Michael Gorey

Porepunkah Primary School held its athletic sports today. Kathleen was captain of her house, Buffalo, which won for the first time in her seven years there. The picture shows her leaping a hurdle.

The girl in the foreground is a Muslim and she’s wearing a head scarf. For the benefit of overseas readers, there’s a roaring debate in this country about whether that should be allowed.

We’re a small rural community of white mostly Celtic/English Australians, so the arrival of a large Muslim family two years ago was unusual.

I don’t know them, but after an adjustment period you would expect for any new arrivals, the children have adapted well into the local school.

I have no objection to children wearing head scarves at school. When I was a child some students wore a scapular. Should that be banned as well? I think not.

Even though it reflects a group identity, that’s no different to wearing a football scarf or some other distinguishing item. Providing the group that’s being identified is law abiding and decent (which doesn’t apply to Collingwood Football Club) I can’t see the problem.

These articles might be of interest:

• Education costs discriminate
• Preparing for high school
• Supernatural experience