In a crackdown on politics in classrooms across the U.K, teachers have been told not to promote Black Lives Matter to pupils. The Department for Education said that ‘contentious’ historical periods must also be taught in a ‘balanced’ manner.
U.K. schools must ensure that any “contentious and disputed” historical periods such as the British Empire and imperialism are taught in a “balanced” way, according to guidance published by the Department for Education (DfE) on Thursday.
It is the first time in a generation that ministers have addressed the issue of impartiality in education. It comes in the midst of mounting alarm about the politicisation of school lessons.
The Telegraph reports that ministers have harboured concerns that left-wing lobby groups have been “hijacking the syllabus and stirring up tensions in schools”. Last year, it was revealed that the teaching of “white privilege” is rife in schools in spite of warnings that it is unlawful.
The same concept has been pushed in Irish Media, with Gript recently reporting on Virgin Media’s ‘divisive’ segment on white Irish people enjoying ‘white privilege’, regardless of the person’s social or financial circumstances and purely based on the colour of the person’s skin.
In the U.K., the warning from the Department for Education comes as some teachers have faced accusations of introducing “politically biased” materials to pupils during lessons about the police, racism and colonialism.
“WHITE PRIVILEGE” ‘PITS ONE GROUP AGAINST ANOTHER’
A report published by the education select committee in summer 2021 urged schools to stop using the term “white privilege”, because it “pits one group against another”.
Ministers warned that an “atmosphere of intimidation or fear” was at risk of emerging in some schools. Some teachers and pupils experienced ‘anti-Semitic bullying’ according to The Telegraph. The Education Act of 2997 means that teachers are legally obliged to be impartial in the classroom. However, Thursday is the first time detailed guidance has been issued.
Under the Education Act of 1996, teachers have a legal duty to uphold impartiality in the classroom, but Thursday is the first time detailed guidance has been issued..
U.K. Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, said: “Clearer guidance on political impartiality is just one part of my wider work to give children the best possible education as the Government continues to prioritise skills, schools and families, to enable young people to reach the full height of their potential.”
In the guidance, Headteachers are told that while staff can help students understand the facts and the law about racism, they should be careful to avoid promoting “specific campaigning organisations such as some of those associated with the Black Lives Matter movement”.
Such movements may include “partisan political views” such as how government resources should be used to address social issues, including withdrawing funding from the police.
Schools are also advised to carefully vet external speakers or organisations invited in to speak to pupils.
The guidance states that “under no circumstances” should an external organisation “attempt to engage pupils in political activity”. External speakers should not expose children to “extreme political positions” such as the desire to overthrow democracy and capitalism or endorsing criminal activities, it adds.
It comes after one primary school in Nottingham tweeted about letters penned by 10-year old pupils urging on Boris Johnson to resign, prompting a directive to schools not to use their social media accounts to promote partisan views.