How to deal with Islamism at school?

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Johan Leman, 25 November 2024

Following the publication about the fact that teachers in some schools would not dare to discuss some topics that are part of the prescribed program.

To be clear: at Foyer we make a distinction between Islam and Islamism. For Islam: total respect. For Islamism: we set our boundaries.

Allow me to make this very concrete.

All major holidays from all philosophies of life are celebrated equally with us.

At celebrations of any kind, a double service is always provided (which is also appropriate due to the fact that there are vegetarians): there is an offer with and an offer without halal. In concrete terms: with beer and wine, and without alcohol… There are no taboo subjects: LGBTQ, with and without a headscarf, and so on. By extension, at school: lessons on evolution theory etc.. It must be clear to the students: “You are not obliged to believe it, but it is in the program and so it is taught and you study it. Do you not want to believe it afterwards? Your business.” The same goes for other themes. “You don’t want to believe that 2+2=4, and think that 2+2=3? No problem, feel free to go through life thinking that 2+2=3, but on the exam 2+2=4.”

No one is obliged to believe what someone else believes or what a program prescribes. But this does not change the offer.

Two principles guide this:

1. Everything is done in respect for any other beliefs.

2. Colleagues and management unanimously support the approach.

Anyone who cannot live with this may look elsewhere.

I can only advise the schools to apply the same principles and never deviate from them.

However, unity, clear 100% solidarity on the supply side is capital.

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