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Britain
Muslims launch new drive to teach British schoolchildren Islam
2004-10-12
Muslim leaders are launching a new drive to teach British schoolchildren about the true meaning of Islam. The initiative, backed by the Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, will see books on Islam going into schools nationwide. Organisers hope it will help overcome barriers to how non-Muslims understand the faith. And Mr Clarke said the project would help strengthen a multi-faith, multi-cultural society. The "Books for Schools" resource packs include books, videos and CDs. It aims to inform debate among both teachers and pupils and is designed to fit into Key Stages 1 and 2 of religious education - primary schooling. Most of the pack focuses on group work where pupils use the materials to learn more about the key pillars of Islam and the tenets of Muslim life.
Any word on a new book from the Arch-Druid?
The scheme has the backing of educationalists in many areas, who had approached the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) to help with their teaching on Islam. Islam appears in the national curriculum as part of teaching on world religions. But many Muslims say schools do not provide non-Muslims a sufficiently detailed introduction to how the practicalities of the faith, such as ritual charitable giving and fasting. Many schools also rely on materials which are outdated, they say. They hope the new packs, which cost £250 each, aim to change that and follow a similar scheme introduced in the United States. Charles Clarke said he supported the scheme's aims. "It is only through understanding that this country can move forward as a true multi-faith and multicultural society," said Mr Clarke. "We must ensure children grow up with a better understanding of their friends and neighbours. "The Muslim Council of Britain's initiative, books for schools, brings us much closer towards that goal."

Iqbal Sacranie, secretary-general of the MCB, said education was "the key" to creating a vibrant and understanding society. "These resources, developed by our educationalists, aim to overcome the barriers to the teaching of Islam experienced by so many of our teachers by making available creative, engaging and child-friendly resources on Islam and Muslims. "Effective RE teaching and learning plays a positive role in a child's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Books for Schools provides resources on Islam to deliver this part of the curriculum effectively."
Posted by:TS(vice girl)

#8  You may have something there Phil. Perhaps it the complexity of the curve or some such trickery.
Posted by: Shipman   2004-10-12 6:30:02 PM  

#7  Carlos, your questions:
"As non-Muslims, we are left with a picture of hatred, murder suicides, kids strapped with bombs, kids shot in the back, curvy knives and subjugated women whose only role is as concubines. Is there another side to the religion?"

What you see is what you get.

"What are they going to teach to "stregthen multi-faith, multi-cultural society?"

How to sharpen curvy knives.
Posted by: Hank   2004-10-12 6:01:36 PM  

#6  The Japanese have Katanas, the Chinese have Daos (and Michelle Yeoh), and the Nepalese have Kukris, and none of them are like that. So it's got to be something besides the curvy knives.
Posted by: Phil Fraering   2004-10-12 5:50:59 PM  

#5  I blame it all on the Curvy Knife fetish.
Posted by: Shipman   2004-10-12 5:29:27 PM  

#4  "The initiative, backed by the Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, will see books on Islam going into schools nationwide. Organisers hope it will help overcome barriers to how non-Muslims understand the faith."

How do non-Muslims understand the faith? I've only been reading about Islam since 911, and I think I need to go to a school in the UK so someone can explain this religion to me. The most vocal advocates of the religion are, I assume, poor examples. Maybe it is because the news media only likes the sensational, but there is no other image of Islam in the news giving another picture, showing another side. As non-Muslims, we are left with a picture of hatred, murder suicides, kids strapped with bombs, kids shot in the back, curvy knives and subjugated women whose only role is as concubines. Is there another side to the religion? If there another side, it is so weak and so timid that it allows the other to be the image of Islam. What are they going to teach to "stregthen multi-faith, multi-cultural society?"
Posted by: Carlos   2004-10-12 4:13:35 PM  

#3  True meaning of Islam = perverse shariah, second class status for women, terrorism, beheadings, limb hacking, wife beating, foreign aggression, genocide, etc ad nauseum.
Posted by: Cazifargas   2004-10-12 3:54:42 PM  

#2  You gotta start early to teach proper beheading technique. Lets see, the courses for first grade:
Beheading 101
Infidel Jews 101
Other Infidels 102 (the second semester)
Suicide bomb wiring 101
Introduction to Martyrdom 101
Rights of Women 101 (the short course - covered while waiting in line for lunch on the first day)
Posted by: Hank   2004-10-12 3:23:41 PM  

#1  I can imagine the exam.
Posted by: Anonymous6092   2004-10-12 3:01:29 PM  

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