Council acts over
parents protest
Action
has been taken against parents who took their children out of school in
protest at them being taught about lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) history, a council said.
Dozens of parents kept
their children out of lessons at George Tomlinson primary school in
Leytonstone, east London, saying their children were too young to learn
about such matters.
A spokesman for Waltham Forest Council said the
absences would be treated as "unauthorised" and action had been taken,
but refused to say what sanctions were put in place.
"As part of the borough's
policy of promoting tolerance in our schools, children are taught that
everyone in our society is of equal value," the spokesman said.
"At George Tomlinson,
parents were invited to meet with teachers and governors several weeks
ago to discuss what work would be taking place throughout the national
LGBT History Month, and how this work would be delivered.
"Regrettably, some
parents chose to remove their children from school. We are not aware of
pupils being withdrawn from any other school in the borough.
"The council does not condone any unauthorised absence from school and
action has been taken."
Pervez Latif, whose
children Saleh, 10, and Abdur-Rahim, nine, attend the school, said he
wrote to the chairman of governors to explain why he was taking his
children out of the classes and was told that he had no options.
"I didn't want my children to be learning about this," Mr Latif, 41,
told the Daily Mail.
"I found it difficult to
explain topics such as homosexual relationships at such a young age. If
I am faced with court action, then I will just explain that these are
my views."
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