Wakhabist Mother Refused To Send Her Daughter To School? !!

[Daanyeer]

Why must pupils aged four learn to massage each other?


Source: dailymail.co.uk
May 12, 2006 Author: TAHIRA YAQOOB and SARAH HARRIS


A mother has pulled her daughter out of school after it started teaching pupils as young as four to carry out Swedish massages on each other.

Susan Barraclough was horrified to discover children up to the age of 11 were being taught to stroke each others' backs and heads in a bid to 'reduce anxiety and stress'.

Is this a legitimate way for children to relax? Tell us below in reader comments

She removed her five-year-old daughter Esther and decided to teach her at home because she was worried the 'inappropriate' contact could encourage youngsters to embark on early sexual experiences.

Miss Barraclough, 41, said: "Some children can be very tactile and I am concerned they could use these skills inappropriately in the playground and get themselves into difficulty.

"Different sexes can massage each other - but children are not child protection experts and what if one of them takes it too far or touches too roughly?

"There is supposed to be a chance for children to opt out of the massages, but with peer pressure in schools, what five-year-olds can stand up for themselves and say they don't want to do it? They will feel ostracised.

"The whole thing leaves a bad taste in the mouth."

Single mother Miss Barraclough - who teaches English to foreign students - took her drastic action after parents of pupils at St Leonard's Community Infants School in Horsham, West Sussex, were asked to sign a letter giving permission for their children to take part.

Pupils whose parents agreed to the scheme spend about 15 minutes each day stroking one another while clothed.

Supporters of the initiative claim it helps pupils concentrate, combats bullying and teaches children to respect and trust one another.

Youngsters whose parents do not agree to touching are told to massage a table or a toy instead.

Esther was given the option of spending the 15-minute massage period in another classroom. but her mother withdrew her at the beginning of the term amid fears she would be teased.

Headteacher Helen Cobbin said last night: "It is not some weird or wacky thing. People hear the word massage and worry what that means, but as soon as they see what is happening they are completely at ease.

"The children enjoy it. We have noticed considerable improvements in concentration and their readiness to learn and have a greater awareness of each other's feelings."

The massages were launched in 2000 by the independent Massages in Schools Association, which approaches individual education authorities to persuade them to take up the scheme.

Male and female instructors are trained over two weekends and then go into schools to demonstrate how to carry out the stroking technique.

An MISA spokesman said about 1,000 schools in the country have taken part.

He added: "The massage is given and received with the child's permission.

"It is all about positive touching. We are not a tactile nation and these days it is almost not politically correct to do it, but it does help children relax and concentrate better.

"All instructors undergo criminal record checks."

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council said: "Massage is a useful way of reducing stress and anxiety among pupils and preparing them for learning.

"The massage focuses on the back, neck, head and shoulders and takes place in a sitting position."

Here's a sample of the latest comments published.

My elder child learned how to do massage from our local primary school last year and has since shown our younger daughter how to do it too. They both enjoy doing massage and find it relaxing.

- Lorna Cutress, Alford, Aberdeenshire

It's a shame people have to put a sexual aspect to everything. Children must be scratching their heads at the way society is panicking about issues today. As for saying children don't need to be taught to relax...who says? These skills will carry on through out their childhood and be very beneficial.

- Paul Sheppard, Brighton

Here in Sweden it is the norm for children to have a period of relaxation and massage each other at daycare. It encourages them to unwind and care about each other, it discourages violent behaviour and bullying. How can that be a bad thing? Any adult who has a problem with it after witnessing a massage session obviously has other issues!

- Sarah, Sundsvall, Sweden