Radical Classroom Assistants

Submitted by John, UK (United Kingdom), Oct 21, 2006 at 18:36

If you think that reading her spoken English is painful Jaladhi, then you can imagine what it was like trying to transcribe the interview. Ms Azmi has a high opinion of herself and her attire if she believes that wearing a mask in a classroom makes her '...perfect at her job'. Most people believe that she ought to be fired, but she is protected by employment laws which are subject to due process.

Actually she is not a teacher, but a classroom assistant who performs a supporting role in educating children who speak English as a second language. Learning English is absolutely crucial if the children are intended to maximise their learning opportunities in this country and enhance their prospects of living fully integrated lives as British citizens. As the daughter of a former Headmaster of a school you might expect Ms Azmi to agree with the previous statement, but, on further reflection, perhaps not.

Her father, Dr Mohammed Mulk, was once the Headmaster of the Institute of Islamic Education (Jaamia Talimul Islam), a school which is adjoined to the Tablighi Jamaat affiliated Markazi mosque in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. In response to criticism of the failing educational standards at the school Dr. Mulk is quoted as saying, "Parents send their children here for an Islamic education. They don't want their sons to take exams." In fairness Ms Azmi chose a Church of England school in which to work, perhaps because she wished to distance herself from her father's philosophy of education.

The Markazi mosque, by the way, was the former place of worship of the 7th of July London Bombing ringleader Mohammed Sidique Khan who was also, coincidentally, a classroom assistant at a school in nearby Leeds. The mosque was again in the headlines in November 2005 when it was alleged to be implicated in the distribution of violent Jihad DVDs and videos. A local is quoted as saying, "It is someone trying to drum up violence, especially among the younger members of the community. Somebody is trying to infiltrate their consciences, decision-making and values in the hope of perhaps recruiting the terrorists of the future from this community."

You couldn't make up this stuff!

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".