A British school puts the hijab to six-year-old children during a class on Islam
The religious education session dedicated to Islam includes children putting on the hijab to live the experience. The school says it's an educational resource.
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A primary school in Bury (Manchester) has organised a class on Islam in which six-year-old children, Muslim and non-Muslim, put on the hijab and other Islamic clothing. Ribble Drive Primary School photographed the pupils and shared the images with families via the school's internal platform. The class used the children's book The Proudest Blue, dedicated to celebrating the use of the hijab.
As reported by the Daily Mail, the photographs show at least 14 students with the hijab and, in some cases, with the’bay, a long robe used in Islamic dress. Reform UK councillor Shadman Zaman said six parents and guardians had contacted him to express their disapproval of the activity. According to the councillor, some were afraid of being singled out if they made their complaints public.
The activity was part of the Religious Education subject (Religious Education), which is taught in English schools and includes the study of different religions and beliefs. Unlike denominational religion classes, it is not intended to teach a specific faith, but rather to introduce the various religious traditions.
«I'm fed up with being considered racist»
One of the tutors expressed her rejection of the activity: «I am outraged and fed up with being considered racist because, as a tutor, I oppose the hijab». He also assured that the previous term he had already warned the school that he did not want activities with Islamic clothing to be repeated. «I explicitly said not to do it again because I find it offensive», she declared. The tutor questioned whether six-year-old children could understand the religious meaning of these items of clothing. As she explained, at this age students interpret the activity as a game of disguise and are not mature enough to give their consent.
The Reform UK councillor in Bury, Shadman Zaman, born in Bangladesh and son of a Muslim woman, has also strongly criticized the activity. Zaman explained that his mother prays five times a day and has always defended women's rights, but that never seen him wear it hijab nor the’bay. «For many women, the hijab is a symbol of oppression, not choice», he said. The councilor has denounced that many Muslim women suffer domestic violence and state repression for refusing to wear these items of clothing. «They want to be free», he added.
Zaman has defended that studying Islam and other religions in a multicultural society is positive, but has questioned whether this justifies making children wear religious clothing. «This is not a neutral activity», he warned. The councilor filed a formal complaint with the school on October 16 and asked the management to reflect on whether it was appropriate to make such young children wear religious clothing. After several exchanges with the headteacher, the case reached the Bury education authorities, who examined the activity.
The school says that the hijab it is educational
The school's director, Melanie Kobak, has denied that students were forced to wear the mask. hijab. According to his version, theThe teacher brought this garment to class to explain its use among Muslim women.. A student asked to try it on and other classmates followed her example. «Teaching children about religious traditions and practices should not be confused with promoting or requiring adherence to a particular faith.», Kobak defended. He also assured that almost half of the class did not participate in the activity.
The director has also defended that Tolerance towards different religions is a fundamental British value that all schools should actively promote. He criticized the fact that the photographs of the children had circulated outside the private platform and explained that the images had been published by show families what students had learned.
Bury Council has investigated the incident following complaints. The council's Director of Education, Ben Dunne, confirmed that the teacher brought the hijab in the classroom and has defended that hands-on learning is an appropriate educational methodology for young children. In a written response dated October 23, municipal authorities concluded that no student was forced to wear religious clothing and that the school's religious education program meets established requirements.
The municipal head of Education has also clarified that British schools are not required to inform families in advance about the content of each religion class, although teachers can do so if they deem it convenient.
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