Do not ignore Iraq issue headteachers warned

Leaders of multi-ethnic and Muslim schools have urged headteachers to regard the Iraq war as an opportunity to campaign for greater respect of different beliefs and faiths – and not to tip-toe around issues of religious and racial identity.

The advice is spelt out in a report produced by the National College for School Leadership and is based on the outcomes of an NCSL seminar to examine the effects of the Iraq war in schools. The round-table discussion involved around 20 heads, representing a range of faiths, who lead schools with high numbers of minority ethnic pupils.

According to the report, the "lack of knowledge about different beliefs seemed almost to be worn as a badge of honour by some teachers in our schools". It also reveals that some Muslim pupils are suffering from a "strong sense of dislocation" and "confused identity".

The report also refers to a climate of fear among staff and pupils which has developed in some schools as a result of the war.

"Some children are frightened of being tormented - Muslims fear being labelled as fundamentalists or terrorists, other pupils fear anti-American sentiment will turn to anti- British. Some children fear for their relatives' safety and some fear for their own safety in case of an attack on this country. Other pupils are angry and hardened against any cultures or faiths they associate with Saddam's regime," the report said.

The report also includes practical guidance and strategies to help school leaders deal with the challenges they are facing during the current conflict.

Short-term advice includes running staff workshops to explore staff feelings and experiences of the war and to agree ways of responding to the situation in school.

The report also makes recommendations for action at a national level such as reviewing how staff are prepared for inclusion and diversity and providing more development opportunities for leaders of faith and multi-ethnic schools.

(GMcG)