Ofsted boss warns ‘militant’ activism in schools is a threat to education

Calahonda52 · 25-06-2021 8:11am #1

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jun/24/ofsted-boss-warns-militant-activism-in-schools-is-a-threat-to-education

Just wonder how much of that we see here, my lot are all done so not my rodeo.
A lot of food for thought in the article

..."The head of the schools watchdog in England has denounced a “militant” new brand of activism in school communities, which she warned was leading to confrontation within and outside the school gates and having a potentially limiting effect on education.

.

McGinniesta · 25-06-2021 8:56am

Activism of any description should not be encouraged in any way shape or form whilst educating minors.

Teachers should do their job and that's it.

If kids want to express themselves it should be done independently of their place of education and preferably on their own time and money.

suicide_circus · 25-06-2021 10:14am

The human instinct to engage in group think and religiosity is as strong as ever.

Dyr · 25-06-2021 10:42am

Great to see Multiculturalism pay off, eh?

I get the impression a lot of Irish classrooms have been turned into youth branches of the green party by their teachers

25-06-2021 10:43am

Bambi wrote: »

Great to see Multiculturalism pay off, eh?

I get the impression a lot of Irish classrooms have been turned into youth branches of the green party by their teachers

What does multiculturalism have to do with it?

Housefree · 25-06-2021 10:56am

On the climate change issue the kids see nothing is being done and it's their future that's at risk.

conorhal · 25-06-2021 11:17am

Housefree wrote: »

On the climate change issue the kids see nothing is being done and it's their future that's at risk.

It isn't the place for children to worry about such things, it's the place of adults and politicians.
It's no wonder that mental health statistics for children, with their soaring rates of anxiety and depression, make for grim reading, they're fed a steady diet of doom when they should be concentrating on the three R's and just being children, not activists.

I find it very creepy they way some movements have co-opted children as spokespeople and shields from criticism.
None of this belongs in our schools.

Gradius · 25-06-2021 11:40am

When you have to target children and immature minds to "sell your opinion", you already know your position is twisted.

Creepy people do creepy things, most often with a smile.

Jerry Attrick · 25-06-2021 11:45am

Gradius wrote: »

When you have to target children and immature minds to "sell your opinion", you already know your position is twisted. Creepy people do creepy things, most often with a smile.

I wonder did Victor Orbán make that argument - or some variant of it - to Ursula Von Der Woke and her fellow virtue signallers yesterday!

whisky_galore · 25-06-2021 11:50am

Housefree wrote: »

On the climate change issue the kids see nothing is being done and it's their future that's at risk.

They got a few days off, made up posters with their crayons and had a laugh. Now it's all forgotten about and they're happy to be driven everywhere in mummy's gas guzzling troop carrier.
I dont think they are any more serious than their elders.

silverharp · 25-06-2021 11:52am

The Left have become the new evangelicals, from vegans up, they always have an "outreach" angle and targeting schools is high up the list. Kids less face it dont have good bullsh1t detectors so shouldnt be marketed to , also some of these issues is going to increase their stress levels and unhappiness if a bunch of adults tell them they are doomed by the time they become adults, or are losers or asshol3s based on their race.
Maybe it needs to come to a crescendo before Mna na Sananoch rise up, stand up for their kids and push back

padd b1975 · 25-06-2021 12:18pm

Fascism.

Not much more to be said.

25-06-2021 12:22pm

But they fall asleep in history class.
They don’t realise history can predict the future.

Gradius · 25-06-2021 12:28pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjgf-HQKRcE

donaghs · 25-06-2021 2:40pm

bubblypop wrote: »

What does multiculturalism have to do with it?

The brand of "multiculturalism" which says ALL opinions are valid and should be listened too (unfortunately even intolerant ones - but not those which dont meet their standard of political correctness/religion/etc).

Which says there is no need to bother integrating into a mainstream national identity - and in more extreme cases, saying the mainstream national identity is bad etc.

Recent "woke" ideas that you have to have a certain set of ideas, or you are a bad person. If you try and just keep a low profile, "silence is violence" etc.

riffmongous · 25-06-2021 3:00pm

McGinniesta wrote: »

Activism of any description should not be encouraged in any way shape or form whilst educating minors.

Teachers should do their job and that's it.

If kids want to express themselves it should be done independently of their place of education and preferably on their own time and money.

When did you do your last CSPE class?

Housefree · 25-06-2021 3:13pm

conorhal wrote: »

It isn't the place for children to worry about such things, it's the place of adults and politicians.

That's the point, the adults aren't worried about a future they won't be in

Jerry Attrick · 25-06-2021 3:56pm

Housefree wrote: »

That's the point, the adults aren't worried about a future they won't be in

Yet the very same adults fret endlessly about whether their pension fund will be large enough to support them in old age.

Potatoeman · 25-06-2021 4:19pm

Children care about the climate but still want their mobiles and PlayStations. The irony is that green initiatives are the luxury of developed countries that then outsource their problems to poorer countries with less environmental controls making the situation worse. All these kids are doing is protesting for higher taxes on themselves in the future. They’re too young to know how the game is played and that they’re the ball.

dinjo99 · 25-06-2021 4:28pm

Not comparing with this topic in any way, but my local primary school is flying a rainbow flag currently for gay pride week. I know some parents feel that it is inappropriate in a primary school and others are delighted to see it. What do Boardies think?

25-06-2021 4:31pm

Bambi wrote: »

Great to see Multiculturalism pay off, eh?

Diversity is strength.

seamus · 25-06-2021 4:31pm

dinjo99 wrote: »

Not comparing with this topic in any way, but my local primary school is flying a rainbow flag currently for gay pride week. I know some parents feel that it is inappropriate in a primary school and others are delighted to see it. What do Boardies think?

A school should make it clear that all of the children within - and their families - are welcome and accepted for who they are regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, nationality, etc. And that the school will side with them and not with bigots.

Flying the pride flag for the pride month is a demonstration of that.

Any parent who feels it is "inappropriate", needs to ask themselves why normalising homosexuality makes them feel uncomfortable.

25-06-2021 4:31pm

Potatoeman wrote: »

Children care about the climate but still want their mobiles and PlayStations. The irony is that green initiatives are the luxury of developed countries that then outsource their problems to poorer countries with less environmental controls making the situation worse. All these kids are doing is protesting for higher taxes on themselves in the future. They’re too young to know how the game is played and that they’re the ball.

Well to be fair the devices themselves are not that big of a drain of resources. The data centres maybe.

spurious · 25-06-2021 4:35pm

dinjo99 wrote: »

Not comparing with this topic in any way, but my local primary school is flying a rainbow flag currently for gay pride week. I know some parents feel that it is inappropriate in a primary school and others are delighted to see it. What do Boardies think?

I think it's great for the many children in primary who will already be realising they are 'different' and of course those who are children of same sex couples.
Schools should be inclusive.

Correcting JC History for years (particularly Irish history) has shown me there are a great deal of nutte ill-informed teachers out there teaching rabid anti-British nonsense. We have plenty loons of our own to tackle before we start importing hypothetical problems from across the sea.

25-06-2021 4:45pm

spurious wrote: »

I think it's great for the many children in primary who will already be realising they are 'different' and of course those who are children of same sex couples.
Schools should be inclusive.

Correcting JC History for years (particularly Irish history) has shown me there are a great deal of nutte ill-informed teachers out there teaching rabid anti-British nonsense. We have plenty loons of our own to tackle before we start importing hypothetical problems from across the sea.

They should switch to teaching rabid anti-White nonsense. Teach the primary School young uns about their white guilt, not this rabid anti English stuff.

padd b1975 · 25-06-2021 4:57pm

seamus wrote: »

A school should make it clear that all of the children within - and their families - are welcome and accepted for who they are regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, nationality, etc. And that the school will side with them and not with bigots.

Flying the pride flag for the pride month is a demonstration of that.

Any parent who feels it is "inappropriate", needs to ask themselves why normalising homosexuality makes them feel uncomfortable.

Full House there for anyone playing "woke bingo".

seamus · 25-06-2021 7:19pm

padd b1975 wrote: »

Full House there for anyone playing "woke bingo".

I don't think anyone here is that sad and pathetic.

Gradius · 25-06-2021 8:30pm

seamus wrote: »

A school should make it clear that all of the children within - and their families - are welcome and accepted for who they are regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, nationality, etc. And that the school will side with them and not with bigots.

Flying the pride flag for the pride month is a demonstration of that.

Any parent who feels it is "inappropriate", needs to ask themselves why normalising homosexuality makes them feel uncomfortable.

If you need more time than basically any other goddamn issue on Earth, a month of every year, to convince people...

Maybe it's time to start questioning your product and why anything less than sheer acceptance makes you feel uncomfortable.

And the same type of people and brands flying this stuff have as much vested, genuine interest as those who flew the swastika during Nazi Germany.

Fanta was as much with the Nazi's as whatever other faux thing on the go now.

Gatling · 25-06-2021 8:35pm

This is where parents should be told to homeschool their little activists ,to stop others who actually want to learn from being distracted with this crap .

25-06-2021 8:54pm

It should be called Grooming

growleaves · 25-06-2021 9:37pm

dinjo99 wrote: »

Not comparing with this topic in any way, but my local primary school is flying a rainbow flag currently for gay pride week. I know some parents feel that it is inappropriate in a primary school and others are delighted to see it. What do Boardies think?

Corrupt. Every social institution has been captured and turned into a vehicle for politics. The original purpose of the social institution, in this case education, is downgraded - and would be downgraded 100% if adjudged necessary.

AndrewJRenko · 25-06-2021 11:59pm

Edz87 wrote: »

It should be called Grooming

Are you seriously playing the old 'homosexuality = paedophilia' card?

growleaves wrote: »

Corrupt. Every social institution has been captured and turned into a vehicle for politics. The original purpose of the social institution, in this case education, is downgraded - and would be downgraded 100% if adjudged necessary.

What exactly is political about promoting tolerance and equality of gay people?

Gradius wrote: »

If you need more time than basically any other goddamn issue on Earth, a month of every year, to convince people...

Maybe it's time to start questioning your product and why anything less than sheer acceptance makes you feel uncomfortable.

Are you seriously referencing homosexuality as a 'product'? Who's selling it?

Gradius · 26-06-2021 12:42am

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Are you seriously playing the old 'homosexuality = paedophilia' card?

What exactly is political about promoting tolerance and equality of gay people?

Are you seriously referencing homosexuality as a 'product'? Who's selling it?

"Are you seriously playing the old "capitalism = freedom" card?"

"What exactly is political about putting women in their place and stoning them to death to promote justice?"

"Are you seriously referencing homosexuality as a "product" that has been latched onto by gigantic corporations to get free advertising like Nike who selectively edit messages depending on who and where they're selling?"

Everything's an idea, buddy, it's all a matter of local zeitgeist, some are sensible and some are not, some have staying power.

Many are gone before you blink. Don't swear by gospels and you may find yourself less squeamish.

When something has been been fashionable in less than, say, 10% of the world for, say, less than a decade, versus institutions millennia old, I wouldn't go swearing by it just yet.

Like rollerblades

26-06-2021 1:41am

spurious wrote: »

I think it's great for the many children in primary who will already be realising they are 'different' and of course those who are children of same sex couples.
Schools should be inclusive.

They already were. Everyone could go to school, irrespective of their personal circumstances.

Or does inclusive mean that their situation becomes highlighted? By focusing on these things, they're ensuring that people view them as "different".. as opposed to simply being students going to school, where nobody cares what their personal circumstances are.

These initiatives just seem to reinforce differences rather than seek a society where these things aren't special or noteworthy.

AndrewJRenko · 26-06-2021 6:57am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

They already were. Everyone could go to school, irrespective of their personal circumstances.

Or does inclusive mean that their situation becomes highlighted? By focusing on these things, they're ensuring that people view them as "different".. as opposed to simply being students going to school, where nobody cares what their personal circumstances are.

These initiatives just seem to reinforce differences rather than seek a society where these things aren't special or noteworthy.

Have you spoken to many gay people about their school experiences?

shesty · 26-06-2021 7:07am

I actually read that article to mean other children were engaging in this "activism" not that teachers which pushing it in classrooms.
What do you do in situations where it is kids pushing a certain agenda, be it learned from parents or social media or whatever?

listermint · 26-06-2021 7:18am

Let's peel back the layers here who is this spielman and why are they coming out attacking schools in this manner. This wouldn't be another Tory dead cat tactic more of their stoking culture wars that don't exist in people's day to day lifes.

These Charlatans and harlots say they universities are hot beds of woke left liberal thinking depsite all having coming from universities. They are a raft of rich privileged snobs who's only job is to Stoke culture wars to make middle and working class people think they are being attacked. Prevent them from waking up to the fact they are being robbed billions stolen to shift off to friends and cronies and then exited to the Caribbean islands.

It's hilarious people fall for it and especially many of the educated people on here many of whom contribute very well to other forums

Culture war bollix.

Theft behind the scenes

Rather than the OP getting outrage about stuff that should really piss them off like this .

https://twitter.com/JolyonMaugham/status/1408490348184281099?s=20

The Tories have them concerned about kids being into climate change. Think about that long and hard .

26-06-2021 8:17am

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Have you spoken to many gay people about their school experiences?

I suspect I've spoken to more than you, as I'm bisexual. I also have a shaking disorder, and my parents were teachers in my hometown. A triple whammy of recognition. So, yeah.. I have an inkling of what's involved.

Oh! That's not supposed to happen! The injustices directed towards gay people should silence all foes to the righteous. :rolleyes:

Note what I said. (I'll shift the bolded word for you): "These initiatives just seem to reinforce differences rather than seek a society where these things aren't special or noteworthy."

One eyed Jack · 26-06-2021 9:29am

seamus wrote: »

A school should make it clear that all of the children within - and their families - are welcome and accepted for who they are regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, nationality, etc. And that the school will side with them and not with bigots.

Flying the pride flag for the pride month is a demonstration of that.

That’s a matter of perspective really, depending upon the ethos of the school. Flying the pride flag for the month of Pride is a demonstration of their politics, which is fine, as it’s also a signal for people who disagree with their politics to give the school a wide berth

seamus wrote: »

Any parent who feels it is "inappropriate", needs to ask themselves why normalising homosexuality makes them feel uncomfortable.

It’s not normalising anything though, it’s promoting a political and social view which from their point of view is inappropriate to promote to children. Your attempt to frame the question in that way would be like me suggesting any parent who feels Catholicism is “inappropriate” needs to ask themselves why normalising treating all human life as sacred makes them feel uncomfortable. I’m not even going to play silly buggers with you because I’m well aware of the reasons for people’s objections to Catholic Education.

My son has known all his life already that what is or isn’t acceptable to me is his behaviour. I won’t say I couldn’t give a flying fcuk who he’s knocking boots with, because I do, he’s my son and I’m responsible not just for his welfare, but I also have a responsibility towards wider society to ensure that my son understands the concept of social responsibility.

Unfortunately it doesn’t appear to have sunk in because in spite of my best efforts, he still felt he had to do this whole nauseating “coming out” effort. We both knew it was bollocks, and I could tell he was hamming it the fcuk up. The conversation went something like this after an argument -

“Dad… I’m gay”

“Yeah but that’s no reason to be miserable, you could have told me that before and saved us both the headache!”

“Yeah but you’re Catholic!”

“So what? So are you?”

“Yeah but that’s different…”

“Oh fcuk off!”

And he burst out laughing, because he knew well he was winding me up. He wanted me to care about something I just didn’t care about. I care about him getting good grades in school, I care about him treating people with respect, I care that he’s happy, I couldn’t care less that he’s gay.

(I was involved in organising Pride events before his arse was big as a shirt button. I stopped being involved over 20 years ago when it became clear it wasn’t about pride, it was about politics)

26-06-2021 9:52am

One eyed Jack wrote: »

(I was involved in organising Pride events before his arse was big as a shirt button. I stopped being involved over 20 years ago when it became clear it wasn’t about pride, it was about politics)

Ditto on that.

Strumms · 26-06-2021 10:19am

Kids shouldn’t need to cross intimidation lines to get to their class and be with their friends and learn.. they are not picket lines....they are intimidation lines... if it happening outside a children’s hospital the cops would shut it down, they should do the same here.

Teachers need to teach what’s in the syllabus.... nothing more..enabling children to learn, be educated, develop.

Mad_maxx · 26-06-2021 10:38am

McGinniesta wrote: »

Activism of any description should not be encouraged in any way shape or form whilst educating minors.

Teachers should do their job and that's it.

If kids want to express themselves it should be done independently of their place of education and preferably on their own time and money.

Turned on RTE junior for the kids in the past few days and the presenter was bursting with enthusiasm about " Pride Month " , what then followed was a piece from a Dublin school with kids running about waving rainbow flags ( as if they were in China circa 1960 with little red books )and talking about how important "pride " is, the narator also referred to " LGBT " a few times

Blatant ideological indoctrination

Gatling · 26-06-2021 11:11am

Promotion of pride should be left out of school ,it in itself is an activists agenda ,I've always said the only flags should be flying is the tricolour and county flags at buildings such as schools or civic centers .
It's got nothing to with anti anything or phobics it's schools should be neutral grounds and there for education not promoting one idea over another

26-06-2021 12:00pm

I'm finding it hilarious that a poster has likened the flag to a swastika during nazi Germany... Cause the Nazis were so well known for their tolerance. The reality is children have diverse families, they have get family members and their parents might even be gay. So yep it's pretty good to encourage tolerance versus ignoring the topic entirely, like one of the biggest reasons for homophobic bullying be it in primary or secondary school was because being LGBT was treated as abnormal.

Mad_maxx wrote: »

Turned on RTE junior for the kids in the past few days and the presenter was bursting with enthusiasm about " Pride Month " , what then followed was a piece from a Dublin school with kids running about waving rainbow flags ( as if they were in China circa 1960 with little red books )and talking about how important "pride " is, the narator also referred to " LGBT " a few times

Blatant ideological indoctrination

You poor mite...

D rog · 26-06-2021 12:03pm

Promotion of ideology to young minds? Our entire school system was a catholic religious lifestyle education vehicle until very recently!
I'm very glad to see some other, more secular, ideologies start to get in there and balance things a bit.

26-06-2021 12:11pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm finding it hilarious that a poster has likened the flag to a swastika during nazi Germany... Cause the Nazis were so well known for their tolerance. The reality is children have diverse families, they have get family members and their parents might even be gay. So yep it's pretty good to encourage tolerance versus ignoring the topic entirely, like one of the biggest reasons for homophobic bullying be it in primary or secondary school was because being LGBT was treated as abnormal.

You can promote tolerance by mentioning homosexuality in the course of teaching about other sexualities, and gay parents in the course of talking about parents generally, and so on.

My children have gay aunts and uncles, a gay grandparent, most of the couples we hang out with are gay, etc. If anything, they probably think heterosexuality is the outlier. Seeing pride flags to celebrate something that they already see as entirely normal, before they are of an age to properly understand concepts like social shame well enough to grasp the concept of "pride" as a pushback against that, rather than a simple celebration of gay people for being gay (because who the hell would celeberate that anyway), is absolutely, 100% going to make them see gay as "different" in a way that they currently do not.

26-06-2021 12:18pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

You can promote tolerance by mentioning homosexuality in the course of teaching about other sexualities, and gay parents in the course of talking about parents generally, and so on.

My children have gay aunts and uncles, a gay grandparent, most of the couples we hang out with are gay, etc. If anything, they probably think heterosexuality is the outlier. Seeing pride flags to celebrate something that they already see as entirely normal, before they are of an age to properly understand concepts like social shame well enough to grasp the concept of "pride" as a pushback against that, rather than a simple celebration of gay people for being gay (because who the hell would celeberate that anyway), is absolutely, 100% going to make them see gay as "different" in a way that they currently do not.

There's a huge history behind that flag so I'd hope they're educated on why pride exists. It's because historically intolerance has been an issue and it's genuinely good to learn about that side of pretty modern history. It exists because very recent generations were discriminated against to a huge degree. It's a celebration of getting a through a huge struggle and recognizing that others still are facing such a struggle elsewhere.

26-06-2021 12:22pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm finding it hilarious that a poster has likened the flag to a swastika during nazi Germany... Cause the Nazis were so well known for their tolerance. The reality is children have diverse families, they have get family members and their parents might even be gay. So yep it's pretty good to encourage tolerance versus ignoring the topic entirely, like one of the biggest reasons for homophobic bullying be it in primary or secondary school was because being LGBT was treated as abnormal.

How was it being ignored?

We've had decades of school initiatives to manage bullying, homophobia, and a wide range of other issues, even to the point where many schools have hired counselors who specialize in creating programs to manage these problems. Our legal system has gradually, over time, introduced laws to manage and punish those who engage in persecuting LGBT, or other issues in society.

I've done a range of extra qualifications beyond my primary degree to help me with teaching/lecturing, and most of them had a few components dealing with diversity or increasing teacher awareness about bullying, or LGBT issues,

So, why is there this need for further campaigning, since our society is already extremely sympathetic towards LGBT or the issues of bullying? Better yet, why the need to project this campaigning into schools, and directing such agendas towards children?

suicide_circus · 26-06-2021 12:26pm

Teaching kids about sexuality of course belongs on the sex ed curriculum.

Inviting in activist groups such as Mermaids into school to distribute ideology like the below is another kettle of fish;

AndrewJRenko · 26-06-2021 12:28pm

Deleted User wrote: »

How was it being ignored?

We've had decades of school initiatives to manage bullying, homophobia, and a wide range of other issues, even to the point where many schools have hired counselors who specialize in creating programs to manage these problems. Our legal system has gradually, over time, introduced laws to manage and punish those who engage in persecuting LGBT, or other issues in society.

I've done a range of extra qualifications beyond my primary degree to help me with teaching/lecturing, and most of them had a few components dealing with diversity or increasing teacher awareness about bullying, or LGBT issues,

So, why is there this need for further campaigning, since our society is already extremely sympathetic towards LGBT or the issues of bullying? Better yet, why the need to project this campaigning into schools, and directing such agendas towards children?

Because homophobic bullying still happens routinely, in schools, on the streets, on the sports field. You have listened to gay people telling you about this, right?

And what Irish schools specifically have 'hired counselors to create programmes on LGBT issues' please?

byhookorbycrook · 26-06-2021 12:29pm

suicide_circus wrote: »

Teaching kids about sexuality of course belongs on the sex ed curriculum.

Inviting in activist groups such as Mermaids into school to distribute ideology like the below is another kettle of fish;

Are there primary schools inviting that group in?

Ofsted boss warns ‘militant’ activism in schools is a threat to education

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