Primary school children BANNED from watching eclipse for 'cultural and religious' reasons
PRIMARY school children were today banned from watching the solar eclipse across Britain - for "cultural and religious" reasons.
Council officials have now demanded an explanation from the headteacher of the school in a multi-cultural part of west London, after an angered parent was told his daughter could not watch the rare event.
Phil Belman, who has a seven-year-old girl at North Primary School in Southall, said: “My child went in having spent an hour preparing and making up her pinhole camera.
“This morning I heard for religious and cultural reasons the kids were going to be banned from any part in the eclipse.
“I was put through to the headteacher straight away and he confirmed it, religious and cultural reasons. I said that was totally outrageous. I asked him to elaborate and he refused.
"This is an issue about scientific matters versus religious superstition. I am outraged — is it going to be Darwin next? We will be like mid-America.”
I am outraged — is it going to be Darwin next? We will be like mid-America
Acting headteacher Ivor Johnstone said: “Although we are sorry for any disappointment, pupils were still able to watch the eclipse on screens in classrooms. However, they would not have been able to see it live due to the overcast conditions today.”
Ealing Council confirmed the pupils were not allowed out of their classrooms but were able to see the eclipse on TV screens.
Yesterday, it emerged children at a school in Devon had been banned from watching the solar eclipse over fears they could be blinded by staring at the Sun.
Head teacher Jane Smythe said she had 700 children to look after and she "could not guarantee that they would not look at the Sun".
