Stop trying to interfere with my right as a parent to dress my daughter in a hijab

In between the crazy weekend cooking and endless school homework tasks, I have managed to carve a few minutes to write to you because as a parent I am concerned.

I woke this morning to an article in which it was stated that Ofsted inspectors will talk to primary school girls who wear hijabs over concerns that it could be interpreted as “sexualisation of young girls” following a meeting with Muslim women and secular campaigners. How is it possible that an unknown group of women and campaigners are influencing decisions about the wellbeing of my children and questioning my rights as a parent, and allowing inspectors to question my children without my consent?

Although the hijab has been brought under the spotlight again, there is a bigger issue here that needs to be addressed: at which point, if any, does the state have a right to interfere with the way in which I bring up my children?

Being a parent isn’t easy at the best of times. However, the one thing that is for certain is that as a parent I make decisions for my child until they become old enough to have the capacity to do so themselves. The early years of a child’s development are key to their learning and as a parent I want to ensure that they have a positive sense of their identity and culture. But surely this is only possible if they know what being a particular gender or belonging to a religion encapsulates, and for some that may mean wearing a headscarf just as a means of being symbolic of Muslim faith or as is most common just to “copy mum”.

Perhaps a better area to focus on would be the fact that in a recent Panorama documentary there were almost 30,000 reports of child-on-child sexual abuse since 2013, of which a staggering 2,625 took place on school premises. As a parent I want to know what is being done about that rather than seeing schools pushing what can only be seen as an Islamophobic agenda and politicising a piece of religious clothing.

What actual evidence is being used to conclude “the hijab causes the sexualisation of young girls” or is it, as appears to be the case, just the subjective viewpoint of a handful few with a much broader agenda.

School policies in line with British values should allow children to be free to express their faith or any other protected characteristics, and I as a parent should be able to exercise my basic human right as their legal guardian to raise my child as I wish, whether it is to ask the child to wear a headscarf or to baptise them. So long as the child comes to no harm, why is there an issue?

Instead of questioning my parental responsibility, perhaps the liberal compass of society needs recalibrating before we really do lose our way in the name of “secular liberalism”. Please stop telling me what my children need and discriminating against a minority within a minority, and focus on the real issues facing our children today by consulting with those that represent the community.

Dr Siema Iqbal GP
Address supplied

I’m worried about driverless cars

Autonomous cars and commercial vehicles are inevitable and, in many ways, positively desirable but I share Jeremy Clarkson’s anxiety about the current state of the technology, having viewed footage of real life usage on highways in the US.

I offer the suggestion that full autonomy might be first introduced on UK roads in two specific circumstances: urban roads where there is a limit of 30mph or less and motorways where close-coupled HGV convoys would add improved economy and lane discipline to the opportunity for drivers to sleep – thus extending their productivity at both ends of their journeys on other roads.

Let us not forget that even the most puissant machines can still be defeated by the arrogance, stupidity, negligence and wilful badness of people.

Steve Ford
Haydon Bridge

They joy of being an ex-MP

Chancellor of the Exchequer is the number two job in UK politics. As such, Philip Hammond has reached the apex of his political career. He lacks the charisma and political nous to get the top job (yes, I know the current incumbent is lacking in those areas too, but she sneaked in when nobody was looking).

Hammond must have no fears of being sacked for delivering a Budget which does not appeal to everyone. Being sacked would mean that he could resume a lucrative career in the private sector. Which must seem very attractive to him when he is sitting around the table with Liam Fox, Boris Johnson, and Michael Gove.

Bernard Cudd
Morpeth

Will there be new apprenticeships to accompany our new homes?

The idea of building 300,000 new homes a year is an admirable attempt to rectify the housing problem. My husband, a retired bricklayer of 50 years service (full apprenticeship served), was wondering whether the Government will instigate a full apprenticeship scheme for new bricklayers and other trades.

During his long service, proper apprenticeships became a dim and distant memory. This has left a huge skills gap with new bricklayers being unable to do anything but the very basics of bricklaying, and the workmanship is frankly appalling. However, firms pass a blind eye over these less-than-perfect attempts as profit is foremost in their minds not quality.

I suggest perhaps the Government forces firms to take on apprentices, giving them timed served bricklayers as mentors, for a full three years.

Of course, that’s if there are any time-served bricklayers left, I expect many are retired.

Vivienne Sutton
Rainford

The word ‘pass’

Further to Kathryn Robertson’s letter yesterday I have to agree that the word “pass” being used instead of die leaves me puzzled.

Personally I never use pass on, pass over, passed away – usually I find die perfectly sufficient.

As for the offending word above, I feel it should mainly be used in “mastermind”, references and commentaries for sporting matches involving teamwork!

Robert Boston
Kingshill

The magic money tree

If I were Chancellor being asked to provide more money for the NHS, I’d refer the request to Boris Johnson. Hasn’t he got some hidden on a bus?

Richard Greenwood
Bewdley