Six months ago, a teacher in Birmingham, England, watched helplessly as her school was gradually taken over by a small group of Muslim governors who seemed determined to change the state school into one ruled by their view of Islam. The refusal of Muslim teachers to allow a male tennis coach to teach female students was the last straw. The whistleblower sent an email to her Member of Parliament and the Education Ministry outlining her concerns: "The children are having their basic right of choice taken away by not being allowed to choose how to live their lives". Soon, the truth came out and more parents and teachers complained about the "Trojan Horse Plot" to subvert British values.
Six months after that first email, other subversive activities were uncovered in other towns and cities, including east London. The government response has been twofold: 1) promoting British values of democracy, equality, tolerance of other cultures etc. and 2) warning parents that such tolerance of "Islamic extremism" will lead to their young sons following the road to Jihad (as defined by radical sects like ISIS, Boko Haram and al-Shabab ).
Yesterday, British Prime Minister David Cameron ordered that every British school teach the values enshrined in the Magna Carta. He said "Its principles shine as brightly as ever, and they paved the way for the democracy, the equality, the respect and the laws that make Britain, Britain".
Mr. Cameron's timing is perfect - next year marks the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, signed in 1215 by King John to limit the "divine right of kings". It guaranteed the right to fair trial by a jury of peers, protected private property and limited taxes. Of course, in 1215, these protections only applied to the elite Barons who forced the king to sign "the great charter", but the principles have evolved over time to apply to everyone.
Where all of this will lead to in the future, only time will tell. But the last word goes to Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson, (she was not the whistleblower) head teacher of Anderton primary school in Birmingham. For 2 years, she has confronted problems head on. Parents have to sign a letter confirming that their children will take part in every lesson and activity offered by the school. "Some Muslims believe you should not do art, singing, anything creative. Occasionally, parents will say to me, 'I don't want my child to do the violin.' I tell them the national curriculum says you have to play a stringed instrument and that is the law." Ms. Hewitt-Clarkson actively engages anyone in the community who can help her solve problems - from parents to governors to police. Is she optimistic? So far, she seems to be successful. She concludes: "Ninety-nine percent of the community is fantastic. It's just one or two people, almost always men, who want to dominate".
No comments:
Post a Comment