[Ammi]

..I read that the school will issue their statement about this soon, so I'll wait for that to get a bit more of a balance because working in a school myself I know that media stories can often be slanted..I find it really sad though in feeling that extreme terrorism has won in the effect it's having on the world in attaching it's own negative and hate-filled meaning on words because of the violent acts it has done 'in the name' of when none of those actions have been in the name of at all, they've only been in the name of hate and no other belief/religion/culture...but now sadly there are associations which instil concern and instil fear...terrorism seems so much to be winning at times without even having to arm itself with weapons...


...we don't have much power against it in many cases, except to try to counter its intolerance by helping children to be more tolerant and helping in their understanding of others and their different cultures and beliefs...we have some Muslim families at our school, as have other schools around us...not so many as it's not a highly populated Muslim area...children ask questions like why can't ******* eat certain meat, why do they wish for a place of prayer if they're on a residential visit etc etc...it's important to explain these things and explain different culture and belief so that fear is not there of anything unfamiliar to them..the parents of the Muslim families we have come into the school themselves to explain and explain the meaning of their prayers and help children to understand and with understanding comes acceptance and tolerance..that for me is a huge 'weapon' against terrorism and hate because it's not allowing those negative attachments to be the only voice heard in what is an extremely worrying time...