one_amatullah
25-05-2007, 05:05 PM
A report on Channel 4 News last night has highlighted the terrible bullying some Muslim children are suffering in schools in the UK. One school in question seems to take a fairly slack approach to the situation.
Watch the report online: http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/education/why+am+i+being+picked+on/530047
'Why am I being picked on?' 24 May 2007 by Channel 4 News
A Muslim family have told of their torment over racism in the classroom.
Sanna al-Ameen claims his 14-year-old daughter Yasameen suffered racist bullying at the Manning School for Girls in Nottingham.
Mr al-Ameen, 53, who moved from Iraq to the Britain 30 years ago, gave an example of the kind of abuse his daughter endured. He said: "A gang called her a suicide bomber and said 'your dad is Saddam Hussein. We reported it to the school. They did nothing. I'm surprised, if this isn't racial humiliation, I don't know what is."
"I want the school to do something. I want them to punish the girls who are doing this to my daughter."
This month the al-Ameen family's doctor recommended Yasameen was withdrawn from the school for the sake of her mental health. Yasameen, who has three younger sisters and one younger brother, explained the kind of abuse that was taking place.
She said: "One girl spat in my face and pushed me. I hate going to school in the morning. I really hate it. It makes me very sad because I enjoy studying so much. I don't think the teachers have done enough.
"Why am I being picked on? Is it because I'm Muslim? Why aren't they picking on the English girls?"
Mr al-Ameen is a former university lecturer who now runs his own book-binding business in Nottingham. He is married to Teresa, an English woman who converted to Islam.
Our survey found the number of racist incidents recorded in schools in Nottingham rose from 249 in 2003/4 to 280 in 2005/6.
A spokesman for Manning School for Girls said: "The school has worked for almost four years with the local authority, the Racial Equality Council and the police to try to resolve Mr al-Ameen's concerns but, despite all the agencies working together, he is reluctant to accept or take part in the processes that have been put in place.
"Mr al-Ameen chose to send his eldest daughter to Manning ... his correspondence with this school regarding alleged racist incidents began when his daughter was in her first term in Year 7. The head teacher at that time worked very closely with Mr al-Ameen, the Racial Equality Council and the local authority to resolve the situation, just as we have continued to do over the past two years.
"While some of the incidents involving Mr al-Ameen's daughter have involved racist behaviour by some fellow pupils, all incidents have been thoroughly investigated and have been dealt with according to the school and local authority guidelines, including exclusion from school where appropriate.
"We also believe that many of the incidents that Mr al-Ameen alleges are racially motivated have been either accidental or without malice, and certainly not racist.
"Unfortunately, Mr al-Ameen has refused to accept that the matters have been dealt with. The school, Racial Equality Council, local authority and police are still trying to resolve his complaints but despite recently held meetings that agreed a way forward with Mr al-Ameen and the school, he still insists that the matters are not resolved and is reluctant to adhere to agreements made.
"The school Mission Statement is 'Empowering girls to maximise their achievement in today's multi cultural society' and an Ofsted report published earlier this year says: 'Incidents involving racial abuse of bullying are dealt with quickly and effectively. Students are prepared well for living harmoniously in a diverse society.'"
Steve Payne, a police inspector with Nottinghamshire Police, said: "We take allegations of racist incidents very seriously. In this case we have worked closely with the school, the local authority and the Race Equality Council to resolve the issues."
Edwina Grant, corporate director for children's services at Nottingham City Council, said: "The council takes any report of racist incidents seriously and provides general advice and guidance to schools on how to deal with them. Individual schools are responsible for investigating reported incidents, in conjunction with the police and council if necessary. All these incidents were thoroughly investigated by Manning School and we agree that the appropriate actions were taken."
source: http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/education/why+am+i+being+picked+on/530047
Revealed: Racism in Schools, 24 May 2007 by Channel 4 News
The extent of racist incidents in the country's classrooms is exposed for the first time as a result of a Channel 4 News online survey. A Freedom of Information (FoI) probe of more than 90 education authorities in England exposes the true extent of racist tensions in schools, with nearly 100,000 incidents now documented.
Watch report online: http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/education/revealed+racism+in+schools/529297
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Watch the report online: http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/education/why+am+i+being+picked+on/530047
'Why am I being picked on?' 24 May 2007 by Channel 4 News
A Muslim family have told of their torment over racism in the classroom.
Sanna al-Ameen claims his 14-year-old daughter Yasameen suffered racist bullying at the Manning School for Girls in Nottingham.
Mr al-Ameen, 53, who moved from Iraq to the Britain 30 years ago, gave an example of the kind of abuse his daughter endured. He said: "A gang called her a suicide bomber and said 'your dad is Saddam Hussein. We reported it to the school. They did nothing. I'm surprised, if this isn't racial humiliation, I don't know what is."
"I want the school to do something. I want them to punish the girls who are doing this to my daughter."
This month the al-Ameen family's doctor recommended Yasameen was withdrawn from the school for the sake of her mental health. Yasameen, who has three younger sisters and one younger brother, explained the kind of abuse that was taking place.
She said: "One girl spat in my face and pushed me. I hate going to school in the morning. I really hate it. It makes me very sad because I enjoy studying so much. I don't think the teachers have done enough.
"Why am I being picked on? Is it because I'm Muslim? Why aren't they picking on the English girls?"
Mr al-Ameen is a former university lecturer who now runs his own book-binding business in Nottingham. He is married to Teresa, an English woman who converted to Islam.
Our survey found the number of racist incidents recorded in schools in Nottingham rose from 249 in 2003/4 to 280 in 2005/6.
A spokesman for Manning School for Girls said: "The school has worked for almost four years with the local authority, the Racial Equality Council and the police to try to resolve Mr al-Ameen's concerns but, despite all the agencies working together, he is reluctant to accept or take part in the processes that have been put in place.
"Mr al-Ameen chose to send his eldest daughter to Manning ... his correspondence with this school regarding alleged racist incidents began when his daughter was in her first term in Year 7. The head teacher at that time worked very closely with Mr al-Ameen, the Racial Equality Council and the local authority to resolve the situation, just as we have continued to do over the past two years.
"While some of the incidents involving Mr al-Ameen's daughter have involved racist behaviour by some fellow pupils, all incidents have been thoroughly investigated and have been dealt with according to the school and local authority guidelines, including exclusion from school where appropriate.
"We also believe that many of the incidents that Mr al-Ameen alleges are racially motivated have been either accidental or without malice, and certainly not racist.
"Unfortunately, Mr al-Ameen has refused to accept that the matters have been dealt with. The school, Racial Equality Council, local authority and police are still trying to resolve his complaints but despite recently held meetings that agreed a way forward with Mr al-Ameen and the school, he still insists that the matters are not resolved and is reluctant to adhere to agreements made.
"The school Mission Statement is 'Empowering girls to maximise their achievement in today's multi cultural society' and an Ofsted report published earlier this year says: 'Incidents involving racial abuse of bullying are dealt with quickly and effectively. Students are prepared well for living harmoniously in a diverse society.'"
Steve Payne, a police inspector with Nottinghamshire Police, said: "We take allegations of racist incidents very seriously. In this case we have worked closely with the school, the local authority and the Race Equality Council to resolve the issues."
Edwina Grant, corporate director for children's services at Nottingham City Council, said: "The council takes any report of racist incidents seriously and provides general advice and guidance to schools on how to deal with them. Individual schools are responsible for investigating reported incidents, in conjunction with the police and council if necessary. All these incidents were thoroughly investigated by Manning School and we agree that the appropriate actions were taken."
source: http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/education/why+am+i+being+picked+on/530047
Revealed: Racism in Schools, 24 May 2007 by Channel 4 News
The extent of racist incidents in the country's classrooms is exposed for the first time as a result of a Channel 4 News online survey. A Freedom of Information (FoI) probe of more than 90 education authorities in England exposes the true extent of racist tensions in schools, with nearly 100,000 incidents now documented.
Watch report online: http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/education/revealed+racism+in+schools/529297
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