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Racism among teachers is not a major problem, private schools tell Ed Balls
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor12 Mar 2010
Private schools lashed out today after Schools Secretary Ed Balls ordered a new inquiry into alleged racist teaching of their pupils.
Mr Balls commissioned the review amid fears that fee-paying schools lack the safeguards of the state sector and can more easily hire unqualified teachers.
It has been alleged that privately-run Islamic schools in London and Slough have been infiltrated by religious extremists Hizb-ut-Tahrir. Former chief inspector of schools Maurice Smith will conduct the inquiry and must complete his report by September.
The Independent Schools Council said it was “dismayed” that the inquiry could tar all private schools with the same brush.
David Lyscom, its chief executive, said that the private Islamic schools involved in the row were not members of the council.
“We are dismayed that the Secretary of State has felt it expedient to commission a further review that covers the whole sector,” he said. “If there are issues in individual schools or types of school that raise concern, action should be taken in those schools.”
Mr Balls ordered the investigation after a separate review by Mr Smith ruled that it would be wrong to ban British National Party members from teaching in state schools.
BNP members are barred from the police and prison service and Mr Balls announced at last year's Labour party conference that he wanted to investigate claims that state school teachers were spreading discrimination.
Mr Smith concluded that a ban would be “taking a very large sledgehammer to crack a minuscule nut”. Mr Balls welcomed the report, saying the case for a ban would be kept “under active consideration and reviewed on an annual basis”.
But Chris Keates, of teachers' union NASUWT, said: “The idea that a person who signs up to membership of the BNP can simply leave these beliefs at the school gate and behave as a professional' when they walk into school is risible. The report is woefully inadequate and littered with contradictions.”
Only six incidences of BNP membership by teachers or governors were brought to the attention of the Department for Children, Schools and Families in six years, the report said.
Reader views (7)
When we were looking for schools for our daughter, we visited quite a few private schools in North London, some are internationally famous. It would appear that the majority of pupils were from 'ethnic backgrounds', so the idea that private schools are racist is poppycock. Labour will have to drop it's traditional hostility to private education if it wants the black vote.
- Sue R, London, 12/03/2010 14:45
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"The idea that a person ... can simply leave these beliefs at the school gate and behave as a professional' when they walk into school is risible. The report is woefully inadequate and littered with contradictions."
- Chris Keates
I agree with the majority of what he has stated. I hope that he will pursue all those with left-wing politics.
- Frank, Home Counties, London., 12/03/2010 14:17
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Like Sue in Kent I was at school in East London in the early 1960s. My form master was an active member of CND and was very hostile towards any arguments against. As I recall it, all of the younger teachers were raving lefties and it got worse in the late 60s and early 70s.
- Bj, East London, 12/03/2010 14:00
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No Daisy Willets it hasn't! I went to school in the 60s and left wing teachers started infiltrating the schools even then! My English teacher gave me nought out of ten for writing an essay on Corporal and Capital punishment. There was nothing wrong it's grammar or spelling, she just gave me the mark because she didn't agree with my views. I recall that my parents went to the Headmistress to complain.
- Sue, Kent, 12/03/2010 11:50
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Unfortunately not Daisy! As he says left-wing views have been espoused freely, especially villification of Margaret Thatcher for years without question. If we ban members of the BNP then how about the Anti-Fascist league, Communist Party and other political factions? Straight out of the little red book is indoctrination of the next generation....
- Mark, London, 12/03/2010 11:47
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I've read that the majority of Labour Party members are teachers.
I doubt their capacity for distinguishing their political views from self-evident truth needful to be inculcated into their charges.
- Mike Newland, London, England, 12/03/2010 11:25
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"All teachers should, however, keep their politics strictly separate from the classroom," he said"
Hasn't that always been the rule anyway?
- Daisy Willets, London SW1P, 12/03/2010 11:03
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