This workshop at Greenock Academy was held in unusual circumstances, not concerning how to teach about Islam in RME, but dealing with staff/muslim relations at a school that at the time had no muslim pupils. Of course the news was full of 'the muslim education problem' that was current, but I thought that to consider potential problems before the immediate possibility of their occurrence showed great forward thinking, and a willingness to face up to what (considering the news reports of the time) must have seemed like the unnecessary opening up of a potentially virulent can of worms.
Schools, Muslims & Islam
Part 1
Questions as to why I am there - Expectations
Ways in which my talk can help
School with no muslims
How school should react if muslims attend
In case of teacher transfer to another school
Understanding of national situation (UK)
Understanding conceptual basis of Islam
getting a handle
Expectations of muslim youth
Expectations of muslim parents
first generation complexity
Muslims as wide variety of individuals
Muslims and religious variety
Ethnic groupings - languages
Community power & Islam
Ownership of mosques
Mosque attendance
Racist issues & Islamic issues
Education issues
Islam & Sex
dress codes - sports - sex education
Loss of cultural identity
romantic v. arranged marriage
mother tongue & homeland concepts
loss of parental authority
loss of spiritual values
Values in Education
Sofs lecture from IsEd
Conceptual basis of Islam
Introduction to Islam
Informational approach
The World of Islam
Questions and Contact address
Part 2
I. Problems with Islam come from ignorance
A. non-muslims
B. muslims
II. View of muslims
A. homogenous
B. media view
1. oil sheikhs & terrorists
a. thrillers and soaps
2. anti-semitism
a. Fay Weldon
3. bloodthirsty
a. 2 World wars / S.American conversion / Spain
C. prejudice built over centuries
1. the Crusades
2. Dante
III. Who are the muslims
A. globally
B. locally
1. ethnic groups
2. languages
3. dress codes
IV. Cultural and religious confusion
A. no time for lectures on Islamic theory
V. Strains within the community
A. first generation
1. elders and youth difficulties
B. elders
1. alien culture
a. going home to die
2. surrounded by disgusting temptation
a. identical cross-cultural views
(1) dirty meat
(2) degrading treatment of women
3. assimilators
4. ghettoisers
a. liberalisation of committed who then go home
C. Youth difficulties
1. rejection of elders cultural views
2. arranged marriage
a. extended family
3. sexual mixing
4. music
5. alcohol
6. food restrictions
7. headscarves and naked showers