[ad_1]
A group of parents at Batley High School have called for calm after a teacher showed students a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad.
The image was shown to children by a teacher in a religious studies class as part of a discussion on blasphemy on March 22.
It was requested protests outside the school in West Yorkshire, an apology from the school, and the suspension of the teacher involved.
Representations of Muhammad are considered offensive to Muslims.
On Sunday night, Yunus Lunat, spokesman for the Batley Parents and Community Association, said the teacher had not realized that the image was “laden with Islamophobic tropes.”
He added: “We believe that in a democratic society everyone has the right to opinion and expression, however, we as parents and citizens also believe that these rights carry responsibility.
“We, as parents and citizens, are determined that our children can attend school without having their faith, which is protected by law, or their culture ridiculed, insulted or vilified.”
Police had been called to the school on Thursday and Friday, as protesters called for the teacher involved to be fired. There have been no arrests.
The protesters gathered outside the school for two days last week.
Mr Lunat had expressed fear last week that the incident would be “hijacked” by those who are anti-Muslim, a concern shared by Batley Labor MP and Spen Tracy Brabin, who had accused people of “stoking You call them “in a way that” would only provoke hatred and division.
On Sunday night, Mr. Lunat said: “Unfortunately, unhelpful comments and biased reporting from the media seeking to hijack the issue have undermined the essential relationship between local communities and local public institutions.
“We are fully committed to dialogue and legitimate engagement.
“Each and every one of these threats against the school and the staff involved undermines our efforts and is completely contrary to our values as parents, citizens and concerned Muslims.
“We therefore ask for calm to allow for a fruitful dialogue and space for a transparent investigation to take place.”
He said children should be allowed “to engage in challenging ideas such as profanity without their teachers having to resort to the use of Islamophobic material” which “only serves to marginalize Muslim communities and spread Islamophobic sentiment.”
Parents were grateful for the school’s cooperation thus far, he said, adding that “initial progress” had been made as the school removed the Muhammad cartoon from its material and also announced a revision of the school’s curriculum. religious studies.
The school has suspended the teacher involved and apologized
The school’s principal, Gary Kibble, had said Thursday: “The school unequivocally apologizes for using a totally inappropriate image in a recent religious studies lesson. It should not have been used.”
“A staff member has also conveyed his sincere apologies. We have immediately withdrawn teaching in this part of the course and are reviewing how we are moving forward with the support of all of our communities represented at our school.
“It is important for children to learn about faith and beliefs, but this must be done in a respectful and sensitive way.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Education had said: “Schools are free to include a full range of subjects, ideas and materials in their curriculum, even when they are challenging or controversial, subject to their obligations to ensure political balance.
“They must balance this with the need to promote respect and tolerance among people of different faiths and beliefs, including when deciding what materials to use in the classroom.”
[ad_2]
