Political indoctrination
Discussion
Sorry in advance everyone, this is a longish one, but I'd welcome your views on the following:
This week I've been helping my daughter with her English GCSE course homework. Her task was to write a speech as if she were an MP speaking in Parliament about whther or not the British National Party should be banned from making Party Political Broadcasts. Although free to take either side in theory, her teacher had left my daughter in no doubt that she was expected to be advocating the ban - indeed she was even given the first line of her text by the teacher......
Normally my daughter loves this kind of stuff. She has an open and inquisitive mind, and she likes to make her decisions based on informed facts rather than knee jerk emotion. She recently wrote a very good piece advocating the banning of violent video games. It was beautifully reasoned, passionate and concise, and she got an A* for it.
This time however she was in floods of tears. I asked her why and she said it was because "she couldn't get her head round it, and she just didn't feel right about it somehow".
This set my alarm bells ringing, so I spent several hours gently debating the topic with her. I put as many of the counter arguements to the ban as i could remember, (sort of devils advocate role) and encouraged her to work through it. I also said that if she felt she wanted to speak against the ban then she should jolly well do so!
In the end she finally got the gist of what she wanted to say clear in her head, and has written what in my opinion is an excellent piece that advocates the ban, but expresses her fears about this curbing of freedom of speech, and the need to engage positively with people in order to eliminate the reasons for racism (fear, ignorance and feelings of isolation!) . She has quotes from Martin Luther King, Voltaire and others in it. I am so proud of her!!
So why was she so unhappy? A quick glance at her lesson notes and handouts revealed the cause. The information she had been given was totally one sided! Moreover, some of it was factually inaccurate, but had been included so as to bolster the case for a ban. The teacher has also managed to mix in elements such as:
1, The British Empire was responsible for and was based on slavery.
2, All British Police are racist
3, There is no such thing as British culture!
For good measure, the teachers notes also contained a "Political barometer" that was supposed to show the disposition of politcal groups.
On the extreme left were the communists, just left of centre and in the centre were the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats respectively. There is then a gap all the way to extreme right wing, under which is listed in equal position the Nazis, BNP and the Conservative Party!
What is it about these teachers that they have to seek to influence young people in this way? Have they no faith whatsoever in the fundamental decency of young people and their ability to make the "right" decision having reviewd all the facts available? Do they honestly think that propogandising and lying is the way to ensure a decent society?
Might this be the reason why so many of our young people are unable to discern right from wrong or understand the consequences of their actions?
As to the scandalous grouping of the Conservatives with the Nazis and BNP I am appalled that a person in a position of authority over young people should seek to poisen what little political debate we have in this country by such smear tactics.
Should I write to the headmaster? Or am I just going to make things worse? Am I over reacting?
Andy
This week I've been helping my daughter with her English GCSE course homework. Her task was to write a speech as if she were an MP speaking in Parliament about whther or not the British National Party should be banned from making Party Political Broadcasts. Although free to take either side in theory, her teacher had left my daughter in no doubt that she was expected to be advocating the ban - indeed she was even given the first line of her text by the teacher......
Normally my daughter loves this kind of stuff. She has an open and inquisitive mind, and she likes to make her decisions based on informed facts rather than knee jerk emotion. She recently wrote a very good piece advocating the banning of violent video games. It was beautifully reasoned, passionate and concise, and she got an A* for it.
This time however she was in floods of tears. I asked her why and she said it was because "she couldn't get her head round it, and she just didn't feel right about it somehow".
This set my alarm bells ringing, so I spent several hours gently debating the topic with her. I put as many of the counter arguements to the ban as i could remember, (sort of devils advocate role) and encouraged her to work through it. I also said that if she felt she wanted to speak against the ban then she should jolly well do so!
In the end she finally got the gist of what she wanted to say clear in her head, and has written what in my opinion is an excellent piece that advocates the ban, but expresses her fears about this curbing of freedom of speech, and the need to engage positively with people in order to eliminate the reasons for racism (fear, ignorance and feelings of isolation!) . She has quotes from Martin Luther King, Voltaire and others in it. I am so proud of her!!
So why was she so unhappy? A quick glance at her lesson notes and handouts revealed the cause. The information she had been given was totally one sided! Moreover, some of it was factually inaccurate, but had been included so as to bolster the case for a ban. The teacher has also managed to mix in elements such as:
1, The British Empire was responsible for and was based on slavery.
2, All British Police are racist
3, There is no such thing as British culture!
For good measure, the teachers notes also contained a "Political barometer" that was supposed to show the disposition of politcal groups.
On the extreme left were the communists, just left of centre and in the centre were the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats respectively. There is then a gap all the way to extreme right wing, under which is listed in equal position the Nazis, BNP and the Conservative Party!
What is it about these teachers that they have to seek to influence young people in this way? Have they no faith whatsoever in the fundamental decency of young people and their ability to make the "right" decision having reviewd all the facts available? Do they honestly think that propogandising and lying is the way to ensure a decent society?
Might this be the reason why so many of our young people are unable to discern right from wrong or understand the consequences of their actions?
As to the scandalous grouping of the Conservatives with the Nazis and BNP I am appalled that a person in a position of authority over young people should seek to poisen what little political debate we have in this country by such smear tactics.
Should I write to the headmaster? Or am I just going to make things worse? Am I over reacting?
Andy
Over reacting? I'd say not...
I have read that and I really want to say something but due to the open mouthed astonishment I seem to be suffering from its not at all easy.
I can quite safely say though that if in future my daughter is exposed to such vile and subversive political indoctrination I'd be straight up the school demanding an explanation.
Isnt it a core principal that education should be completely impartial to all things political and social?
I have read that and I really want to say something but due to the open mouthed astonishment I seem to be suffering from its not at all easy.
I can quite safely say though that if in future my daughter is exposed to such vile and subversive political indoctrination I'd be straight up the school demanding an explanation.
Isnt it a core principal that education should be completely impartial to all things political and social?
Just vote for the BNP, that should solve the problem 
Seriously though, it does sound worth writing a letter to the head. The national curriculum has no position teaching right or left wing doctrines. The job of the national curriculum should be to create a fresh generation capable of making informed decision.
Adding any sort of political bias to the classroom is a dangerous move IMHO.
Nu Labia don't have a hand in producing the national curriculum do they?
Seriously though, it does sound worth writing a letter to the head. The national curriculum has no position teaching right or left wing doctrines. The job of the national curriculum should be to create a fresh generation capable of making informed decision.
Adding any sort of political bias to the classroom is a dangerous move IMHO.
Nu Labia don't have a hand in producing the national curriculum do they?
Totally dispicable behaviour on the part of the teacher/school.
Well done for encouraging your daughter to seek her own views on this and not letting her get sucked in.
As revenge turn up at the next parent's evening in full nazi regalia preaching the joys of Tony's Totalitiarian Utopia of Great Britain!
Well done for encouraging your daughter to seek her own views on this and not letting her get sucked in.
As revenge turn up at the next parent's evening in full nazi regalia preaching the joys of Tony's Totalitiarian Utopia of Great Britain!
We had a similar one IIRC, when I did my GCSEs back in 2000. Can't remember whether it was about banning the fur trade, getting rid of leather or stopping foxhunting. Either way, it was all on an anti-ticket, and some of the source material was Polly Toynbee's.
I'm just dreading the anti-motoring questions with source material from George Monbiot, Brake and some local paper clipping about someone who was killed by a car
I'm just dreading the anti-motoring questions with source material from George Monbiot, Brake and some local paper clipping about someone who was killed by a car
I used to get in trouble in school for disagreeing with certain similar leftie-inspired teachers opinions on such subjects as politics and religion.
My parents were of the type that thought if you were in trouble at school it was your fault and because you had done something wrong.
In these circumstances, I would already have a meeting booked with the Headmaster to discuss the adverse effects this teachers political opinions were having on my kids life and education and to clarify that the school was there to provide an education and not model the kids into one or other type of thinking.
My parents were of the type that thought if you were in trouble at school it was your fault and because you had done something wrong.
In these circumstances, I would already have a meeting booked with the Headmaster to discuss the adverse effects this teachers political opinions were having on my kids life and education and to clarify that the school was there to provide an education and not model the kids into one or other type of thinking.
I would definitely do something, but it would be polite to:
1. Speak to the Teacher first, and as already suggested here, ascertain whether he/she kept to the Sillybus
Then.
2. If the Teacher didn't follow the sillybus, have a word with the Head.
3. If the sillybus is to blame, it seems that you need to talk to OFSTED too.
Political indoctrination is a bit of an over-reaction IMHO, sounds more like very poor teaching.
1. Speak to the Teacher first, and as already suggested here, ascertain whether he/she kept to the Sillybus
Then.
2. If the Teacher didn't follow the sillybus, have a word with the Head.
3. If the sillybus is to blame, it seems that you need to talk to OFSTED too.
Political indoctrination is a bit of an over-reaction IMHO, sounds more like very poor teaching.
Reminds me of a bit in the "Yes, Prime Minister" books when Sir Humphrey points out that even the Mathematics Exam board are politicising their exam papers.
The question was
"If it costs £24 to save the life of a child dying from starvation and it is costing the British taxpayer £3 trillion to buy the Trident Nuclear Missile system, how many starving children could this government save if it adopted a policy of pacifism?"
Seriously though, blatant political bias such as this has no place in the classroom, and I would completely agree with you taking this further - the teacher, the headmaster and Ofstead in that order.
>> Edited by JonRB on Thursday 16th December 12:40
The question was
"If it costs £24 to save the life of a child dying from starvation and it is costing the British taxpayer £3 trillion to buy the Trident Nuclear Missile system, how many starving children could this government save if it adopted a policy of pacifism?"
Seriously though, blatant political bias such as this has no place in the classroom, and I would completely agree with you taking this further - the teacher, the headmaster and Ofstead in that order.
>> Edited by JonRB on Thursday 16th December 12:40
It's insipid isn't it this method of gently nudging the children into an attitude that is "correct"
I went to London the other day and stopped at a service station to be greeted by a children's ride which used a smiley happy speed camera as part of it's main attraction - "get your photo taken by the happy-cam" or other such bile inducing shite.
I would definitly write to the teacher - or talk with them face to face. Is there any chance you could scan the evidence for our perusal?
Phil
>> Edited by Mannginger on Thursday 16th December 12:42
I went to London the other day and stopped at a service station to be greeted by a children's ride which used a smiley happy speed camera as part of it's main attraction - "get your photo taken by the happy-cam" or other such bile inducing shite.
I would definitly write to the teacher - or talk with them face to face. Is there any chance you could scan the evidence for our perusal?
Phil
>> Edited by Mannginger on Thursday 16th December 12:42
swilly said:
I used to get in trouble in school for disagreeing with certain similar leftie-inspired teachers opinions on such subjects as politics and religion.
Hehe me too. We used to have a teacher who did have a beard, wore sandles and read the Grauniad. Was very funny. Even had the Ford Cortina Estate Crusader model - because it had a symbol which was close to that of the Grauniad's knight thingy..... shows how long ago this was!
Anyway, absolute leftie. He was a nightmare. Constantly doing things for the labour party etc. Really dull and as a result opened himself up for constant ridicule and practical jokes. One of which was to change the symbol on the back of his car to make it smoke a joint and have dreadlocks!
Fortunately the vast majority of kids at the school could see straight through his views and was basically side-lined by the school. Strangely he didnt get punished in anyway, but we were politically aware enough to realise he was talking out of his arse most of the time....
Real world - most of them havent even see it!
[quote]
1, The British Empire was responsible for and was based on slavery.
2, All British Police are racist
3, There is no such thing as British culture!
[/quote]
Are you sure these aren't points to be argued in your daughter's response rather than absolute statements by the teach ? Seems odd to me. If it is as biased as you say, then a gentle approach to the Head, rather than the teacher concerned would be best, particularly from your kid's point of view.
Sounds strange.
1, The British Empire was responsible for and was based on slavery.
2, All British Police are racist
3, There is no such thing as British culture!
[/quote]
Are you sure these aren't points to be argued in your daughter's response rather than absolute statements by the teach ? Seems odd to me. If it is as biased as you say, then a gentle approach to the Head, rather than the teacher concerned would be best, particularly from your kid's point of view.
Sounds strange.
Thanks all.
Well at least it's not only me then! I think I'm going to write to the head. He's a very good man and I cannot imagine that he is actively behind this.
I'm going to be gentle and diplomatic in the first instance. I don't want my daughter to be victimised by the teacher!
I'll let you all know how I get on....
Thanks again
Andy
Well at least it's not only me then! I think I'm going to write to the head. He's a very good man and I cannot imagine that he is actively behind this.
I'm going to be gentle and diplomatic in the first instance. I don't want my daughter to be victimised by the teacher!
I'll let you all know how I get on....
Thanks again
Andy
Write to the head.
The extreme left-leaning often worm their way into education because it's a good way of twisting young minds. This sounds like a classic attempt at opinion forming.
My history master at school was a Marxist and he did his best to "convert" us to his way of thinking, however, I don't think it worked although he did his best.
The extreme left-leaning often worm their way into education because it's a good way of twisting young minds. This sounds like a classic attempt at opinion forming.
My history master at school was a Marxist and he did his best to "convert" us to his way of thinking, however, I don't think it worked although he did his best.
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