A little story from my town

DanaC · 12-20-2008, 06:20 AM

This is a little story from my town. A school play with a difference.

http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news...his.4811308.jp

Sundae · 12-20-2008, 09:55 AM

Shhhhhhhhhhhh - Dana we're supposed to be pretending that we're not scared of the Muslims in this country.
This article shows that we even let their kids stage plays!
It's not going to help....

On a serious note - good for them.
I've just moved from a company with a stronger belief in the power of the arts than I have, but I have always, always believed in the positive experience of performing for children. It brings self confidence, assurance and a sense of your place in the community. And that's even more important in what looks like a predominantly Muslim area.

xoxoxoBruce · 12-20-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Head teacher Gugsy Ahmed

skysidhe · 12-20-2008, 11:32 AM

I picked a specialist who went to med school in Tehran.

He is so cute I couldn't ask a single question.
I told the receptionist I would have to get sick more often just to come and see him. She actually said she hears that alot. Afraid? no.....overcome and swooning? YES!

DanaC · 12-20-2008, 11:45 AM

I think what this school (and indeed its Pakistani headmaster) is doing is wonderful. Teaching these kids about their part in British history and offsetting a lot of negative messages about alienation and difference.

As it happens, the school is predominantly Asian as Sundae surmised. It's also in a very deprived and predominantly Asian part of the town. There has been at least one man arrested and held on terrorist charges from that area. It's a lovely school. I visited it once. Kids from the settled Asian communities mainly, along with some white British children and some of the transient immigrant population. The staff have to cope with some real challenges, not least of which is the number of children in each class who either speak no English when they start at the school or for whom English is a second or third language. They do well though. They get good, value added results for their kids and are involved in the community locally (their Children's centre runs language classes for local mums, for example) as well as various cross-borough school co-operation schemes.

From an early age these kids are being shown that they and their communities are an integral part of Britain. They might get to grow up with both a positive view of themselves as Muslims, and a positive view of themselves as British without those two things conflicting.

12-20-2008, 06:20 AM	#1
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	A little story from my town This is a little story from my town. A school play with a difference. http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news...his.4811308.jp

12-20-2008, 09:55 AM	#2
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Shhhhhhhhhhhh - Dana we're supposed to be pretending that we're not scared of the Muslims in this country. This article shows that we even let their kids stage plays! It's not going to help.... On a serious note - good for them. I've just moved from a company with a stronger belief in the power of the arts than I have, but I have always, always believed in the positive experience of performing for children. It brings self confidence, assurance and a sense of your place in the community. And that's even more important in what looks like a predominantly Muslim area.

12-20-2008, 11:32 AM	#4
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	I picked a specialist who went to med school in Tehran. He is so cute I couldn't ask a single question. I told the receptionist I would have to get sick more often just to come and see him. She actually said she hears that alot. Afraid? no.....overcome and swooning? YES!

12-20-2008, 11:45 AM	#5
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	I think what this school (and indeed its Pakistani headmaster) is doing is wonderful. Teaching these kids about their part in British history and offsetting a lot of negative messages about alienation and difference. As it happens, the school is predominantly Asian as Sundae surmised. It's also in a very deprived and predominantly Asian part of the town. There has been at least one man arrested and held on terrorist charges from that area. It's a lovely school. I visited it once. Kids from the settled Asian communities mainly, along with some white British children and some of the transient immigrant population. The staff have to cope with some real challenges, not least of which is the number of children in each class who either speak no English when they start at the school or for whom English is a second or third language. They do well though. They get good, value added results for their kids and are involved in the community locally (their Children's centre runs language classes for local mums, for example) as well as various cross-borough school co-operation schemes. From an early age these kids are being shown that they and their communities are an integral part of Britain. They might get to grow up with both a positive view of themselves as Muslims, and a positive view of themselves as British without those two things conflicting.

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