What Do We Do with A Difference?: France and the Debate over Headscarves in Schools

This resource book studies the role of religion in public life by examining the French Republican model of assimilation. This resource features a thoughtful essay that provides critical background to France s national debate over the veil as a declaration of religious practice. It offers a rich text comprised of meaningful readings to encourage classroom discussion. This book uses a national debate as a way to develop an educational framework for integration, tolerance, and cultural acceptance. This book focuses on the recent debates surrounding headscarves in public schools in France, where the wearing of an article of clothing became the focus of intense national debate. The book is divided into two parts. Part One, Framing the Discussion, includes the following essays: (1) Essay: Immigration and Integration in Europe (2) France; (3) The First Veil Affair; (4) The Ban on Headscarves in Public Schools; (5) Secularism in France; (6) Secularity in the French Public Schools; (7) Mixed Origin: Religious Groups in Contemporary France; (8) The Beur Generation; and (9) Implications for Education and Democracy: A Discussion. Part Two, Primary Documents, includes the following readings: (1) What Does It Mean to Be French?; (2) Integration and Exclusion; (3) The Veil and a New Muslim Identity; (4) A Brief History of the Veil in Islam; (5) Public Schools: Where New Citizens Are Made; (6) The Veil at School; (7) The Integration of Jews in Modern France; (8) Debating the Ban of the Veil in Public Schools; (9) France Bans the Veil in Public Schools; and (10) Europeans Debating the Veil. A preface by Adam Strom and an introduction by John R. Bowen are included. A glossary is included. Individual sections contain footnotes ABOUT FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES......Page 4 Acknowledgments......Page 6 Table of Contents......Page 8 Preface - Adam Strom......Page 10 Introduction - John R. Bowen......Page 14 Timeline......Page 17 Part One - Framing the Discussion......Page 22 Essay: Immigration and Integration in Europe......Page 24 France......Page 29 The First Veil Affair......Page 32 The Ban on Headscarves in Public Schools......Page 34 Secularism in France......Page 39 Secularity in the French Public Schools......Page 40 Mixed Origin: Religious Groups in Contemporary France......Page 43 The Beur Generation......Page 48 Implications for Education and Democracy: A Discussion......Page 53 Part Two - Primary Documents......Page 64 What Does It Mean to Be French?......Page 66 Integration and Exclusion......Page 70 The Veil and a New Muslim Identity......Page 74 A Brief History of the Veil in Islam......Page 78 Public Schools: Where New Citizens Are Made......Page 81 The Veil at School......Page 86 The Integration of Jews in Modern France......Page 89 Debating the Ban of the Veil in Public Schools......Page 94 France Bans the Veil in Public Schools......Page 98 Europeans Debating the Veil......Page 102 Glossary......Page 106 This resource book studies the role of religion in public life by examining the French Republican model of assimilation. What Do We Do with a Difference? features a thoughtful essay that provides critical background to Frances national debate over the veil as a declaration of religious practice. It offers a rich text comprised of meaningful readings to encourage classroom discussion. This book uses a national debate as a way to develop an educational framework for integration, tolerance, and cultural acceptance.