Teacher wearing hijab

madame rouge · 04-05-2011 11:46PM #1

Looking for a bit of advice here. I'm a muslim convert and a secondary school teacher. At the moment I don't wear hijab but am seriously thinking about wearing it. Although I have never hidden the fact that I'm muslim it is not something that students or parents would be aware of. I'm worried about the backlash at school from students, parents and maybe even my colleagues. Would I even be allowed to wear it at school? What about those of you that are not muslim? What would you think if one of your kids teachers suddenly turned up in hijab?
I know that when I decide to wear hijab it will be for me and not to please or displease anybody else....still, it doesn't make it any easier!

wes · 05-05-2011 12:54AM

Would you be violating any rules by wearing it? If you aren't then you should be able to wear it if you wish to do so. Sure, my sister was taught by Nuns who wear something very similar to a Hijab, so I don't see why there should be an issue.

Sefirah · 05-05-2011 10:25AM

Speaking as a non-Muslim, I see absolutely no reason why you shouldn't be able to wear a headscarf in your workplace. It'd true that secondary school students tend not to be the most mature and I wouldn't really expect a lot from them, but at the end of the day, it's your life and you should be able to live it how you please without needing to justify yourself or get approval from others. I would perhaps run it past the principal or someone in authority, but most definitely not to ask permission, but rather to inform them casually of your decision. There are many kinds of hijab which are very discreet and professional for the workplace, so I don't see how there could be any issues. If anything, I'm jealous :P Ever since I saw women in the Middle East in hijab, I've always thought how graceful and beautiful it looks. As a side note (I know it's not part of the original question!) a really pretty hijabi who has some great styles is this lady- I check her out for make-up tips all the time! http://www.youtube.com/user/Amenakin?feature=chclk
The best of luck- I really admire the bravery of your decision and your commitment to your religion- it can be very difficult to have such convictions, especially somewhere as insular as Ireland, but I'm sure it will get much easier as time goes on

whydoc · 05-05-2011 11:14AM

Assalam Alaikum

I am not an imam but in surat 3:186, we read:

لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِى أَمْولِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ أَذًى كَثِيراً وَإِن تَصْبِرُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَإِنَّ ذلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الاْمُورِ-﴾

You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination.

I hope you find this useful:
http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/69432
http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7745

And don't forgrt Duaa' while prostrating

the Prophet

said: “Ahead of you there is a time of patience when the one who adheres to Islam will have the reward of fifty martyrs among you.” Narrated by al-Tabaraani from Ibn Mas’ood and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’.

madame rouge · 05-05-2011 10:38PM

Thanks guys for the replies. @wes, do you know I was only thinking that if it was a nun's habit that I was putting on would it raise as many eyebrows?
@whydoc thanks for that ayah, it is so fitting.
@sefira, thanks for your kind words. I will have a look at the link. I'll have to do a bit of homework on how to wear a headscarf 'fashionably'

wes · 05-05-2011 11:45PM

madame rouge wrote: »

Thanks guys for the replies. @wes, do you know I was only thinking that if it was a nun's habit that I was putting on would it raise as many eyebrows?'

Well, I imagine if you randomly decided to start wearing a habit, people might be a bit confused, but joking aside, I don't think the Hijab should raise any issues, as long as you are not violating any king of pre-existing rule on dress codes.

Robert ninja · 06-05-2011 03:53AM

Hiding who we are from the people we're supposed to be teaching about life is not a good idea at all. If it gets the youth of our country aware of diversity of people and religion and for them to ask within themselves and discuss among each other these kind of issues even better! I just hope it doesn't come down on you at a personal level too much. That would feel awful I assume.

dlofnep · 06-05-2011 03:58AM

Wear it

Nothing wrong with a Hijab. It's not a Burqa.

Freiheit · 06-05-2011 12:56PM

I don't see the problem,it's only a piece of cloth ( and I was briefly a (poor and ill adapted) secondary teacher). I'm sure once you go through official lines, principal, parents council etc and explain the situation it shouldn't be a problem. There's a lot of hijabi's out there now.

Like Sefirah I've always thought the hijab looks very graceful and spiritual and I like spirituality.

Good luck!:)

*** That Islam Q&A does seem a fairly conservative site though, to put it mildly, advocating full covering for a woman apart from one eye.

Sefirah · 06-05-2011 06:39PM

Freiheit wrote: »

*** That Islam Q&A does seem a fairly conservative site though, to put it mildly, advocating full covering for a woman apart from one eye.

Agreed! That one-eye thing is pretty creepy and rather pirate-y. And there ain't anything fun about the burka! I remember wearing one in 40 degree heat and nearly dying- extra kudos to the Saudi ladies who can bear it!

Freiheit · 06-05-2011 07:20PM

That's obviously a Saudi or Wahabbi site I assume?...Yes the pirate image did spring to mind!...

On topic though yeah the hijab can be beautiful.

delta_bravo · 06-05-2011 07:25PM

I don't know your situation OP but I presume you are teaching in a Catholic or Christian ethos school (simply because they are the dominant school in Ireland). The current equality act allows schools to legally discriminate if a person goes against the ethos of a school. You could find yourself in a sticky situation if it is a strict school and may face difficulties.

Edit here is the relevant bit of legislation. http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1998/en/act/pub/0021/sec0037.html

philologos · 06-05-2011 07:27PM

As long as it isn't a full face veil or a burqa I wouldn't mind at all. As for the above ^^ that's extremely rarely used, and IMO should be gone. When I was in secondary school we had atheist & agnostic teachers in a few classes and openly so. The school was of a CofI ethos.

alex73 · 06-05-2011 07:31PM

A head scarf is not going to offend anyone, What gets people nervous in Ireland is when you can't look a person in the face, Full face veil ...no way. Muslim Headscarf is no problem in Ireland.

Onesimus · 06-05-2011 08:12PM

You could be a mass murderer wondering around in a burqa and nobody would know any different. Good news for a bank robber if they permit the burqa is all I can say.

metrovelvet · 06-05-2011 10:11PM

Youd have to consider a number of things.

Is it a Catholic, Protestant, or multi denom school?

Is it in a rural or urban area and the constituency of the area you teach in?

Private or public school?

Does it enforce a dress code on staff and students?

dlofnep · 06-05-2011 10:17PM

Onesimus wrote: »

You could be a mass murderer wondering around in a burqa and nobody would know any different. Good news for a bank robber if they permit the burqa is all I can say.

What has that to do with anything?

madame rouge · 06-05-2011 11:51PM

Thanks for all the replies. I teach in a rural multidenominational school. However, as far as I know, I'm the only non-catholic in the school. There is no dress code for staff and a relaxed attitude to students' uniform as well.
When I put on hijab...insha Allah I'm planning to just wear a headscarf. I already dress very modestly with longer, looser clothes so the only real change I will make to my appearance will be the headscarf. I think I might suss it out as well with my colleague who's the union rep and find out if the union would support me if it came to anything with management.

caseyann · 14-05-2011 12:48AM

madame rouge wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies. I teach in a rural multidenominational school. However, as far as I know, I'm the only non-catholic in the school. There is no dress code for staff and a relaxed attitude to students' uniform as well.
When I put on hijab...insha Allah I'm planning to just wear a headscarf. I already dress very modestly with longer, looser clothes so the only real change I will make to my appearance will be the headscarf. I think I might suss it out as well with my colleague who's the union rep and find out if the union would support me if it came to anything with management.

Well,i personally wouldnt have a problem with it if you were teaching me .I dont believe catholics have a problem with a head scarf in the majority.Irish catholics wore head scarfs also for a long time and nuns wear a habit teaching no different.
I believe you are scaring yourself into believing that people will have an issue with you wearing it or being against you being Muslim.
Best of luck let us know how you get on.:)

yammycat · 02-06-2011 02:18AM

You shouldn't wear it, you are being paid to teach not advertise any religion, the fact that you have to ask the question leads me to doubt whether the question is genuine as any real teacher would have a smidgen of common sense.

philologos · 02-06-2011 07:19AM

yammycat: It's a persons liberty to wear what they want. I don't see why you or anyone else have the right to say otherwise.

x0l0x · 02-06-2011 12:39PM

yammycat wrote: »

You shouldn't wear it, you are being paid to teach not advertise any religion, the fact that you have to ask the question leads me to doubt whether the question is genuine as any real teacher would have a smidgen of common sense.

everyone is free to wear what he want ... isn't freedom ?? ... As a democratic free country you should know that anyone is free to wear anything he want to wear and believe in anything he want to believe.

Bottle_of_Smoke · 02-06-2011 12:50PM

If it were my kids I'd have no problem with a hijab. Though I would have serious objections if a teacher covered their face

Zombrex · 02-06-2011 05:52PM

madame rouge wrote: »

Looking for a bit of advice here. I'm a muslim convert and a secondary school teacher. At the moment I don't wear hijab but am seriously thinking about wearing it. Although I have never hidden the fact that I'm muslim it is not something that students or parents would be aware of. I'm worried about the backlash at school from students, parents and maybe even my colleagues. Would I even be allowed to wear it at school? What about those of you that are not muslim? What would you think if one of your kids teachers suddenly turned up in hijab?
I know that when I decide to wear hijab it will be for me and not to please or displease anybody else....still, it doesn't make it any easier!

While I think that you should technically have the right to wear it if you so wish I don't think it is a good idea (I'm non-Muslim by the way).

A teacher is an educator and as such should try as staying as neural in all matters as much as they can unless engaging in a topic of their own beliefs (ie I don't expect a teacher to lie if asked What religion are you Miss?)

I'm an atheist, I believe God is imaginary and I believe religion is irrational. But if I was a teacher I wouldn't turn up with a T-shirt saying "I am an atheist", even if I technically would have the right to do so.

Not because that isn't a reflection of my beliefs, but because such a T-shirt would be distracting in my role as a teacher.

You have survived this long without wearing a veil, and it is debatable if Muslim women have to at all. There seems to be little harm in not wearing a veil, and you avoid any issue with your students being confused as to what statement you are or aren't making by suddenly turning up in one.

digme · 02-06-2011 05:55PM

I thought we were trying to get rid of religion in schools?
Why bring the attention to yourself?

benagain · 02-06-2011 06:02PM

move to a muslim country, everyones a winner end of.

Le_Dieux · 02-06-2011 06:02PM

philologos wrote: »

yammycat: It's a persons liberty to wear what they want. I don't see why you or anyone else have the right to say otherwise.

I am sorry, but I have to disagree with whats written above. If this was written in Saudi Arabia, would a woman be allowed to go uncovered?

NO WAY!

philologos · 02-06-2011 06:11PM

Le_Dieux wrote: »

I am sorry, but I have to disagree with whats written above. If this was written in Saudi Arabia, would a woman be allowed to go uncovered?

NO WAY!

I'm Irish. I feel I should have a say in the customs, and means of toleration of people in this country. I wholeheartedly reject such measures (which are claimed as 'secularism' but actually have nothing to do with the word as far as I see it) which would violate peoples right to freedom of expression and belief. Which combined mean the free expression of belief. Common liberties given by most Western societies.

benagain · 02-06-2011 06:13PM

metrovelvet wrote: »

Youd have to consider a number of things.

Is it a Catholic, Protestant, or multi denom school?

Is it in a rural or urban area and the constituency of the area you teach in?

Private or public school?

Does it enforce a dress code on staff and students?

if you live in yemen dont answer the above and dont , shout show us your face in a strip club jezzzzzzz

02-06-2011 06:16PM

Le_Dieux wrote: »

I am sorry, but I have to disagree with whats written above. If this was written in Saudi Arabia, would a woman be allowed to go uncovered?

NO WAY!

So you think we should emulate SA?

caseyann · 03-06-2011 12:25AM

Wicknight wrote: »

While I think that you should technically have the right to wear it if you so wish I don't think it is a good idea (I'm non-Muslim by the way).

A teacher is an educator and as such should try as staying as neural in all matters as much as they can unless engaging in a topic of their own beliefs (ie I don't expect a teacher to lie if asked What religion are you Miss?)

I'm an atheist, I believe God is imaginary and I believe religion is irrational. But if I was a teacher I wouldn't turn up with a T-shirt saying "I am an atheist", even if I technically would have the right to do so.

Not because that isn't a reflection of my beliefs, but because such a T-shirt would be distracting in my role as a teacher.

You have survived this long without wearing a veil, and it is debatable if Muslim women have to at all. There seems to be little harm in not wearing a veil, and you avoid any issue with your students being confused as to what statement you are or aren't making by suddenly turning up in one.

While i agree with you to a certain point,i dont to another.Loads of nuns are teachers and wear habits so whats wrong with a scarf on the head.It is also tidy and keeps the hair back:D

Teacher wearing hijab

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