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Randi
02-04-2010, 01:14 PM
... but I think we have reached the limit now! In Denmark schools have meetings for parents now and again. One school have decided to let only women come for such a meeting this evening... because women will not attend if there are men present. I’m talking about Arabic women. What about the single male parent?

We are a democracy in Denmark, so I think that if muslims want to live their life here, they should try to adapt to the way our society functions. John travelled and worked in foreign countries when he was young, and of course he respected the rules and norms of each country while being there - and even learnt to speak the language. I have seen jounalists from Denmark visiting Arabic countries, and of course they respected the norm and covered their heads with a scarf.

I wonder what your view is on this?

Here’s an article from Copenhagen Post on the subject:

Politicians up in arms over school’s anti-bullying meeting that is aimed only at mothers of pupils

"The decision taken by a Copenhagen school to ban fathers from a parental meeting out of respect for Muslim mothers has drawn deep divides between politicians and school leaders.

Holberg School in the city’s Bispebjerg district has scheduled a meeting for parents about the school’s anti-bullying policy this evening. But the meeting at the multi-cultural school is mothers only, and neither Danish nor immigrant fathers of pupils have been welcomed to attend.

The invitation from the school invites mothers to attend a ‘debate about bullying that includes mother talk, yummy food, coffee and cake’. They are also invited to bring their young children with them if needed, as babysitting will be provided.

School principal Søren Ellesøe told Berlingske Tidende newspaper that the school took the decision in order to reach out to a group of parents who usually don’t attend parent teacher meetings.

‘We have immigrant women parents in particular whose husbands believe that women should not take part in something if other men are present,’ he said.

A questionnaire on the school’s website undertaken by older students showed that a quarter of the school pupils come from a non-Danish ethnic background.

Chairman of the Danish Teachers’ Union, Anders Bondo Christensen, is backing the decision taken by the principal.

‘If it’s to ensure that students get a safe and good school day without bullying then I respect the decision,’ he said.

But politicians are up in arms, most notably Socialist People’s Party leader Villy Søvndal, who is outraged that the fathers’ equality is being ignored out of consideration for some ‘obdurate religious ideas’.

‘I’m simply shocked that a principal at a public school can take such a decision. It was likely undertaken with the best intentions, but it is deeply, deeply damaging,’ Søvndal said.

He is now putting pressure on the deputy mayor for the city council’s children and youth administration Anne Vang to intervene and ensure the meeting is cancelled if fathers are not allowed to attend.

Meanwhile the Danish People’s Party (DF) is going a step further and calling for the principal to be fired if the meeting goes ahead at 5.30pm without any fathers present.

‘We won’t allow immigrant men to set the agenda for how we hold meetings in our schools,’ said DF group chairman at the city council Carl Christian Ebbesen."

caseysmom
02-04-2010, 01:35 PM
I honestly don't understand why someone wants to live somewhere and change everything about that place. If you want it the way your homeland is why did you leave your homeland. I don't mean to make that sound racist either but when in Rome....

smokey the elder
02-04-2010, 01:40 PM
Isn't the point of emigrating somewhere to assimilate into THAT culture??

caseysmom
02-04-2010, 01:44 PM
Isn't the point of emigrating somewhere to assimilate into THAT culture??

It use to be, it sure was thay way for my relatives that immigrated. It doesn't appear to work that way anymore.

pomtzu
02-04-2010, 01:45 PM
I honestly don't understand why someone wants to live somewhere and change everything about that place. If you want it the way your homeland is why did you leave your homeland. I don't mean to make that sound racist either but when in Rome....

Precisely what I was going to say - "When in Rome........."

lizbud
02-04-2010, 01:56 PM
Why must your country change it's culture? Makes no sense. I know
many Americans respect Arabic customs while in their countries, why
can't they do the same?

France also has a lot of Arabic emigrants and they have made it illegal
to wear face coverings out in public places. I support that too. They can
practice their beliefs at home , but it is not welcome in public.

Catty1
02-04-2010, 07:26 PM
I guess someone needs to have a word with the non-Danish fathers? They would be the ones enforcing this (if they do). Or the wife could insist her husband attend.

After all, I suspect that many of the bullied kids are the non-Danish born ones.

I hope a solution can be found; the men will have to lead in this one. IMO

RICHARD
02-04-2010, 08:03 PM
Check out all the restrictions put on non Arab people who visit Arab countries?

Talk about a double standard?:eek:

blue
02-05-2010, 12:14 AM
It has nothing to do with race. Not all Arabs are muslim, not all muslims are Arab.

Lady's Human
02-05-2010, 12:28 AM
Truly intelligent warriors conduct warfare without ever pulling a single trigger.......

wombat2u2004
02-05-2010, 06:20 AM
25% ???? So the minority has the advantage ????
This is starting to sound like another thread going at the moment about the military.

Catty........you state that you believe that the majority of those bullied are amongst the 25% ???? That my dear, will reverse itself so fast in the western world that your head will spin, and especially in your country. You open your doors just a little too wide.

We had a lot of refugees coming here at one stage from Sri Lanka, of course they sought a better life, but that didn't stop them from mass protests about the Sri Lankan army all but defeating the Tamil Tigers (Who....by the way, were the first people to introduce that lovely little tactic known as suicide bombing). And do you know what they really wanted ???? They wanted Australia to send soldiers to Sri Lanka to aid their terrorist cousins against the the Sri Lankan army. Can you believe the audacity of these idiots ???
So, they come here looking for a better life ???? Perhaps to a certain extent, but as always, these people will always take advantage of their hosts until the day when they can actually rule them. It has already happened in some countries.

Am I a racist ???? Sure I am.... but a selective racist.
If those muslims in that school wish to do this to their host country, and insist on their rights, then I think the Danish government should enforce their right to send these people back where they come from.
You don't want to assimilate, then go home !!!!!

wombat2u2004
02-05-2010, 06:26 AM
School principal Søren Ellesøe told Berlingske Tidende newspaper that the school took the decision in order to reach out to a group of parents who usually don’t attend parent teacher meetings.
‘We have immigrant women parents in particular whose husbands believe that women should not take part in something if other men are present,’ he said."

Yeah yeah.....just another lackey who carries out the bidding of those who are out of touch with the people they are supposed to represent.

wombat2u2004
02-05-2010, 06:29 AM
Truly intelligent warriors conduct warfare without ever pulling a single trigger.......

I think Julius Caeser said that !!!!

Randi
02-05-2010, 11:44 AM
I guess someone needs to have a word with the non-Danish fathers? They would be the ones enforcing this (if they do). Or the wife could insist her husband attend.
Yes, I guess they are. :( So yes, I think the husbands should come along with their wifes, that ought to solve the problem. After all, the women can stil wear their scarfs or whatever.

Furthermore, it's the women who don't learn to speak Danish, and they keep speaking their own language to their children, so those children have problems learning things in school and keeping up with the rest. This of course accelerates other problems later on.

I have not seen the news today, I have been to visit Dali, who I catsit. But I am curious to hear how it went yesterday, so will check the news in 10 min.

Edit* Well, whether they wear their scarfs ot not, their husbands still won't allow them to go - because there would other men present. :rolleyes: Aren't there men present when they go shopping!? I'm just happy that I wasn't born in a muslim country!

lizbud
02-05-2010, 12:20 PM
I think Julius Caeser said that !!!!



Yes, right after he invented the six shooter.:D

caseysmom
02-05-2010, 02:27 PM
It has nothing to do with race. Not all Arabs are muslim, not all muslims are Arab.

good point.

RICHARD
02-05-2010, 07:25 PM
Edit* Well, whether they wear their scarfs ot not, their husbands still won't allow them to go - because there would other men present. :rolleyes: Aren't there men present when they go shopping!? I'm just happy that I wasn't born in a muslim country!

I worked with a Phillipina woman who lived in Saudi Arabia, dated and married an America black soldier.

On a date she had to have an 'escort' and was also forced to wear the head cover, too!:confused:

She was miserable there.

moosmom
02-06-2010, 09:00 AM
:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Miss Z
02-07-2010, 01:38 PM
It has nothing to do with race. Not all Arabs are muslim, not all muslims are Arab.

A very good point.

Randi,

I attend a sixth form college with a moderately high population of Pakistani Muslims. This thread got me thinking, and I believe that I see less Muslim mothers turning up to events like parents evening now than I did when I was in the first year of secondary school, nearly 7 years ago. (The sixth form is part of the school, so same place, same people, etc.)

I've been fortunate enough to sit down to dinner and attend lectures with Justice Secretary Jack Straw, and something that he once said really stuck in my mind. He believes that the popularity of more radical practices of Islam have undergone a 'boomerang' effect.

In other words, the initial immigrants to arrive and settle in the mid 20th century came looking for work. They needed to impress potential employers, not to mention keep a relatively low profile, as racism laws were not what they are now back then. They were more willing to accept a Westernised state of living.

Nowadays, stricter Islam is undergoing a revival, and I'm sure he said there is some significant correlation between the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and the number of burkhas worn by women. There is a greater sense of Western oppression against what Islam stands for, and therefore people do not want to conform.

Of course, only a theory, and only put forward to explain trends in the UK, but I wonder if something similar could be applied to Denmark?

momcat
02-10-2010, 04:02 PM
The quality of education and the issue of bullying are serious problems just about everywhere. Both are hot topics here in New Jersey. Randi, the position taken regarding the parents' meeting about school bullying is disturbing. To effectively discuss and work towards resolving any problem in schools requires the involvement of all parents. The "elimination" of an entire group of parents (fathers) because of reluctance to offend another group is not only wrong, it's counterproductive.

There are no easy answers or solutions to bullying in schools. There was a situation here recently where the students doing the bullying were minority students so it can go in any direction. This is why each and every parent should attend, so all thoughts and ideas can be heard. How many workable ideas, thoughts, and recommendations were never presented because of this position?

For the students and the fine people of Denmark, I hope this meeting was opened to all parents.