Read on Twitter
For a while now, I've been watching with horror, the way in which teachers are expected to pack into their lessons, any number of 'things'.
Amongst them, is the 'all encompassing', 'equality & diversity'.
But, not enough to 'embed' such information into lessons, teachers are...
Amongst them, is the 'all encompassing', 'equality & diversity'.
But, not enough to 'embed' such information into lessons, teachers are...
...now packing more specific subjects into the broad, personal, social & health education (PSHE) & specifically, relationships & sex education (RSE).
Lessons are becoming super-politicised. Education has been politicised for a long time now, but it's getting out of hand...
Lessons are becoming super-politicised. Education has been politicised for a long time now, but it's getting out of hand...
...more and more, children are being taught *what* to think. They are being taught 'morality'.
More worryingly, they are being taught morality by ideologues who would call women 'T*RFs' in the blink of an eye, because it suited them. Because they judged them as such...
More worryingly, they are being taught morality by ideologues who would call women 'T*RFs' in the blink of an eye, because it suited them. Because they judged them as such...
What I find astounding however, is the insistence we confront children with this 'morality' and police it.
'Educate' children into accepting others as they are.
Well....as nice as that would be, there are serious issues with that.
'Educate' children into accepting others as they are.
Well....as nice as that would be, there are serious issues with that.
Firstly, who gets to decide what is acceptable and unacceptable?
Secondly, even if it is widely acceptable, who are we to force children to accept things they don't want to?
You can't fight oppression with oppression.
Secondly, even if it is widely acceptable, who are we to force children to accept things they don't want to?
You can't fight oppression with oppression.
When I taught...we had what's called 'embedding'.
Embedding, from my understanding, involved incorporating into your lessons, everyday things and issues that everyone might come across.
The basic ones were literacy & numeracy.
Easy enough to do. We're surrounded by them.
Embedding, from my understanding, involved incorporating into your lessons, everyday things and issues that everyone might come across.
The basic ones were literacy & numeracy.
Easy enough to do. We're surrounded by them.
So, on top of your usual history lesson about say, King Henry the 8th...you would ensure there were opportunities for kids to learn the spellings of the words of that period. Or, create some chance for kids to work out how many generations had passed since the Tudor period 
Embedding is easy to do. Many people struggled with it, but I always adopted a fairly, 'hands-off' approach.
It shouldn't be taxing. You ensure there are a couple of examples in there and it keeps the lessons interesting.
It shouldn't be taxing. You ensure there are a couple of examples in there and it keeps the lessons interesting.
Personally, that's far more powerful than setting aside a specific lesson to teach kids how to fully tackle something that might otherwise be bland.
And...the same goes for equality and diversity. Little examples here and there are all that is needed.
And...the same goes for equality and diversity. Little examples here and there are all that is needed.
Worksheets, videos, online learning....examples which include a variety of representations of families, faces, beliefs etc...
More than enough.
Doesn't draw attention to a group in a 'spotlight' kind of way.
More than enough.
Doesn't draw attention to a group in a 'spotlight' kind of way.
Having dedicated lessons to highlight certain "marginalised" groups, feels to me a bit like pointing at them and saying, "LOOK! LOOK! SUPPORT THEM!".
Reminds me of a book called so I'm trying like, "Does He Take Sugar?".
Intended to highlight how patronising people can be...
Reminds me of a book called so I'm trying like, "Does He Take Sugar?".
Intended to highlight how patronising people can be...
...in that, sometimes, people can overemphasise their attempts to support a group or person, so much so, they end up ignoring them altogether.
In our attempts to teach kids about marginalised groups, we are making them more special than they are.
In our attempts to teach kids about marginalised groups, we are making them more special than they are.
Everyone is human. We should all be afforded the same rights, to be safe and protected.
But encouraging kids to grant such groups some kind of special permit and privileges, is taking us down a difficult path.
It potentially generates resentment and division.
But encouraging kids to grant such groups some kind of special permit and privileges, is taking us down a difficult path.
It potentially generates resentment and division.
Kids tend not to see racism or disablism etc until it's pointed out to them.
But then we go and draw such close attention to it, there is a danger of people becoming divided....again.
Apologies...I have rambled on a bit but seriously, we need to stop politicising education...
But then we go and draw such close attention to it, there is a danger of people becoming divided....again.
Apologies...I have rambled on a bit but seriously, we need to stop politicising education...
Ultimately....we need to give kids the facts....show them the way things are....even if they seem unsightly.
We should learn *with* kids. Not dictate to them.
Let's stop teaching kids what to think and start teaching them *how* to think...for themselves...not others.
We should learn *with* kids. Not dictate to them.
Let's stop teaching kids what to think and start teaching them *how* to think...for themselves...not others.
