Government tells teachers to keep clear from anti-racism theories

Government tells teachers to keep clear from controversial anti-racism theories being taught in schools which claim that children as young as five are ‘biased in favour of whiteness’

• Government has stressed teachers must ‘remain politically impartial’ in class 
• Information service The Key provides anti-racism resources for 13,000 schools

Teachers have been told to keep clear from controversial anti-racism theories being taught in schools which claim children as young as five are ‘biased in favour of whiteness’. 

The government has told teachers across the country that they must not ‘promote partisan political views to pupils’, stressing that they must ‘remain politically impartial’ when they deliver lessons on racial justice, according to The Times. 

It comes after documents revealed that race theories being taught in British schools have claimed five-year-olds are ‘strongly biased in favour of whiteness’, with teachers being warned on how to identify racists. 

The advice is part of guidance made by the Key, a national information service which boasts a £30million turnover, provides anti-racism resources for more than 13,000 schools and educational trusts across the UK. 

Its anti-racism guidelines and training tools are grounded in the controversial critical race theory, which focuses on the idea that racism is entrenched in society and white people are oppressors. 

One resource recommended to teachers by The Key to help them talk to their pupils features a pyramid explaining the difference between ‘overt’ and ‘covert’ white supremacy. 

The document released by The Key that is titled ‘how to talk to pupils about racism

Separate guidance on dealing with ‘white privilege’ tells teachers to change the way they speak to white pupils who do not feel privileged. 

It says some pupils may become ‘defensive’ and ‘not accept’ that they have privilege because of their skin colour. If upset students tell them they are ‘gay, poor, female’, teachers are told this ‘doesn’t erase their identity’.

One of the documents pulled together by the organisation titled ‘how to talk about racism’ tells pupils they are ‘never to young to discuss it’ and encourages teachers to ‘start these conversations early’ as ‘children recognise race from a young age’.

It directed teachers to a US infographic stating that white five-year-olds are ‘strongly biased in favour of whiteness.’

It tells teachers not to ignore racial difference by saying things such as, ‘everyone is the same at our school, we don’t think/talk about race’.

A resource that the Key says could ‘help you with these conversations’ is titled ‘A Teacher Toolkit on Race’ that was put together by educator Sarah Sarwar.

It features a graphic in the shape of a pyramid that is divided between ‘overt white supremacy (socially unacceptable) at the top and ‘covert white supremacy (socially acceptable) in the rest.

One document put together by The Key, titled ‘how to talk about racism’, tells teachers that their pupils are ‘never too young’ to discuss it

The government has told teachers across the country that they must not ‘promote partisan political views to pupils’, stressing that they must ‘remain politically impartial’ when they deliver lessons on racial justice (Stock Image) 

READ HERE: Dossier of ‘critical race theory’ being taught in British schools – including ‘Pyramid of White Supremacy’ and books that tell children as young as four that racism started because ‘white people wanted more control over others’

The former displays terms including ‘lynching’, ‘the n-word’ and ‘racial slurs’.

Alleged examples of covert white supremacy include ‘paternalism’, ‘anti-immigration policies/practices’, ‘claiming reverse racism’ and ‘English-only initiatives’.

Staff are also instructed to ‘decolonise’ lessons plans and avoid teaching ‘white saviour narratives’, such as centring white abolitionists when teaching children about slavery.

This also includes widening music curriculums to ensure that at least 50 per cent of the musicians or composers are from an ethnic minority background.

Campaigners and academics have argued some of the material is based on American research, suggesting it has limited relevance here in the UK.

A Department for Education spokeswoman told The Times: ‘Schools are required to remain politically impartial and should be mindful of the need to not promote partisan political views to pupils.

‘Political issues relating to racial and social justice can be taught in a balanced and factual manner, just as pupils are often taught about a range of different views on other topics.’ 

Non-statutory guidance for schools was published by the Government last year, which includes information to ensure lessons are ‘age appropriate, suitable and politically impartial’. 

Michael McGarvey, managing director of The Key, said in a statement: ‘We stand by the resources we’ve published, and by the school leaders who are working with such care and commitment to address the challenges of racism in schools and in wider society.’

He previously said: ‘Our job is to support schools with any challenges they face, including engaging with complex topics such as promoting equality and addressing racist or prejudiced attitudes’. 

The Key was founded in 2007 as a government pilot to provide ‘up-to-the-minute sector intelligence’ for education leaders.

 More than 120,000 school leaders are said to use the services.

The company provides packages of digital resources, which can cost up to £2,451 per school, boasts that it provides ‘reliable, relevant and authoritative knowledge that’s ready to use’.

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