Suffolk Education Authority Is To Hold An Inquiry Into Claims That Children Had Nightmares After A Ten Headed Demon Was Burned At An Ipswich Primary School To Celebrate A Hindu Festival

Television news story about a protest following burning of an effigy in a school lesson about the Hindu festival of Diwali.

Exterior views of Clifford Road Primary School, Ipswich with children in the playground. This Anglia Television report investigates the story behind a local newspaper headline ‘Anger at demon ceremony: School ritual sparks protest’. It is reported that children were disturbed by the burning of a ten-headed demon effigy in the school playground as part of a lesson about the Hindu festival of Diwali. Letters bearing 26 signatures have been sent to the local Member of Parliament and the Suffolk Education Authority. One of the parents, Linda Moss, is interviewed and says as a Christian she feels that parents should have had the opportunity to withdraw their children from this lesson. It is reported that the Board of Governors supports the headmaster who set fire to the effigy, and that there was no Hindu religious festival ritual or ceremony, just the burning of an effigy, like Guy Fawkes. Julian Cusack, Chairman of the school governors, says that he is not aware of any children who have had nightmares. He says various things can frighten children, and staff thought a fire alarm earlier in the term might have been more disturbing than the Diwali Day event. The reporter asks him whether the protest indicates that it is time to reassess what happens in Suffolk schools where multi-cultural education is involved. He replies that the school governors will discuss the protest at a meeting but remain committed to the multi-cultural programme at the school.

Keywords

Religion; Education; Primary schools; Diwali; Religious festivals; Multi-cultural education; Hinduism; Members of Parliament; Racial and cultural differences

Additional Description

Diwali is the annual Hindu festival of light. Diwali celebrates the return of Rama to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana, as a story of the victory of good over evil. This video shows a local community in the pre-internet era encountering something new to them without easy access to information about other cultures within the UK population. The first appearance of the term ‘Diwali’ in the Anglia TV data for the film and video collection is from 1999 to accompany scenes of celebrations around the region.