“I think this raises a much bigger question around faith schools which should be considered long and hard. There is a real danger with all faith schools, that they perpetuate and reinforce the cultural differences between communities and act as a real barrier to integration. At worst, they allow these differences to turn into cultural isolationism which lasts a generation.
Look at the situation in Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland, where the barriers between Catholic and Protestant communities are deep and often bitter - surely not helped by the perpetuation of strictly one-faith schools. In other parts of the UK, Catholics and Protestants seem able to get on with each other seamlessly in day to day life. There are already serious cultural divides between Muslim and non-Muslim communities in parts of Britain, eg Bradford which seem to be getting worse with each new generation.

It is my firm belief that the time has come to separate religious teaching from mainstream school activity, and that this is best done by closing single faith schools. The school agenda would then become secular, i.e. subjects such as Maths, English, Languages and Science would be taught on a secular agenda, and religions would be taught as a combined agenda with the objective that children would understand the key differences between world religions, but more importantly the common themes that unite them. Right and wrong can be taught on the basis of good citizenship and moral studies without needing to offend anyone's beliefs.
If parents feel the need to include specific and deeper religious instruction for their children, this cant be done at weekends or in the evenings, either at home or in places of worship.

No doubt this would cause many parents real anguish, but there has to be a better way of improving the integration of children into a multi-religious society, and quite frankly, opting out is not the way forward.”

“The right to education in one's own comfort zone is a fundamental and inalienable human right that should be available to all people irrespective of their ethnicity or religious background. Schools do not belong to state, they belong to parents. It is the parents' choice to have faith schools for their children. Education is not for degrees and not for jobs. It is for life. Degrees and jobs should come as a by product. Migrant Muslims are not economic slaves. They are part and parcel of British society with their own cultures, languages and faith. Migrant Muslims need to preserve and transmit their cultural, linguistic and spiritual identities; otherwise, they will be lost in the western jungle. Learning Arabic, Urdu and other community languages do not deter people from integrating. It helps them integrate. British schooling is at war with Migrant Muslims learning Arabic, Urdu and other community languages. Multilingualism should be celebrated because it is an asset but British education regards it as a problem.

According to recent studies, bilingual Muslim pupils feel unsafe and unwelcome in state or public schools because they are bullied by native children. Anthropologist Laura Gillian from Danish Pedagogic University, who has carried out field work, believes that many minority children feel that they do not belong in their schools. The feeling of alienation, as well as dissatisfaction with the curriculum, has been brewing for a long time with the result that many ethnic groups have started their own private schools. The Manifesto of the Norwegian Terrorist and mass murderer clearly states that in Europe Pakistani Muslims are on the increase because of migration and high birth rate and one day they are going to demand the Pakistan of Europe. When he was in school, he was afraid of a Pakistani gang. He is afraid of popularity of Islam and revertion of Europeans.

British society and British education system is the home of institutional racism. That is a fact. The solution is that each and every community should have their own state funded schools with their own teachers. Muslim children suffer more than others.They need state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. There is no place for a non-Muslim child or a teacher in a Muslim school.

We live in a shrunken world and millions of people are on the move; one of our biggest challenges is how we learn to live in proximity to difference – different skin colours, different beliefs and different way of life. According to a study by COMPAS, Muslims born and educated were given the impression of outsiders. The perception among Muslims is that they are unwelcome in Britain is undermining efforts to help them integrate into wider society. Most of them say that they have experienced race discrimination and religious prejudice. Muslims and Islam is promoted a fundamentalist and separatist by the western elite, which have negative impact on community and social cohesion. The number of racist incidents occurring in London Borough of Redbridge's schools have reached their highest levels since record begin.”

“Why, if you want Muslim schools, religious teaching, customs, meat, law etc dont you live in a Muslim country instead of migrating to another country and trying to enforce your views on the indigenous people? If I were to emigrate to another country I would learn their language, attend their schools and integrate into their society, if they allowed me to freely follow my religion that would be a bonus not a RIGHT or am I missing something here? We have an education system for the benefit of all why should we finance or give grants to schools whos sole purpose is to build a society within a society seperate from the mainstream, its wrong. By all means follow your faith but do not imagine you have the right to demand that we must do as you wish, this is a Christian country that allows many faiths to practise unhindered and without fear unlike many Muslim majority countries around the world in which Christians are attacked and murdered and their places of worship destroyed.”

“I'm afraid I have to side with Nottmdon on this one. Why would a devout Muslim family want to move to a nonMuslim country, knowing that the school system will not provide a specifically Muslim education?”

“BL.
" Education is not for degrees and not for jobs. It is for life. Degrees and jobs should come as a by product."

This example of stone age philosophy underlines how far out of touch Iffycara is, because education is the key to civilisation, not religious dogma.

And when was the last time I sent a posting in favour of faith schools?

The post in question has all the hallmarks of Islamic propaganda for the sake of "community cohesion", and was probably intended as a warning that Islam is not asking to be agreed with, its demanding to be obeyed. And when they've used public funds to produce indoctrinated little muslims that believe the similar supernatural hocus pocus that christians do, no doubt Bill you'll head the negotiating body that uses polite discussion and fake respect to get your point across.

And any Christians thinking of submitting the usual hypocritical claptrap about integration with other faiths should remember that they are just as much in favour of schools that separate children on the basis of their parents religion as muslims.”

“Sorry Hashhimoto I thought this was another attempt, like your fake auntie story, to start an argument about religion and you appear a prime player in that game. Just to set the record straight I am against "faith" schools of any sort. Religion should be a matter of free personal choice and not imposed on anyone. To subject children to cruelty in the name of religion of any sort is unforgivable.”

“Iftikhara, I can only believe that your statements of 'fact' come from Muslim literature. You seem very anxious to keep Muslim and nonMuslim apart. When you talk about a'community' you seem to talk on religious grounds, which is not what 'community' has traditionally meant in the UK. Has England ever been known as a Muslim country? You should expect to receive the same rights as any other UK resident, but you seem to demand more. I have no problem respecting all religions, but I'm afraid the impression Iget from reading your letter is that you feel morally superior. A child for whom English is a second language does have a special need, and to deny it is to ignore what the child needs. Your comment that "State schools are slaughter houses' is laughable. I do not feel that your views represent the majority Muslim view, rather the view of a zealot.”

“Surely for a child born in the UK, the first language is English, or should be. This sort of inverted thinking perpetuates racial isolation and misunderstanding. Integration starts at school, and can only happen when children of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds mix together at an age where prejudice has yet to rear it's ugly head.
Iftikhara - your comments about state schools are deplorable...who do you think you are describing them as slaughterhouses unfit for bilingual children. Your comments, though apparently articulate are unconvincing, subversive, divisive and designed to perpetuate racial and religious separation. Shame on you”

“Soundmandave - I couldn't have put it better myself.”

“Why thank you kindly Grand-ma-ma!”

“Just tell me why so many Muslims come to the UK if they are so dissatisfied with the educational system. Do all Muslims speak the same language? I've taught Muslims from several diffderent parts of the world, and they didn't all share a mother tongue. In my own experience, many Muslims are decent, friendly people who are happy to integrate into their new community. A minority want us to change everything to the way they want and are used to. I think that this is unreasonable. I don't think schools should be the basis for religious education - that is a role for family and the church/synagogue/mosque/ temple, chapel etc.”

“Man is a product of hos culture , language and faith. Majority of Muslim children are from Pakistan. They need to learn and be well versed in Urdu as a social and emotional language. They also need to learn and be well versed in Arabic as a religious language. They need to learn and be well versed in Standard English to follow the National Curriculum and go for higher studies and research to serve humanity. English is their economic language. Siminlarly other Muslim children can also learn their mother tongues by their own teachers but all Muslim children must learn English and Arabic.

Why is it not possible to embrace different cultures? why do we have to conform to one idoelogy. isnt that the beauty of Britain?

What are "British traditions" binge drinking, homosexuality, racism, drug addiction, incivility, anti-social behavior, teenage pregnancies and abortions and secular traditions. Muslim schools protect Muslim children from the onslaught of Euro-centrism and British traditions.

Majority of anti-Muslim stories are not about terrorism but about Muslim
culture--the hijab, Muslim schools, family life and religiosity. Muslims in the west ought to be recognised as a western community, not as an alien culture.”

“Muslims living in Britain are part of the British culture. You have chosen only negative examples of what you consider to be British traditions. Many non-Muslims deplore the 'traditions' you have chosen as examples just as much as you do. Integration is difficult when one side considers itself to be superior, and in reading your posts I get the definite impression that you believe Muslim culture to be superior. You certainly do not seem to have anything positive to say about Britain.
People come to Britain from all over the world, and they are not all Muslim. Is Britain to provide schooling in the native tongue of all immigrants? And for all faiths? What a fragmented society we would create. Integration is not likely to happen when we send children to segregated schools. I think the education system tries hard to accommodate children of different faiths and backgrounds under one roof. And then a voice cries out "But we are Muslim - we want more."
I respect all faiths, but if you despise the people you have decided to live among, perhaps you have chosen your homeland unwisely. I would like to stress my quarrel is not with Islam, which at its purest is a beutiful religion of peace, but with your personal attitude that seems to demand more than everyone else gets.”

“"Why do so many people come here if we are such a nasty lot ?"


Spot on BL, the real truth is that the author of this article is just a WUM trying to get a BMP numpty to get themselves in trouble with the law, or indeed is his or herself just a hate filled bigot. It never fails to make me chuckle at comments on things as innocent as cricket discussion forums that essentially show the commentator to be more filled with xenophobia, race hate, religious hatred etc than those he/she is accusing.”

“I am sure that the racism faced by Muslim children is very real and it should be strongly condemned. I think that I might understand why you hold the views that you do, however I do not think that they are right. Let me ask a very serious question; Do the taxpayers of any Muslim country in the world fund very generously (in the way you describe - with bilingual teachers etc) a separate school system for Non-Muslim children from which Muslim children are totally excluded on religious or cultural grounds? That is the equivalent of what you suggest here.
If there are any state funded faith schools in the UK operating in such a completely segregationist way, then this should also be condemned.
I believe that the system of schooling that you suggest would simply promote another kind of unfairness. It would certainly generate resentment. I would be very surprised if you could find such an example anywhere in the Muslim world but even if you could I would question the wisdom of such a system. I do not think that segregated education systems promote unity, harmony, tolerance and understanding within society and, without these, there will simply be more of the racist crimes that you condemn. Just look at Northern Ireland. The two main communities in Oldham (Muslim and non Muslim) are said to lead largely separate lives. This had led to misunderstanding and distrust at the very least.
I also think that you are not immune from racist notions yourself and many readers (including, I am sure, some Muslims) will see a measure of hypocrisy (and even the preposterous) in what you are suggesting. I think that your statement "There is no place for a Non-Muslim child or teacher in a Muslim school." is clearly racist. I note that you are asking for state funding – the vast majority of which (proportionately) would be from Non-Muslims. The preposterous part is that you will therefore accept Non Muslim money but you will not educate Non Muslim children or employ Non Muslim teachers.
Your use of the term "dominant native culture", when we are actually (and have been for some years) a multicultural society (I am of mixed heritage myself) should also be challenged. It clearly illustrates that you view society just from the point of view of your own community (i.e. Muslim v Non-Muslim). This is dangerous and it is not without irony that I suggest that you should get out and mix more with people of other communities. You remind me of the Amish traditionally calling all non Amish in America the 'English' despite the fact that most Americans are not English at all and haven't been for a very long time.
I am pleased that the NEP printed your article even if it just gives someone the opportunity to challenge you. You certainly need to be challenged. I believe that Instead of withdrawing them into an exclusively Muslim educational environment, the future of your children in this country demands that you should do the exact opposite and put all efforts into challenging racism in mainstream schools.”

“People above who been writing racist against MUSLIMS and it is wrong for Nottingham Evening Post putting story about MUSLIMS in the paper and online so people who are NON-MUSLIMS are attacking MUSLIMS who born in UK or outside UK.

Above people is calling every single MUSLIMS trouble maker up and down in UK and as I am MUSLIM myself and born as British Muslim and I am very offended for the abuse towards MUSIMS and it is about Muslim School/mosque.


Mohammed Patel in Nuneaton”

“People above who been writing racist against MUSLIMS and it is wrong for Nottingham Evening Post putting story about MUSLIMS in the paper and online so people who are NON-MUSLIMS are attacking MUSLIMS who born in UK or outside UK.

Above people is calling every single MUSLIMS trouble maker up and down in UK and as I am MUSLIM myself and born as British Muslim and I am very offended for the abuse towards MUSIMS and it is about Muslim School/mosque.

I would like people above to say sorry to every single muslims in UK and outside UK for the racist abuse against MUSLIMS.


Mohammed Patel in Nuneaton”

“You all seem to have missed the point........if a person moves or lives in England they should adopt the English culture and in doing so the English school system however flawed it maybe.
If we were to go and live in Pakistan, then those people would have to adopt it's own culture, however different or wrong it may seem.
If our ethnic friends wish to start their own school it should be done at their expense and not the expense of the British government, however, and should they wish to learn their native language, it should be done outside of the British schooling system and hours. 'When in Rome do as the Romans do', is an old saying and is very much appropriate to the argument. If our ethnic friends are not happy with this, then they should go back to their native country, although they won't get the same help that the DHS gives them.
Lets not forget, that this is a Christian country and we should not be changing the laws to suit every Tom, Dick and Harry who wishes to come over here, and who want things their way. If you don't like the system here, go home. However, if you do stay, then talk to your fellow country man, and lets get rid of the barriers that you as immigrants put up. You are the first to complain, but in reality, it is you that cause the problem, but fail to admit to yourselves that the problem might come from your inability to change. Make a start by learning the language just as your kids are doing as they get taught in class, and then maybe you can call yourself English.”

“The difference is, Britain CLAIMS to be multi-cultural and tolerant whereas other
countries (eg. Pakistan, Arabia etc) don't make that claim.

If a country is claiming to offer multiculturalism then there's an expectation the claim will be lived up to.”

“Dear "Mo", perhaps you would like to validate your statement "Above people is calling every single MUSLIMS trouble maker up and down in UK and as I am MUSLIM myself and born as British Muslim and I am very offended for the abuse towards MUSIMS and it is about Muslim School/mosque." Is describing British schools as slaughter houses, as "iftikhara" did in a removed posting, acceptable to you?

As regards the comment by "oppositeofyou" I would suggest that we do more than claim to be multi-cultural we have demonstrated this for years and have a tolerant attitude which has been subjected to considerable strain of late.”