UK Faith Schools Good or Bad?

[maymunah]

Assalamu Alaikum,

This topic has reared it's ugly head once again in the UK. I used to be adamant on sending my child to a muslim school, for the benefits of learning academic subjects within an Islamic ethos. But since i've heard so many stories of muslims becoming radicalised it's has kind of scared me. I know most muslim schools are doing wonders. They're teaching our kids their religion and also teaching them how to survive in the material world. However we can't fail to notice certain schools or elements within are having negative effects too. i/e some kids come out of these schools hating anyone who is not of the same faith as them. This goes for other faith schools (Christian, Jewish) aswell. They can find it hard to integrate when they have to get onto the work ladder.

On the other side you have secular schools which on the surface offer freedom of thght, and are inclusive of all faiths. These schools teach the academics minus religious morals. Morals are there, discipline is there but void of religion. This can encourage kids of different faiths, and cultures to become friends, to integrate better, to understand each other and be more tolerant.

However i'm all too aware although it appears as if there are no religious elements, the secular belief system is there, that in itself is a religion which our kids will be learning unawares.

Also no one can fail to see these schools are designed to teach our kids how to survive in the worldy life. How to make money. It doesn't teach our kids how to make it in the next life, there is no emphasis on our duty to God.

So I'd like some advice, how do you achieve that balance? I want my child to learn his/her religion and be obedient to Allah, but I want my child to survive in the material world which can be a very competitive and ruthless place.

Is it enough just to send your kid to an evening school for religious values, and a secular school for the academics? I don't think it's enough because time wise an evening class is like 2 hrs compared with daytime school which can be like 8hrs. 8 hrs of indoctrinisation compared with 2?

What should I do send my kid to a muslim school or not? For some reason i've got a negative opinion of muslim schools in the UK, and a more favourable one of those in arab countries.

Anyways please offer your thghts and advice, and please don't use this thread to vent your anger at my controversial comments!

[sufisticated]

:salam:

this is our concern also. not everyone lives near an islamic school for starters. and then the school has to be good. i have heard about some really bad ones, that don't raise intelligent, well-rounded muslims, but a bunch of ignorant ninkumpoops who would not be able to interact with a non-muslim.

in my opinion, if you are far from a good islamic school, and there is a single-sex school nearby (depending on age) which is known to be good and accommodating to muslims, then there is no harm as long as you take necessary steps to ensure the education they receive does not contradict islam (by reviewing it daily), nor the culture they pick up from the playground influences them too much (this is probably the hardest thing); as well as ensuring they receive a good islamic education; primarily from the parents, and then other teachers. and that's only if you can't homeschool.

:ws:

[Pr1nce]

Walaykum Salam Wa Rahmatullah

My advice would be to not send your child to a secular school. There is absolutely no Islamic emphasis in these schools and even when religious studies are taught, they are usually mocked at and seen as 'uncool'. I think you should research the Muslim schools in the UK to see which one is more suited to your taste. Not all the Muslims schools in the UK are intolerant. That would be an incorrect generalisation.

[Mariah]

:salam:

If you were to consider the pros on cons of an Islamic school, I think the pros would outweigh the cons and an Islamic school would by far be better. Starting the day off mentioning Allahs name and reciting the Quraan, assemblies centered around the islamic way of behaving is a definate plus to begin with.

As mentioned above, the intolerance of other religions is a rather big generalisation. Many Islamic schools have teachers of other faiths therefore that wouldnt go down pretty well for sure.

Islamic schools that I am aware of do teach children how to survive in this world aswell as the hereafter, afterall Islam is a way of life designed to help us survive in this world and prepare for the hereafter at the same time...

If you have a negative opnion of a school in particular, you could always address your concerns with them and put your suggestions in, Islamic schools are continously deveolping and there are many rooms for improvement so all constuctive criticisms would be welcome!

[scents of paradise]

i think it has its pluses n minuses..isolation from the wider community is a problem would be nice to encourage the students there to be socially active in their communities and work along side other different people...like being a volunteer and so on.

[sufisticated]

Walaykum Salam Wa Rahmatullah

My advice would be to not send your child to a secular school.

:salam:

easier said than done. what if you live hundreds of miles away from a decent islamic school?

:ws:

[Pr1nce]

:salam:

easier said than done. what if you live hundreds of miles away from a decent islamic school?

:ws:

Walaykum Salam Wa Rahmatullah

I assume the sister has access to a Muslim school - thats why I said that. If not, then it is better to homeschool than send your child to a secular school.

[sufisticated]

then it is better to homeschool than send your child to a secular school.

:salam: sidi

i agree 100%. but what if that is too difficult? e.g. lots of children.

:ws:

[Pr1nce]

:salam: sidi

i agree 100%. but what if that is too difficult? e.g. lots of children.

:ws:

Walaykum Salam Wa Rahmatullah

Well, then the parents would have a big decision to make.

[maymunah]

Assalamu alaikum,

i'm considering homeschooling but i don't think it's for every parent. Although some individuals have told me "anyone" can do it, i really don't believe that. Some parents are naturally more skilled in teaching others aren't. We weren't all born teachers. I'd like more information about how it works in the UK before i commit myself.

Also nowadays the amount of work and the difficulty has increased, i'm kinder shocked how hard the curriculum has been made even for little kids. So preparing and presenting even the primary curriculum will be very demanding.

I think i'd manage primary school education but when it comes to GCSE level things get a bit more serious and i'd feel inadequate teaching this. I'd be more than willing to help my child but i think a qualified teacher would be the best ppl to teach GCSE'S not me. I want my child to get the best grades possible and honestly speaking i don't thnk i'd help him/her to achieve that. At least if i employ a home tutor or put my child into a school of some sort i know in my mind i've given them the best education possible, rather than my second rate skills.

I won't have access to an islamic school. But there are evening classes which offer Quran reading, hifz, alim/alima courses and even tailor made courses should i want them for my child or even myself.

One thing i worry about a lot is social skills. I want my child to be able to make friends, to hold a conversation, to interact with other children muslim and non muslim. With homeschooling i fear my child will be very isolated and miss out on these aspects. The only way to resolve this is to make time to take my child to playcentres, and meet up with other homeschooling parents and kids.

I have an eldery family member to look after aswell, she can't be left unattended so it's not gona be an easy task, sounds like so much responsiblity.

[sufisticated]

One thing i worry about a lot is social skills. I want my child to be able to make friends, to hold a conversation, to interact with other children muslim and non muslim. With homeschooling i fear my child will be very isolated and miss out on these aspects. The only way to resolve this is to make time to take my child to playcentres, and meet up with other homeschooling parents and kids.

:salam:

this is a common concern. it helps if you have family members with children, or at least like minded individuals who are raising their children in the same manner as yourself.

the danger of letting them mix too much is obviously exposing them to ideas you tried to avoid in the firstplace by homeschooling. it is a fine balance, and indeed a challenge in my opinion.

i suppose in a ideal world you could homeschool up to a certain age e.g. 11 or 12, make sure you have inculcated a solid foundation of the deen into your children and then send them to a school, even a secular school if it is good - but again being very weary about what they are learning.

Many ulema have said it is haram to send our children to non-muslim schools, and that is like sending them to their destruction. But sometimes it is very difficult to do otherwise as i have highlighted.

our communities must facilitate homeschooling, or at least support muslim schools and teachers.

:ws: