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I know this has been going on for a while, but any thoughts on this????
French cabinet moves on religious symbols
Associated Press
Paris â †French cabinet ministers on Wednesday adopted a bill to ban all conspicuous religious symbols in public schools â †the first step to a law banning Islamic head scarves in the classroom.
The bill, containing three articles, goes to the parliament for debate on Tuesday.
It stipulates that â Å“in schools, junior high schools and high schools, signs and dress that conspicuously show the religious affiliation of students are forbidden.â ?
It would not apply to students in private schools or to French schools in other countries. The law would forbid Islamic head scarves called hijabs, Jewish skullcaps and Christian crosses.
Conservative President Jacques Chirac, who called on legislators to move ahead with such a law in a nationally televised speech in December, had asked that the legislation be succinct, quickly passed and in force by the new school year in September.
The planned law is viewed as discriminatory by some and has drawn criticism from Muslims in other countries, including Canada.
Mr. Chirac said Wednesday that France needed to act to head off danger to the country‘s secular foundations.
â Å“To do nothing would be irresponsible. It would be a fault,â ? the President told the closed-door cabinet meeting, according to government spokesman Jean-François Copé.
Not acting would mean â Å“leaving teachers and school principals alone in the face of growing difficulties,â ? Mr. Chirac said.
The legislation, he said, would protect schools against what the French call communautarisme â †minorities and ethnic groups living apart from mainstream society. This is seen as hindering the assimilation that France expects from its immigrant citizens.
France has the largest Islamic population in western Europe, estimated at some five million, and there is growing concern that Muslims are failing to fully integrate. The concern is magnified by fears of a rise in Muslim fundamentalism.
The legislation culminates 15 years of often bitter debate over the wearing of Islamic head scarves in classes, perceived as an affront to the constitutional principle of secularism that underpins French society.
Most, but not all, public schools have observed guidelines forbidding head coverings. However, schools have been left to decide on taking action against those who flout the rules, and decisions have been made on a case-by-case basis.
Scores of young girls have been expelled over the years for refusing to respect school rules.
Under the legislation, sanctions for refusing to remove conspicuous religious signs would range from a warning to temporary suspension from school to expulsion.
The legislation â Å“lays down a clear principleâ ? and â Å“enables us to address concrete problems confronting our schools while always favouring dialogue,â ? Mr. Copé quoted Mr. Chirac as saying.
Cases of civil servants and private sector employees insisting on wearing head scarves also have arisen, but the planned law is limited to public schools.
Mr. Chirac specified that the legislation â Å“obviously does not forbid signs of religious affiliation in daily life.â ?
His party, the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), has a large parliamentary majority that is expected to approve the measure quickly, although some party members have recently voiced dissent.
The opposition Socialists favour a law, too. However, one Socialist official, François Rebsamen, said Wednesday that the party plans to seek amendments to improve the bill‘s â Å“comprehension and application.â ?
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Uhm, I am not really a fan of this legislation. I think that it masks differences that children should be taught to tolerate and accept. If the purpose is to head off extremism and fundamentalism, this does not discourage that. In fact, I think it is plausible that it will encourage resentment among parts of the population. Any other thoughts?
French cabinet moves on religious symbols
Associated Press
Paris â †French cabinet ministers on Wednesday adopted a bill to ban all conspicuous religious symbols in public schools â †the first step to a law banning Islamic head scarves in the classroom.
The bill, containing three articles, goes to the parliament for debate on Tuesday.
It stipulates that â Å“in schools, junior high schools and high schools, signs and dress that conspicuously show the religious affiliation of students are forbidden.â ?
It would not apply to students in private schools or to French schools in other countries. The law would forbid Islamic head scarves called hijabs, Jewish skullcaps and Christian crosses.
Conservative President Jacques Chirac, who called on legislators to move ahead with such a law in a nationally televised speech in December, had asked that the legislation be succinct, quickly passed and in force by the new school year in September.
The planned law is viewed as discriminatory by some and has drawn criticism from Muslims in other countries, including Canada.
Mr. Chirac said Wednesday that France needed to act to head off danger to the country‘s secular foundations.
â Å“To do nothing would be irresponsible. It would be a fault,â ? the President told the closed-door cabinet meeting, according to government spokesman Jean-François Copé.
Not acting would mean â Å“leaving teachers and school principals alone in the face of growing difficulties,â ? Mr. Chirac said.
The legislation, he said, would protect schools against what the French call communautarisme â †minorities and ethnic groups living apart from mainstream society. This is seen as hindering the assimilation that France expects from its immigrant citizens.
France has the largest Islamic population in western Europe, estimated at some five million, and there is growing concern that Muslims are failing to fully integrate. The concern is magnified by fears of a rise in Muslim fundamentalism.
The legislation culminates 15 years of often bitter debate over the wearing of Islamic head scarves in classes, perceived as an affront to the constitutional principle of secularism that underpins French society.
Most, but not all, public schools have observed guidelines forbidding head coverings. However, schools have been left to decide on taking action against those who flout the rules, and decisions have been made on a case-by-case basis.
Scores of young girls have been expelled over the years for refusing to respect school rules.
Under the legislation, sanctions for refusing to remove conspicuous religious signs would range from a warning to temporary suspension from school to expulsion.
The legislation â Å“lays down a clear principleâ ? and â Å“enables us to address concrete problems confronting our schools while always favouring dialogue,â ? Mr. Copé quoted Mr. Chirac as saying.
Cases of civil servants and private sector employees insisting on wearing head scarves also have arisen, but the planned law is limited to public schools.
Mr. Chirac specified that the legislation â Å“obviously does not forbid signs of religious affiliation in daily life.â ?
His party, the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), has a large parliamentary majority that is expected to approve the measure quickly, although some party members have recently voiced dissent.
The opposition Socialists favour a law, too. However, one Socialist official, François Rebsamen, said Wednesday that the party plans to seek amendments to improve the bill‘s â Å“comprehension and application.â ?
------------------------------------------------
Uhm, I am not really a fan of this legislation. I think that it masks differences that children should be taught to tolerate and accept. If the purpose is to head off extremism and fundamentalism, this does not discourage that. In fact, I think it is plausible that it will encourage resentment among parts of the population. Any other thoughts?
What makes you think that comes out of a text book? 
