From Hamid Mahmood to Harry Mason…..
From Hamid Mahmood to Harry Mason…
I applied at over thirty schools for ‘Teacher of Religious Education’ positions and have never been shortlisted for an interview, and just last week found out why and as a result my worldview has changed and I have decided to leave the teaching profession at government schools. I have decided to go on an intellectual Jihad against discrimination and injustice. This all began when I went from being ‘Hamid Mahmood’ to ‘Harry Mason’…
I applied to over thirty state schools since January 2014 and was never shortlisted for even an interview. This frustration led me to apply at a school I had previously applied to in 2014 but this time I went from being ‘Hamid Mahmood’ to ‘Harry Mason’. I changed my ethnicity from British-Pakistani to ‘White British’ to determine whether my fears of discrimination and Islamophobia were true. That’s all I changed alongside any reference to Islam, Muslim and work experience at Muslim institutes and lastly being a graduate of a traditional Islamic seminary.
The results were worse than I thought. Previously as Hamid Mahmood I applied at Langdon Academy & Brampton Manor in 2014 for an RE position, when I phoned and spoke about my experiences and qualifications the school was very positive and it’s only when I sent in my application I never heard back (this has been the case with many schools including Buxton School famous for its ‘extremism questionnaire’). This time as Harry Mason I was contacted via email in 7 hours and 5 minutes offering me an interview.
I was deeply saddened by this and yet disgusted that in a school where projects and lessons will be held against discrimination and racism we find institutionalised racism. For me it is no longer about struggling hard at university to get ‘good grades’ – whilst having a family to take care of – but merely down to the colour of my skin. Despite teaching many lessons on racism, discrimination and the Holocaust it was only today that I really feltempathy. Are these British Values and is this what Theresa May is calling for. Now the country I call home is on the verge of breaking with Europe on human rights and cases of Islamophobia are increasing by the hour yet there are very few journalists in site – even fewer who care.
Langdon is not the only school and I am not the only one.
For our communication details please see evidence below:
2014: My Application as Hamid Mahmood
After two weeks of calling the school and being brushed aside I sent an email regarding my situation and despite having a First Class in my degree; Distinction in Masters and C1 in PGCE why I wasn’t even shortlisted for an interview ….
to which they replied…
After a year of ‘unsuccessful’ applications at over 30 schools I applied for the same position at Langdon Academy with exactly the same qualifications (barring anything to do with Islam and work experience with Muslim institutes) but this time as a ‘White British’ applicant ‘Harry Mason’ and the result was unbelievable.
I sent the application via the TES website and email at 1.31am
Interestingly, it was read and sent to SLT at 7.48am
… and I was offered my first ever interview by 8:36am in the morning via email and a voicemail. So… no sooner did I change my name I was contacted for an interview within 7 hours and 5 minutes
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