A tale of two schools...

Mention 'Islamic School' in the Australian context and most people will think of the affair at Camden, on the outskirts of Sydney, a couple of years ago when the local council unanimously voted against the establishment of an Islamic school for 1200 students.

Councillors cited environmental concerns - and they probably had a point, it was a large school for a semi-rural location - but they were obviously relieved at finding an excuse in the face of fierce local opposition based very much on racism and xenophobia.

Whether or not the school is ever built at Camden or elsewhere is beside the point. Rather like the Cronulla riots of 2005, the Camden incident revealed an unpleasant aspect of the Australian psyche that lies not far below the veneer of laid-back tolerance and 'fair go'.

Most of the fear about these schools lies in the belief they are breeding grounds for militant fundamentalism and terrorism, halfway houses on the road to Al Qaeda training camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan. And of course the occasional oddball Imam who talks about Israelis secretly poisoning bananas in Muslim children's lunch boxes is always destined to grab a headline.

For every Camden, there are dozens of Islamic schools operating around Australia, all adhering to the policies of the various education departments, and in many cases, topping league tables for academic excellence.

I recently attended a ceremony to mark the birth, or rather the re-birth, of the Islamic School of Canberra, moving from its current site to a much larger one tin the suburb of Weston in order to satisfy local demand. With the ability to add high school age children, its enrolment is expected to more than double to around 900.

The move was being made with the support of the ACT Government, which had identified the site. Of course there were objections to be overcome, but all planning conditions were met and a sale price agreed.

ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said the Islamic School of Canberra had made a positive contribution to the diversity and quality of education in the ACT.

"The Government is committed to supporting the establishment of an expanded Kindergarten-to-Year 12 Islamic School in Weston that will cater for future needs of the ACT and regional Muslim community," he said.

Contrast that with the silence of the Camden councillors, not one of whom was prepared to go on the record to state that, all other things being equal, they would have been in favour of the school.

I do not wish to be seen as an apologist for religion. Too many have died in its name throughout history, but for significant numbers it remains a relevant, even dominating factor in their lives. The freedom to practice it in accordance with the laws of a free and just society is a fundamental right we should all do well to uphold.

- Graham Cooke