A teacher has been sacked after parents claimed that their children were forced to pray to Allah during a religious education lesson. Alison Phillips was accused of giving two pupils detention after they refused to kneel down and “pray to Allah” during the class. However, an investigation by the school concluded that there was no truth in the allegation.
A statement released on behalf of the school by Cheshire East Council said:
“It can be confirmed that following a long and rigorous disciplinary process, a member of staff at Alsager School has been dismissed from her post. The member of staff was suspended in July 2008 following parental complaints and newspaper reports relating to an RE lesson.
“After full consideration of a range of other professional issues, the governing body was satisfied that an irretrievable breakdown in the relationship between employer and employee had occurred and that the employee should be dismissed from her post.
“In reaching this decision, the governing body wish to make very clear that they were completely satisfied that at no point did that member of staff make children pray to Allah or put boys in detention for refusing to do so.”
For media coverage last July see the Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Daily Express, Daily Mirror, Fox News, Fox News Radio, World Net Daily and Jihad Watch.