DfE says no more anti-capitalist teaching in England.

[planetgeli]

Schools in England told not to use material from anti-capitalist groups

Idea categorised as ‘extreme political stance’ equivalent to endorsing illegal activity

www.theguardian.com

The government has ordered schools in England not to use resources from organisations which have expressed a desire to end capitalism.

Department for Education (DfE) guidance issued on Thursday for school leaders and teachers involved in setting the relationship, sex and health curriculum categorised anti-capitalism as an “extreme political stance” and equated it with opposition to freedom of speech, antisemitism and endorsement of illegal activity.


Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the measures effectively outlawed reference in schools to key events in British history, and that it symbolised growing “authoritarianism” within the governing Conservative party.

The guidance, part of lengthy guidelines for implementing the statutory curriculum, said: “Schools should not under any circumstances use resources produced by organisations that take extreme political stances on matters. This is the case even if the material itself is not extreme, as the use of it could imply endorsement or support of the organisation.”

It listed examples of what were described as “extreme political stances”, such as “a publicly stated desire to abolish or overthrow democracy, capitalism, or to end free and fair elections”; opposition to freedom of speech; the use of racist, including antisemitic, language; the endorsement of illegal activity; and a failure to condemn illegal activities done in support of their cause.

Dressed up in anti-racist language, direct guidance that is another step towards authoritarianism and the banning of revolutionary ideas. A defence, nay, a promotion of capitalism as the only way, without any mention of the institutional racism capitalism is founded on. Defending the freedom of speech by, er, banning the freedom of speech. And having the cheek to call it 'comprehensive teaching'.

This is the definition of insidious.

 

[brogdale]

All those Gove bibles with the seditious stuff about turning over the tables of the money lenders will have to be burnt, then?

 

[two sheds]

Teachers will just have to extol the benefits of extreme disparity between rich and poor, increased covid deaths for poor people, reasons why rich kids should have better education ...

 

[AmateurAgitator]

Schools in England told not to use material from anti-capitalist groups

Idea categorised as ‘extreme political stance’ equivalent to endorsing illegal activity

www.theguardian.com

Dressed up in anti-racist language, direct guidance that is another step towards authoritarianism and the banning of revolutionary ideas. A defence, nay, a promotion of capitalism as the only way, without any mention of the institutional racism capitalism is founded on. Defending the freedom of speech by, er, banning the freedom of speech. And having the cheek to call it 'comprehensive teaching'.

This is the definition of insidious.

Fighting 'extremism' with actual extremism. Interesting.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

When I was at school, admittedly a wee while ago, I don’t remember being bombarded with anti-capitalist propaganda. In fact we were bombarded with religious, patriotic, militaristic, monarchist, anti-communist, anti-socialist propaganda. Luckily some weren’t paying attention.

 

[AmateurAgitator]

An inquisitive enough child can look up whatever they want on the internet anyway.

 

[scifisam]

When I was at school, admittedly a wee while ago, I don’t remember being bombarded with anti-capitalist propaganda. In fact we were bombarded with religious, patriotic, militaristic, monarchist, anti-communist, anti-socialist propaganda. Luckily some weren’t paying attention.

Really? I remember us sitting around begging for more Bakunin, but no, we had to finish our colouring in first. When we got to the end of primary school and were looking forward to reading the Communist Manifesto in the original Russian, the first year seniors would regale us with stories of how they put someone's head in the loo for not knowing all the words to the Internationale. And now that is all gone.

 

[Raheem]

An inquisitive enough child can look up whatever they want on the internet anyway.

Sure, but that invariably means porn.

 

[Treacle Toes]

I am starting my own anti-capitalism underground library...I suggest you all do the same. The time has come, your book collections, downloads, ability to produce educational materials of/for the resistance is no longer something to imagine you could do. do it.

 

[yield]

Can't see how this will be anything but counterproductive?

Banning something draws people like a moth to the flame

 

[two sheds]

Can't see how this will be anything but counterproductive?

Banning something draws people like a moth to the flame

The end of capitalism

 

[Raheem]

If we're being strict, surely this means anything produced by a Chinese state-owned company is banned from use in schools. Removing all those steel girders could be tricky.

 

[Serge Forward]

Not really, the mis-named Chinese Communist Party is probably the most pro robber baron capitalist gang in that country.

 

[Celyn]

Really? I remember us sitting around begging for more Bakunin, but no, we had to finish our colouring in first. When we got to the end of primary school and were looking forward to reading the Communist Manifesto in the original Russian...

Original German.

I think "Begging for Bakunin" is just crying out to be the title of something, though.

 

[scifisam]

Original German.

I think "Begging for Bakunin" is just crying out to be the title of something, though.

We hadn't been taught it at that point, so we got it wrong.

 

[Raheem]

Not really, the mis-named Chinese Communist Party is probably the most pro robber baron capitalist gang in that country.

Yes, but it's fairly hard to dispute that it has, at some point in its history, called for the overthrow of capitalism. Expect dutiful headteachers across the land to be sending internet routers, door handles and so on to landfill.

 

[Spandex]

In a staggering example of ruthless incompetence this guidance, as well as opposing free speech by clamping down on anti-capitalist resources, also bans schools from using resources from organisations that oppose free speech. Therefore schools seem to be banned from using resources from the DfE, which would include this guidance...

 

[SpookyFrank]

Can't see how this will be anything but counterproductive?

Banning something draws people like a moth to the flame

It will be ignored.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Teachers will just have to extol the benefits of extreme disparity between rich and poor, increased covid deaths for poor people, reasons why rich kids should have better education ...

In primary schools they can explain why Santa brings rich kids better toys.

 

[Steel Icarus]

So are Rosa Parks and (the wrong) Pankhurst no longer allowed to be the names of houses? Are Nelson Mandela and Malcom X going to be whitewashed out of the history books? Farenheit 451 and 1984 verboten?

 

[platinumsage]

So are Rosa Parks and (the wrong) Pankhurst no longer allowed to be the names of houses? Are Nelson Mandela and Malcom X going to be whitewashed out of the history books? Farenheit 451 and 1984 verboten?

No, because this isn't about banning the teaching of anti-capitalism, it's about the source of the material used. If a teacher can't find any resources to teach about anti-capitalism without buying pamphlets from Ian Bone then they're doing it wrong.

 

[maomao]

It's being done to keep Extinction Rebellion from talking at schools basically. I'm not saying it won't be used to pick on anyone else but it's in the guidance for external agencies coming in for talks and presentations.

 

[chilango]

Means you have to teach from the Penguin edition of Capital not the Lawrence & Wishart one.

 

[Pickman's model]

An inquisitive enough child can look up whatever they want on the internet anyway.

If they have the search skills which they aren't taught

 

[Pickman's model]

Really? I remember us sitting around begging for more Bakunin, but no, we had to finish our colouring in first. When we got to the end of primary school and were looking forward to reading the Communist Manifesto in the original Russian, the first year seniors would regale us with stories of how they put someone's head in the loo for not knowing all the words to the Internationale. And now that is all gone.

Karl Marx couldn't speak Russian in 1848. Nor could Friedrich Engels, who only learned the Cyrillic alphabet in 1887.

 

[cantsin]

It will be ignored.

undoubtedly

 

[Serge Forward]

It's being done to keep Extinction Rebellion from talking at schools basically. I'm not saying it won't be used to pick on anyone else but it's in the guidance for external agencies coming in for talks and presentations.

Which makes no sense as XR aren't anti capitalist

 

[Struwwelpeter]

This is perhaps one of the most sinister acts of this proto-fascist government. It's only a small step to adding socialism or environmentalism as a reason to report someone to Prevent. Mind you, my son's probably on the watch list already after leading a booing of Johnson when his class were watching Newsround.

 

[maomao]

Which makes no sense as XR aren't anti capitalist

Not explicitly in itself but there's plenty of anti capitalist talk around their circles and they also want to have a people's assembly to deal with climate change hence the stuff about elections.

 

[Serge Forward]

That maybe so as far as individual members go, but as it doesn't classify itself as anti capitalist as an organisation, then I'm not sure how this ban would apply.