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Birmingham schools row: More dogma than dynamite The Guardian view on the Birmingham schools row: more dogma than dynamite
(35 minutes later)
Ahead of yesterday's batch-baked Ofsted reports on the 21 Birmingham schools feared to have been caught up in "Islamification", Theresa May and Michael Gove pointed the finger at one another, both bemoaned problems inherited from Labour, and the opposition decried more recent failures of governance. The inspectorate duly identified a "culture of fear and intimidation" when it reported, but its boss Sir Michael Wilshaw was careful to stress that this had taken hold since Ofsted had last cast an eye over the same institutions, which was sometimes mere months ago.Ahead of yesterday's batch-baked Ofsted reports on the 21 Birmingham schools feared to have been caught up in "Islamification", Theresa May and Michael Gove pointed the finger at one another, both bemoaned problems inherited from Labour, and the opposition decried more recent failures of governance. The inspectorate duly identified a "culture of fear and intimidation" when it reported, but its boss Sir Michael Wilshaw was careful to stress that this had taken hold since Ofsted had last cast an eye over the same institutions, which was sometimes mere months ago.
The Birmingham blame game is plain to see, but it is harder to single out precisely what the blame is for. Vague talk about a plot to take over schools conflates two potentially serious issues. The first, which should surely apply with equal force to institutions with any sort of religious character, is the doctrinaire distortion of curriculum or ethos. The second is the specific promotion of violence to young minds, or at least of violent ideas. In other times and places – from the medieval crusades to 20th-century Northern Ireland – there have been ties between all manner of spiritual sects and dark temporal forces. In early 21st-century Britain, however, jihadist ideology forges a particular and real, if rare, connection between militant Islamism and terrorism. If deeds like the 7/7 bombings or the murder of Lee Rigby were being promoted or excused in any English school, that would be a problem which no government could ignore.The Birmingham blame game is plain to see, but it is harder to single out precisely what the blame is for. Vague talk about a plot to take over schools conflates two potentially serious issues. The first, which should surely apply with equal force to institutions with any sort of religious character, is the doctrinaire distortion of curriculum or ethos. The second is the specific promotion of violence to young minds, or at least of violent ideas. In other times and places – from the medieval crusades to 20th-century Northern Ireland – there have been ties between all manner of spiritual sects and dark temporal forces. In early 21st-century Britain, however, jihadist ideology forges a particular and real, if rare, connection between militant Islamism and terrorism. If deeds like the 7/7 bombings or the murder of Lee Rigby were being promoted or excused in any English school, that would be a problem which no government could ignore.
By appointing the Met's former anti-terrorism chief, Peter Clarke, to interrogate the alleged Birmingham schools plot, Mr Gove winked to the world that he was dealing with a question of this second sort. Mr Clarke does not report until next month, but for all the outrage about Ofsted's findings, scarcely any of them suggested indoctrination in terror. No, the problems found were about compromised science, sex education and segregation. That is, exactly the same sort of issues that arise when evangelical-backed institutions or ultra-orthodox Jewish schools soft-pedal on aspects of biology or discourage internet use.By appointing the Met's former anti-terrorism chief, Peter Clarke, to interrogate the alleged Birmingham schools plot, Mr Gove winked to the world that he was dealing with a question of this second sort. Mr Clarke does not report until next month, but for all the outrage about Ofsted's findings, scarcely any of them suggested indoctrination in terror. No, the problems found were about compromised science, sex education and segregation. That is, exactly the same sort of issues that arise when evangelical-backed institutions or ultra-orthodox Jewish schools soft-pedal on aspects of biology or discourage internet use.
This is not to say that the problems Ofsted uncovered in Birmingham were not potentially serious, only to dispute the notion that they are uniquely Muslim. Indeed, if the most damning individual details from across all 21 schools inspected are picked out and lumped together – youngsters hearing about "white prostitutes" in assemblies, private investigators snooping on staff emails – it is possible to paint a very frightening picture indeed, as Mr Gove did in the House. But if what the Guardian saw on the inside of the now infamous Park View academy last month is any guide, the overall picture is different.This is not to say that the problems Ofsted uncovered in Birmingham were not potentially serious, only to dispute the notion that they are uniquely Muslim. Indeed, if the most damning individual details from across all 21 schools inspected are picked out and lumped together – youngsters hearing about "white prostitutes" in assemblies, private investigators snooping on staff emails – it is possible to paint a very frightening picture indeed, as Mr Gove did in the House. But if what the Guardian saw on the inside of the now infamous Park View academy last month is any guide, the overall picture is different.
Though not a faith school, Park View evolved to fit in with an overwhelmingly Muslim demographic, for example by adjusting the statutory act of worship, and this has gone alongside a transformation of results. There may be no causal connection, though enthusiasts for a religious role in schooling, from Tony Blair to David Cameron, would not shrink from suggesting one if this was a Christian outfit. If Muslim parents believe that the traditional virtues they associate with their religion can infuse education to the good, they are not unique in that. The difficulty is that some "traditional" values are exclusionary if we're being polite, and plain bigoted if we're not.Though not a faith school, Park View evolved to fit in with an overwhelmingly Muslim demographic, for example by adjusting the statutory act of worship, and this has gone alongside a transformation of results. There may be no causal connection, though enthusiasts for a religious role in schooling, from Tony Blair to David Cameron, would not shrink from suggesting one if this was a Christian outfit. If Muslim parents believe that the traditional virtues they associate with their religion can infuse education to the good, they are not unique in that. The difficulty is that some "traditional" values are exclusionary if we're being polite, and plain bigoted if we're not.
Faith schools have been a fact on the ground since the Victorian beginnings of state education. Education with a religious flavour is sometimes very good, but disputes between clerics and pious parents on the one hand and politicians and academics on the other about what teachers should teach are inevitable. What seems to be emerging in Birmingham is not a plot to instil jihadist values, but a more familiar tussle between "rational" and religious teaching, in the novel context of non-Christian faith. But where politicians could set boundaries and guide communities calmly through a new form of a familiar dilemma, they scream in panic.Faith schools have been a fact on the ground since the Victorian beginnings of state education. Education with a religious flavour is sometimes very good, but disputes between clerics and pious parents on the one hand and politicians and academics on the other about what teachers should teach are inevitable. What seems to be emerging in Birmingham is not a plot to instil jihadist values, but a more familiar tussle between "rational" and religious teaching, in the novel context of non-Christian faith. But where politicians could set boundaries and guide communities calmly through a new form of a familiar dilemma, they scream in panic.