A cafeteria worker in the United Kingdom who unwittingly served pork to a 7-year-old Muslim student has been fired, and even Muslim groups say the school went too far.
Alison Waldock, 51, was serving food at the Queen Edith Primary School and Nursery in Cambridge, England, when Khadija Darr pointed to a meal of ham, according to United Press International. Miss Waldock put the meal on her plate and the girl sat down to eat, taking several bites before the schoolmaster caught the error.
Miss Waldock, who had been on the job for 11 years, was suspended and subsequently fired by the school for “negligence, carelessness or idleness,” UPI reported. But Miss Waldock said she was more likely the school’s easiest target, “so they can’t be seen as politically incorrect. I was really upset when I found out what I’d done.”
The Islamic group Campaign Muslim4UK found the school’s response to be excessive.
“The most sensible way to rectify such mistakes is to improve awareness of the pupils’ dietary requirements while apologizing to the pupils and their parents,” said Inayat Buglawala, the chair of the Muslim group.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.