lets be accurate here, the kids voted to call it muhammed after the kids suggested a few names to vote on,perhaps if the parents had instilled into their darling little ones that it was against their culture to take that name in vain in such a way, they wouldn't had suggested it in the first place.
Granted, she perhaps should have been given more guidance directly on what was/wasn't acceptable in that system, but she isn't of that culture, and doesn't have first hand experience of it. The children decided on the name, and voted for it, the teacher was teaching them about voting systems and benefits of it, what sort of example would it have set if a majority voted on the name and she said 'no, you can't call it that because of X, Y and Z'
As a teacher, her first concern is the education of the children, not of religious overtones.
(Granted, she perhaps should have been given more guidance directly on what was/wasn't acceptable in that system, but she isn't of that culture, and doesn't have first hand experience of it. The children decided on the name, and voted for it, the teacher was teaching them about voting systems and benefits of it, what sort of example would it have set if a majority voted on the name and she said 'no, you can't call it that because of X, Y and Z'
As a teacher, her first concern is the education of the children, not of religious overtones.
The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on,
Tue 27 Nov 2007, 11:05,
archived)
What they learned...... is that the exercise of democracy will result in prison.
Pretty much a win for the authorities there then :)
(,
Tue 27 Nov 2007, 11:14,
archived)
Pretty much a win for the authorities there then :)
I reckon they knew the consequences, knew that 'Miss' was gullible,so all voted on it, knowing that they'd shut the school until January - canny young buggers!
( The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on,
Tue 27 Nov 2007, 11:16,
archived)
as a teacher she should know full well that calling a teddy bear muhammed was going to insult someonejust like you can't go calling your dog nigger like they did in the Dambusters. now, if you're going to offend anybody, common sense should tell you that some people are going to get upset and the muslim country that were paying her wages were going to take it badly. she lives in their country, she has to know this stuff. she is still an idiot.
(
new_matt,
Tue 27 Nov 2007, 11:17,
archived)
"Sooo...you refuse to call the bear Mohammed - what is wrong with the name Mohammed? You will die!"
"Sooo...you have called the bear Mohammed. You will die!"
this is why I never became a teacher, you can't win
("Sooo...you have called the bear Mohammed. You will die!"
this is why I never became a teacher, you can't win
Mighty Nibus who dares gins | @nibus,
Tue 27 Nov 2007, 11:19,
archived)
i don't think that the former would happen"so, you refuse to call a bear mohammed. Why?"
"well, to do so would cause great offence to the country in which i live and the people who so kindly welcomed me to the land"
("well, to do so would cause great offence to the country in which i live and the people who so kindly welcomed me to the land"
new_matt,
Tue 27 Nov 2007, 11:22,
archived)
ayemohammed's a shit name for a bear anyway
they should have called it Brian
(they should have called it Brian
Mighty Nibus who dares gins | @nibus,
Tue 27 Nov 2007, 11:26,
archived)
It has NOTHING to do with being a teacher at all, it's a religious matterit has nothing to do with, or be any part of, teaching kids, who named the bear themselves.
other muslim teachers - some born and bred in that culture - knew what she was doing with the class, and had NO objections, and did not see it a viable matter to warn her against it.
If her muslim colleagues don't think it a matter viable enough to warn her against it, and they also teach muslim children, then why should this woman, regardless of culture, be made a scapegoat?
(other muslim teachers - some born and bred in that culture - knew what she was doing with the class, and had NO objections, and did not see it a viable matter to warn her against it.
If her muslim colleagues don't think it a matter viable enough to warn her against it, and they also teach muslim children, then why should this woman, regardless of culture, be made a scapegoat?
The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on,
Tue 27 Nov 2007, 11:22,
archived)
it has something to do with being a teacheras she is in charge of the children and should be able to at least tell them that it's a bad idea as it is insulting to their religion.
there are more than enough christians in this country, for instance, that would be pissed off if a teacher called the school's pet Jesus, we just wouldn't sentence her to corporal punsihment.
i think it's extreme, don't get me wrong, but with the best will in the world anyone who is savvy enough to be a teacher must know that this is a bad idea?
i'm not the sharpest, but i know full well that certain muslim countries are a little bit testy about that sort of thing and have more strict punishments than we do.
(there are more than enough christians in this country, for instance, that would be pissed off if a teacher called the school's pet Jesus, we just wouldn't sentence her to corporal punsihment.
i think it's extreme, don't get me wrong, but with the best will in the world anyone who is savvy enough to be a teacher must know that this is a bad idea?
i'm not the sharpest, but i know full well that certain muslim countries are a little bit testy about that sort of thing and have more strict punishments than we do.
new_matt,
Tue 27 Nov 2007, 11:27,
archived)
religion has NOTHING to do with teaching, unless you're teaching R.E. or equivalent, and I daresay it wasn't part of the lessons she was teaching.It is not her job to explain their religion to them, it is her job to teach them skills they need at such a young age to progress. I daresay the school would have a muslim to teach them about religion, as it would seem odd to put a british woman in to teach 6-7 year olds about their own religion, I feel that the parents would have been more upset at that.
If other muslim colleagues knew what was going on, and felt it ok, what was she to do? She was being guided and agreed with in her teaching methods by muslim colleagues.
Who's to say that there wasn't a popular kid in class called Muhammed who the kids thought the bear reminded them of?
(If other muslim colleagues knew what was going on, and felt it ok, what was she to do? She was being guided and agreed with in her teaching methods by muslim colleagues.
Who's to say that there wasn't a popular kid in class called Muhammed who the kids thought the bear reminded them of?
The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on,
Tue 27 Nov 2007, 11:32,
archived)
like it or notyou have to have an understanding of religion, even if it's just so you can decide not to belive in any particular god. there is nothing wrong with being sensitive to a person's beliefs or culture when you are in their country or home.
( new_matt,
Tue 27 Nov 2007, 11:46,
archived)
aye, be sensitive yes, but she was being guided, and agreed with - by people of the faith she has now 'upset' over these actionsshe's in a lose-lose scenario with the kids and the muslim faith over it. Have an appreciation, yes, but it's not her call to dictate it in class
( The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on,
Tue 27 Nov 2007, 11:50,
archived)
I strongly suspectthat she's being made a scapegoat in order to be used as a pawn in the Muslim Sudanese government's continuing campaign against Christianity in the South of the country (as in Darfur, etc.).
Bit of a Reichstag situation, really: "We want to get the Jews!" "But they've done nothing wrong." "Oh, bollocks... er... oi, Moishe, can you just hold this box of matches for me?"
(Bit of a Reichstag situation, really: "We want to get the Jews!" "But they've done nothing wrong." "Oh, bollocks... er... oi, Moishe, can you just hold this box of matches for me?"
Sonic the Hedgetrimmer doesn't care what you think,
Tue 27 Nov 2007, 20:57,
archived)
I suspectthat Mrs Gibbons assumed that the (mainly Muslim?) kids were more aware of what was acceptable in their own culture than she was (as an outsider). That might make her naive, but not an idiot.
And since at the time no objections were raised, it does look as though someone has stirred things up for some reason.
(And since at the time no objections were raised, it does look as though someone has stirred things up for some reason.
somegreybloke,
Tue 27 Nov 2007, 11:33,
archived)
If she IS teaching in an islam countryI hope none of the girls got to vote either.
okay maybe less true in the last couple of years
(okay maybe less true in the last couple of years
fross Read your email on,
Tue 27 Nov 2007, 11:43,
archived)