentric. Pupils grow up thinking there is no other playwright than Shakespeare. An ethnicity “Tsar” should be appointed to reform British schooling. Muslim schools performed best overall, although they constitute only a fraction of the country’s 7000 schools. Muslim schools do well because of their Islamic ethos and a focus on traditional discipline and teaching methods. They teach children what is right and what is wrong, because young children need structural guidance. Muslim school is responsible for the development of the whole child. Muslim schools give Muslim children “pride, identity and a sense of culture and languages.
Iftikhar Ahmad