• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • FAQ
  • Meet the Team
  • About The London Economic
  • Advertise
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
NEWSLETTER
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

English schools banned from using anti-capitalist material in teaching

In new guidance for teachers and school leaders issued on Thursday, the Department for Education categorised anti-capitalism as an “extreme political stance” - equating it with opposition to freedom of speech and antisemitism.

Henry Goodwin by Henry Goodwin
September 27, 2020
in Politics

The government has ordered English schools to not use resources from any organisation that has advocated abolishing capitalism.

In new guidance for teachers and school leaders issued on Thursday, the Department for Education categorised anti-capitalism as an “extreme political stance” – equating it with opposition to freedom of speech and antisemitism. 

Reacting to the news, ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the measures effectively whitewashed key events in British history – claiming it symbolised “authoritarianism” in the Conservative party.

‘Another step in the culture war’

The guidance reads: “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 goes on to list “extreme political stances” – like “a publicly stated desire to abolish or overthrow democracy, capitalism, or to end free and fair elections”. 

McDonnell told the Guardian: “On this basis it will be illegal to refer to large tracts of British history and politics including the history of British socialism, the Labour Party and trade unionism, all of which have at different times advocated the abolition of capitalism.

“This is another step in the culture war and this drift towards extreme Conservative authoritarianism is gaining pace and should worry anyone who believes that democracy requires freedom of speech and an educated populace.”

RelatedPosts

Fishing industry could be ‘destroyed’ without customs changes, MPs warn

‘Ghastly stuff’ – Rees-Mogg offends SNP, ‘Woke’ people and Teeside

Wales would vote to rejoin EU in referendum

“Beyond Parody”: North Korea raises concerns about human rights in Australia

‘Slip into totalitarianism’

Yanis Varoufakis, the former Greek finance minister, added that the guidance showed “how easy it is to lose a country, to slip surreptitiously into totalitarianism”.

He said: “Imagine an educational system that banned schools from enlisting into their curricula teaching resources dedicated to the writings of British writers like William Morris, Iris Murdoch, Thomas Paine even. 

“Well, you don’t have to. Boris Johnson’s government has just instructed schools to do exactly that.”

Minister for school standards Nick Gibb said: “Our new relationships, sex and health education (RHSE) guidance and training resources equip all schools to provide comprehensive teaching in these areas in an age-appropriate way.

“These materials should give schools the confidence to construct a curriculum that reflects diversity of views and backgrounds, whilst fostering all pupils’ respect for others, understanding of healthy relationships, and ability to look after their own wellbeing.”

Related: Laurence Fox launches new right-wing party to ‘fight the culture wars’

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending fromTLE

  • All
  • trending

Stress, fear and homelessness: The threat looming over families confronted with eviction

File photo dated 07/11/03 of a prison cell.

The other prison pandemic

Credit;PA

Repressionomics: Get ready for the new permanent austerity

Latest from TLE

Lucky Numbers and Horoscopes for today, 22 January 2021

Image by AdobeStock

Weather forecast, alerts and UVB index for London, Friday 22 January 2021

Set For Life Results Thursday 21st January 2021

Fishing industry could be ‘destroyed’ without customs changes, MPs warn

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: jack@thelondoneconomic.com

Commercial enquiries, please contact: advertise@thelondoneconomic.com

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech & Auto
  • About The London Economic
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy policy

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.