All state pupils may be taught Islamic traditions as part of compulsory citizenship lessons

State school pupils are set to be taught Islamic traditions and values in compulsory citizenship lessons.

The move  -  part of a package of initiatives announced by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears yesterday  -  is designed to curb extremism.

The obvious question is whether this is a move to push understanding of Islam as opposed to other faiths.  Why should Islam be the darling religion?  What about Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and so many more?

Education campaigners warned however against giving Islam a privileged position over other faiths.

Other plans announced by Miss Blears also drew criticism  -  including a state-funded panel of Islamic scholars and theologians to provide community leadership.

Again, why patronize the Islamic community?

maybe because of the extremists that lurk within the rank and file of Islam who tend to do crazy things like riot and blow up cars (France).  And that’s not even mentioning the ones that do far far worse in the name of the religion of peace.

Whether they want to admit it or not, the fact is that this is a case of the squeaky wheel getting the grease.  Islamics are a loud and often violent bunch, so Britain is containing them with some legislative ass kissing.

And here is an interesting fact:  Even some of the Muslims think this is a bad idea:

Prominent Muslims said this scheme was naive because Government endorsement would erode the credibility of those taking part, especially among the young and disaffected.

Another measure will see Muslim children being taught citizenship lessons by imams in mosque schools  -  in the hope that they will be better equipped to resist extremist messages.

Did they forget that some of the Imams preach the most hateful and violent messages?

Many Muslim youngsters in the UK attend evening classes at madrassah schools attached to mosques, where imams give instruction in the Koran and Islamic history.

Ministers want imams to stress that the Koran places a duty on all Muslims to be good neighbours, carry out voluntary work and play an active part in civic society.

Pilot schemes will begin in October in London, Leicester, Birmingham, Oldham, Rochdale, and Bradford.

The Department for Communities and Local Government has tasked the Islam & Citizenship Education group with producing the teaching materials for mosques.

In all honesty, that is actually a halfway decent idea as long as tolerance is actually a part of that message.  The questions is, will imams do that?

The organisation, however, wants to extend its remit to mainstream state schools by ‘teaching Islamic traditions and values in the school citizenship curriculum’.

David Conway, senior research fellow at the Civitas think-tank, said: ‘Some will see this as another sign of a creeping process of Islamisation  -  an insidious process which plays down the Christian basis of our culture and encourages children to learn more and more about Islam’s contribution.

Uh, yea.

‘Muslims are still a relatively small minority in Britain and, while I have nothing against children in our multi-religious society learning about each other’s faiths, for one particular faith to be privileged in mainstream schools seems to me pointless, and won’t make for greater harmony.

‘I fear it will play into the hands of the small minority who want to see the Islamisation of Europe, and believe they will triumph through sheer numbers.’

Well, not to mention pissing off people who object to Muslim appeasement.

Unlike religious education classes, citizenship lessons, which do not cover issues of belief, are compulsory.

Read that again:  Compulsory.  As in mandatory, as in you must take them.  Forced indoctrination

Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: ‘We should not single out one particular faith. Citizenship is supposed to be secular.

‘Children can learn about particular religious values in religious education lessons. That’s why parents have the right to withdraw. It’s a very different matter to promote a particular faith’s values as part of compulsory citizenship lessons.

As a parent, I agree here.  The attempt to force religious indoctrination is abhorrent.

‘It seems to me dangerous to single out the one faith which is probably linked to the most problems with terrorism at the moment for special treatment.’

Ah, someone actually notes the real truth.  Muslims sometimes do bad things.

Britain is really becoming a disappointment.  Maybe it is that stereotypical cultural formality and politeness at work here, but the reality is that they are teaching the wrong lessons, and I hope they do not pay the price for it someday.

Maybe i shouldn’t care.  It is not my country, and not my laws. 

But the fact is that too many in America use Europe as our social model, and if this takes root, it will be here soon.  We already have seen signs of it.

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