Politicising our children.

The Children’s Times was a weekly newspaper and my lavender bag dd aged about 10 sent in an article which was printed in the paper and she was sent a very nice Parker pen as a prize.
She was an activist at a very young age, and remains one still, absolutely nothing to do with us.

nanna8

Schools should never politicise things. Their job is to present a balanced view and teach students how to read critically and with an open mind. I was not happy recently on hearing that my grandchildren had been told to support a certain side in a recent referendum. Not the school’s business. I think things have deteriorated a lot since the time I was at school in this regard.

That’s it, a balanced view if they have to say anything at all.
Schools can’t and shouldn’t go into the rights and wrongs happening all over the globe.
They need to focus on education.Some parents are very demanding and entitled in their religious and political ranting.
They should be told firmly NO.

My grandchildren had that too Grandma70s

Grandma70s

My grandchildren used to read The Week Junior, which explained the news in terms children 8 - 14 could understand. I don’t know if it still exists.

I remember that Grandma70s, yes, I think it's still going

the idea that children will know nothing about a big news topic if they have no devices/newspapers seems naive to me.

My grandchildren used to read The Week Junior, which explained the news in terms children 8 - 14 could understand. I don’t know if it still exists.

Callistemon21

Joseann

You apparently would ignore the children.
That is a laughable and unfair comment Glorianny in view of what I said.

It's rude but typical of Glorianny who twists other posters' words to suit her own agenda.

Would you like to withdraw that or further explain to me what these words mean
So, in short, if it were me, I would avoid discussion of the topic in a Year 4 or 6 class setting

Joseann

*Glorianny*, I have just checked the wording of the guidelines at Junior level, and the message is very clear, stating that it may be advisable to avoid ........... when teaching about political issues. This does not equate with your ^ignore the children".

The words are "it may be advisable" if you have a group of children discussing or arguing about things it very much is advisable. Sometimes difficult subjects have to be tackled.
You said you wouldn't have a class discussion. I have asked what would you do?

Joseann

I think I'd prefer to stick to the clear Gov.UK guidelines at KS2 which state that it is important for schools to use their reasonable judgement as to whether teaching about certain political issues would be age-appropriate or advisable. At 9 years old, I judge class discussions, other than a mention of minimal facts, on the Israel/Palestine conflict to be unadvisable, and calls for strikes or flag waving to be out of order.

So quite what would you do if there was a group of children calling for a strike and telling their classmates?. I really don't understand. Your view seems to be that it wouldn't happen or you can tackle it by talking to individuals. I've said what I would do individually and I'd take the same approach to a whole class intervention. Not talking about Palestine but discussing actions and what is effective. Quite a lot of 9 year olds know about demonstrations some have even been on them.

Glorianny, I have just checked the wording of the guidelines at Junior level, and the message is very clear, stating that it may be advisable to avoid ........... when teaching about political issues. This does not equate with your ^ignore the children".

Delila

Yes, Silverlining, many children do take these things in and then want to do something positive to try to make a difference. I remember my young children, together with their friends, regularly doing something similar. Their choice - no indoctrination involved.

Yes, and a different issue altogether.

I think I'd prefer to stick to the clear Gov.UK guidelines at KS2 which state that it is important for schools to use their reasonable judgement as to whether teaching about certain political issues would be age-appropriate or advisable. At 9 years old, I judge class discussions, other than a mention of minimal facts, on the Israel/Palestine conflict to be unadvisable, and calls for strikes or flag waving to be out of order.

Yes, Silverlining, many children do take these things in and then want to do something positive to try to make a difference. I remember my young children, together with their friends, regularly doing something similar. Their choice - no indoctrination involved.

Joseann

^You apparently would ignore the children^.
That is a laughable and unfair comment Glorianny in view of what I said.

It's rude but typical of Glorianny who twists other posters' words to suit her own agenda.

Joseann

^You apparently would ignore the children^.
That is a laughable and unfair comment Glorianny in view of what I said.

Joseann you said
So, in short, if it were me, I would avoid discussion of the topic in a Year 4 or 6 class setting
Which means that if the child who had been influenced in some way and had successfully influenced her classmates was proposing to bring the whole class out on strike you wouldn't talk to them about it. Isn't that ignoring it?
Or are you saying you would have the time to bring 30+ children in to discuss the matter individually?
Even half the class would be a problem because there could well be disagreements in the class over the matter.
Saying you would never do something is rather a drastic statement for a teacher to make in my opinion, circumstances change and ideas need to be adjusted.

You apparently would ignore the children.
That is a laughable and unfair comment Glorianny in view of what I said.

I do remember during a lower sixth study period suggesting in a too loud voice, following an animated and uninformed discussion about the Bay of Pigs crisis that there was no point in doing our homework as we would all be dead the following day. The headmistress overheard, and I got a detention.

maddyone

If children can be shielded from the absolute truth of war, then in my opinion they should be. None of my four grandchildren know anything about what’s happening in Israel, including the one who lives in England, because the national news in not on when they are around. Children of 11, 10, and 6 have no need of knowing about rape or babies being beheaded. That is not to say that any questions which might arise shouldn’t be answered in an honest, and age appropriate way. We have discussed with our grandchildren that their great grandfather fought in WW2 and they remember him in an appropriate way on Remembrance Day. Our 10 year old granddaughter has read the children’s version of Anne Frank’s Diary too. As far as I’m aware none of the children know anything about the current situation in Israel. They don’t read newspapers as their parents don’t buy them and they don’t own any devices.

Absolutely.
As parents it is our job to shield our children/grandchildren from such news.
They will have enough to worry about in adulthood.

Joseann

I will answer your question from yesterday, Glorianny, though I would like to listen to your answers to Mollygo's pertinent questions too.

I would answer a Year 6 child, and especially a Year 4 child, very sensitively and with scant detail on the situation in Israel and Palestine. I would not encourage class discussion because many children might be distressed, some might get the wrong end of the stick, and for others, it would be way beyond their maturity and comprehension. If one child were really interested, I might invite them for a private chat later.

Can I ask what materials and resources you would use in discussion with a class of 9 year olds? We know we can't trust even the news items and bulletins. You could find a resource online designed to support factual teaching about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is a political issue. But will it be accurate, will quotes from political figures have been abridged, and will important contextual information have been omitted? Pupils of 9 years old will be unaware that the resource promotes a partisan political view.
In addition, could you be 100% sure that you could deliver a totally non-biased lesson when your own views were so strong as to colour any discussion, like we see on GN?

So, in short, if it were me, I would avoid discussion of the topic in a Year 4 or 6 class setting.

I don't think I have said anywhere that I would discuss the situation with a class of 9 year olds. So your questions on the subject are unfounded. I have said what my approach would be to the child proposing to strike. She might of course be actively recruiting her friends, in which case I would take the same approach I have already outlined, possibly with a small group and only the whole class if the actions proposed were being widely discussed.
You apparently would ignore the children, possibly with a resulting strike.

My pacifist beliefs have been part of me for almost all my life. I have never brought them into the classroom. I do find it interesting that although no one would now dream of accusing a gay person of having an agenda, and being liable to indoctrinate children, accusing a pacifist is quite acceptable. It's almost as if war has become something we have to tolerate and anyone proposing that peace is important is seen as dangerous. What an odd situation.

And I would imagine that most primary teachers on here would agree that any working teacher of a class of 9 year olds would not have the available time to properly research the subject anyway!

I will answer your question from yesterday, Glorianny, though I would like to listen to your answers to Mollygo's pertinent questions too.

I would answer a Year 6 child, and especially a Year 4 child, very sensitively and with scant detail on the situation in Israel and Palestine. I would not encourage class discussion because many children might be distressed, some might get the wrong end of the stick, and for others, it would be way beyond their maturity and comprehension. If one child were really interested, I might invite them for a private chat later.

Can I ask what materials and resources you would use in discussion with a class of 9 year olds? We know we can't trust even the news items and bulletins. You could find a resource online designed to support factual teaching about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is a political issue. But will it be accurate, will quotes from political figures have been abridged, and will important contextual information have been omitted? Pupils of 9 years old will be unaware that the resource promotes a partisan political view.
In addition, could you be 100% sure that you could deliver a totally non-biased lesson when your own views were so strong as to colour any discussion, like we see on GN?

So, in short, if it were me, I would avoid discussion of the topic in a Year 4 or 6 class setting.

Yes Nanna8, and as we have seen, it would be difficult to present a non-biased picture to children if you hold strong views about a particular action, group or activity.

Schools should never politicise things. Their job is to present a balanced view and teach students how to read critically and with an open mind. I was not happy recently on hearing that my grandchildren had been told to support a certain side in a recent referendum. Not the school’s business. I think things have deteriorated a lot since the time I was at school in this regard.

If children can be shielded from the absolute truth of war, then in my opinion they should be. None of my four grandchildren know anything about what’s happening in Israel, including the one who lives in England, because the national news in not on when they are around. Children of 11, 10, and 6 have no need of knowing about rape or babies being beheaded. That is not to say that any questions which might arise shouldn’t be answered in an honest, and age appropriate way. We have discussed with our grandchildren that their great grandfather fought in WW2 and they remember him in an appropriate way on Remembrance Day. Our 10 year old granddaughter has read the children’s version of Anne Frank’s Diary too. As far as I’m aware none of the children know anything about the current situation in Israel. They don’t read newspapers as their parents don’t buy them and they don’t own any devices.

I remember when my niece was 3 and I took her to Southend for the day. Walking along the road she noticed the shiny patches of oil from cars on drives.She asked me what they were. I explained and this led to a serious of questions, all prefaced with what. When we walked along the front she wanted to know why the sea moved in and out. I explained about the tides and the moon and this led to more Whys?

Many children have enquiring minds and I don't think it's a good idea not to respond. Maybe not with the exact truth on occasion.