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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/sep/10/observer-big-issue-to-attach-religious-labels-to-a-fostered-child-is-absurd
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| To attach religious labels to a fostered child is absurd | |
| (1 day later) | |
| I was pleased to see Kenan Malik in his article on the fostering row question the validity of the use of expression “Christian girl” (“Fostering row exposes how words fail us when we talk about Muslims in Britain”, Comment). I am one of many who find this usage as absurd as “communist child” or “neo-Keynesian child”. If freedom of conscience is to mean anything, there are only the children of such parents. | I was pleased to see Kenan Malik in his article on the fostering row question the validity of the use of expression “Christian girl” (“Fostering row exposes how words fail us when we talk about Muslims in Britain”, Comment). I am one of many who find this usage as absurd as “communist child” or “neo-Keynesian child”. If freedom of conscience is to mean anything, there are only the children of such parents. |
| The DfE’s stance on the purpose of religious education in schools is that it includes supporting children in finding their own spiritual path and should therefore adopt a level-playing-field model of presentation of world views, both religious and secular. If we accept this, we must assent to the view that religion, to borrow a phrase, is something that should be practised only in private, between consenting adults. How this directive is to be reconciled with the current enthusiastic expansion of the “faith school” sector remains mysterious. Charles BailyBedford | The DfE’s stance on the purpose of religious education in schools is that it includes supporting children in finding their own spiritual path and should therefore adopt a level-playing-field model of presentation of world views, both religious and secular. If we accept this, we must assent to the view that religion, to borrow a phrase, is something that should be practised only in private, between consenting adults. How this directive is to be reconciled with the current enthusiastic expansion of the “faith school” sector remains mysterious. Charles BailyBedford |
| I am writing this letter as a foster parent and academic researcher in the area of child protection. I appreciate your support for foster carers and consider it important that this area of work is properly understood and recognised (“Tower Hamlets case has shone a light on how we fail foster carers”, Comment). | I am writing this letter as a foster parent and academic researcher in the area of child protection. I appreciate your support for foster carers and consider it important that this area of work is properly understood and recognised (“Tower Hamlets case has shone a light on how we fail foster carers”, Comment). |
| However, I am concerned that, in the commentary on the placement of a child of Christian origin with a Muslim family, some vital issues have remained unaddressed. In particular, there has been a lack of discussion about the reasons behind the rise in demand for care placements over the last decade. | However, I am concerned that, in the commentary on the placement of a child of Christian origin with a Muslim family, some vital issues have remained unaddressed. In particular, there has been a lack of discussion about the reasons behind the rise in demand for care placements over the last decade. |
| We urgently need to discuss the links between government austerity policies, deprivation and the growth in the numbers of children becoming looked after. The failure on the part of government to discuss such links is perhaps understandable, but why have the media so often ignored the increasingly robust evidence in this area? Recent research, for example, has found that, in England, children in the most deprived 10% of small neighbourhoods were more than 10 times more likely to be looked after than children in the least deprived 10%. | We urgently need to discuss the links between government austerity policies, deprivation and the growth in the numbers of children becoming looked after. The failure on the part of government to discuss such links is perhaps understandable, but why have the media so often ignored the increasingly robust evidence in this area? Recent research, for example, has found that, in England, children in the most deprived 10% of small neighbourhoods were more than 10 times more likely to be looked after than children in the least deprived 10%. |
| Such findings need to be understood and integrated with those on mortality rates and educational outcomes in order that we can appreciate the inequalities between our citizens in relation to raising their children safely in their own homes and communities.Professor Brigid FeatherstoneUniversity of Huddersfield | Such findings need to be understood and integrated with those on mortality rates and educational outcomes in order that we can appreciate the inequalities between our citizens in relation to raising their children safely in their own homes and communities.Professor Brigid FeatherstoneUniversity of Huddersfield |
| Kenan Malik is right to say that there is no equivalence between the reporting of the Rotherham child abuse case and the fostering of a “Christian” child with Muslim carers . | Kenan Malik is right to say that there is no equivalence between the reporting of the Rotherham child abuse case and the fostering of a “Christian” child with Muslim carers . |
| In the Rotherham case, the fault was with the investigation, rather than the subsequent reporting of the crime. In the fostering example, as the facts have shown, the fault lies in the sensationalist coverage rather than in the original decision, which was made with the best interests of the child in mind. | In the Rotherham case, the fault was with the investigation, rather than the subsequent reporting of the crime. In the fostering example, as the facts have shown, the fault lies in the sensationalist coverage rather than in the original decision, which was made with the best interests of the child in mind. |
| The Daily Mail is under investigation by Ipso for its coverage of the case, which, according to the Guardian, included the digital alteration of a picture to add a veil to the face of a Muslim woman, one assumes with the end of emphasising her “otherness”. Further, it cannot be true, as stated, that the foster parents did not speak English, as the ability to speak it is a precondition of the job. | The Daily Mail is under investigation by Ipso for its coverage of the case, which, according to the Guardian, included the digital alteration of a picture to add a veil to the face of a Muslim woman, one assumes with the end of emphasising her “otherness”. Further, it cannot be true, as stated, that the foster parents did not speak English, as the ability to speak it is a precondition of the job. |
| This reporting is both morally wrong and irresponsible and the offending papers must be held to account.Diana CoxChard, Somerset | This reporting is both morally wrong and irresponsible and the offending papers must be held to account.Diana CoxChard, Somerset |
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