Veil is woman’s own choice – Prescott

Salam Alaikum:

Personally, I think she should remove the veil in the classroom while teaching children. Particularly, if she is teaching them another language. Seeing how letters and sounds are made is a very important part of speech when trying to learn a new language. Quite frankly, I think it's rather unfair to expect young children to grasp a new language without this integral part of the teaching process. She is around chldren, not male adults and the school has absolutely no problem with her wearing it outside the classroom environment.

We too have to be careful in not going to extremes here. While I am extremely angry at the stupidity of Jack Straw's comments that have no basis in fact, in the case of teaching young children a new language, wearing the veil while teaching could, and most probably will, be a hinderance. We do have to be considerate of the fact that the removal of the veil, in some instances, will be neccessary...ie: Visiting a Dentist, etc.

If she insists on not removing it while teaching, then she probably should not be teaching second language classes and should choose an area in education where the veil would not interfere with the student's learning process.

Anyway, just my opinion.

Wasalam,
Hana
 
Hana_Aku said:
Salam Alaikum:

Personally, I think she should remove the veil in the classroom while teaching children. Particularly, if she is teaching them another language. Seeing how letters and sounds are made is a very important part of speech when trying to learn a new language. Quite frankly, I think it's rather unfair to expect young children to grasp a new language without this integral part of the teaching process. She is around chldren, not male adults and the school has absolutely no problem with her wearing it outside the classroom environment.
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masha'allah a very valid point. i wasnt aware she is teaching languages tio children. and to be honest, she shouldnt have gone to the interview without the veil on. She should have let them know from the beginning that she wears a veil, it would have avoided the problem perhaps, but who am i to say. Allah Knows Best
 
:sl:

regarding my previous post on this issue.... what i said was based on what a person who works in that same school told me....
however now the identity of the woman has been revealed, i realise i know the sister from school. she has been wearing the veil since ages, even in school... she was a very strong in that sense.

oh, and shes not teaching the kids a second language. the kids do know english just all mixed up which is kinda common amongst the children round here :p
 
amani said:
:sl:

regarding my previous post on this issue.... what i said was based on what a person who works in that same school told me....
however now the identity of the woman has been revealed, i realise i know the sister from school. she has been wearing the veil since ages, even in school... she was a very strong in that sense.

oh, and shes not teaching the kids a second language. the kids do know english just all mixed up which is kinda common amongst the children round here :p
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Salam Alaikum Sister:

According to the news article, "Bilingual support worker Aishah Azmi, 24, was asked to remove the veil after pupils found it hard to understand her during English language lessons."

I applaud her for her stand to wear the veil, mashallah! But, we also have to realize that if she is a bilingual support worker, it means she is there to help with a 2nd language, and in this case English lessons.

It is almost impossible to pronounce sounds without seeing how the mouth is formed to make the correct sounds. I have a Russian friend that is fluent in English now, but in her class, they all had mirrors and after the teacher showed them how to form the letters, they had to practice with the little mirror to make sure it was correct. The "th" was extremely difficult and it wasn't until she came here (canada), to visit, that she perfected it. We sat for a long time practicing. And it was the same for me learning how to pronounce a Russian word that seemed to start with an "F", but it wasn't until she showed me how to form the letter correctly, that I could finally pronounce it. So, you see, even though she is fluent and speaks with barely an accent, it is still necessary at times to learn to form letters. Imagine children without formal training trying to learn without this very important step.

Personally, from the reports I read, the school was very accomodating and only requested she not wear it, inside her classroom while teaching children. I think this is very reasonable and necessary.

I'm sure she's a wonderful sister, mashallah, and it's wonderful she dedicates herself to teaching children, but it's also important the children receive all the tools necessary to learn. Unfortunately for this sister, one of those tools is the ability to see word formation, not just hear it. :)

wasalam,
Hana
 

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