'Story of Creation' Event
Sunday, 25th July 2004
It was the beginning of the summer holiday when most schools go very silent and teachers and pupils begin to relax at the end of an academic year. I visit schools regularly but rarely on a Sunday especially when outside term time.
I had been invited as a special guest because the main purpose of my work with schools is about race equality: raising the achievement of minority ethnic pupils and about encouraging schools to raise the awareness of all pupils about diversity.
I had been informed that the reason for the meeting was to celebrate a special group of children's learning and that since September 2003, the children had been learning about their religion, Islam; its history, language, Book and how to practise their religion.
I arrived and parked and then entered a hall full of people.
The children in the school hall were not a homogeneous group. Most were proud parents and some were proud teachers/parents who had given of their time to help to support and encourage the children's sense of identity through their teaching of Islam. Many adults in the hall spoke English well and some less well. There was a mixture of genders. Some were very young; and a few, like myself, a little more mature.
The children took central stage literally and began to demonstrate their learning through the choral recitation of passages from the Koran, visual messages, role play and re-enactments of key events as described within the Koran. They were supported and encouraged by Hassen Rasool, who recited verses/sutras from the Koran in a beautifully haunting voice. He spoke to the children encouragingly and also spoke to the audience assembled in a manner which made everyone, Muslim and non-Muslim welcome.
Following the children's display of their learning, the meeting then focused on the plight of others. In a very short space of time, a large amount of money through auctioned goods and a raffle was raised to support people in the Sudan.
What are my key memories of this event?
- The children's faces as they demonstrated what they had learnt
- The ability of all children of all ages to listen attentively
- Hassen Rasool's voice
- People smiling, working together
- A caring community of diverse people who want their children to develop a clear sense of their identity as Moslems through knowledge, information and teaching.
Peta Ullman
EMAS Adviser
Ethnic Minority Achievement Service
Photos of this event can be viewed in our gallery