Children and Politics

Harry Potter books are very poorly written. I'm happy children read them, because so few do read now, but I'd guide them towards books that develop their language skills as well as their imaginations.

I didn't give my daughter Enid Blyton and will steer grandson away from them too. If I'd had better books to read as a child, I wouldn't have read them then, either.

Who is he and why on earth would he be invited into a school to speak to junior school pupils?

Oh, just googled him, he's a rapper
I repeat my question, why on earth would a rapper be invited into a school?

Enid Blyton books
I loved them as a child
Me too and I had no idea until I read your post that she was a Nazi sympathiser so obviously that passed over my head as a child.

I know for a fact that I enjoyed them, they did not influence my views on life and that the only thing that I wanted after reading her books was to go to boarding school.

As for better books I had a whole range of books to choose from but Enid Blyton books were definitely exciting and encouraged children to read.

I read books about ponies by other authors, knew I would never have one but it did not stop me reading them.

I'd rather give a child a popular book to get them reading with enthusiasm than have someone like Stormzy trying to influence them.

chestnut I loved Enid Blyton, in my day I read her avidly but on going to read my old books to my grandkids i was horrified I realised how far away from today she was ... there were mothers’ smoking in the kitchen not to mention them slapping ‘Teddy’ for not sitting still then of course they were little n.....boys and goll..... I can’t even bear to say the words
Wonderful Enid Blyton times, my foot
She was an author of her time but today no way

He's black, he went to the school, he's made a career for himself and he's successful. He also has a social conscience.
Of course the only black characters in Enid Blyton are the Golliwogs who are always naughty. So perhaps not the sort of books for a Croydon Primary School.
Ethnicity: Currently, 50.7% of Croydon's population (all ages) are Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups. By 2025 this is predictedtobe55.6%.Youngeragegroupsaremorediverse.

Who knew that Enid Blyton and Stormzy would have something in common: they both used/use the N word.

As a child I would eat my breakfast cereal and read the cereal box. Or the label on the HP sauce bottle.

I didn't know much about Stormzy until a friend who is a worker with Yizidi women and children in Iraq posted a link to one of his talks. I also heard him interviewed on radio 4 news recently. I was very impressed.
I haven't seen the article the OP refers to. My response to what I've read here, is that Stormzy seems to me to be a Good Thing. He is someone who understands the alienation so many black children and young people experience on a daily basis.
We need to somehow work together.

*Urmstongran' HP sauce bottles were my introduction to French!

I read everything, notices on the bus, in the doctor's waiting room, labels etc

When you ask a successful ex-student back to a school, you expect them to show some judgement.

It is great to get some one like Stormzy into the school he once went to. It tells the children that children like them form their neighburhood, can if they get it right be successful.

BUT

To then make a political party broadcast is beyond acceptable. Supposing he had come in and given a religious broadcast, pushing one faith whether Christian, Muslim or Hindu. How would we feel then?

I come from an army family. The three things you never discussed in the Mess was religion politics (and in my youth) women.

It would be good if primary schools in particular followed a similar rule with visitors: Do not talk about religion, politics or individuals in the public sphere (there will be someexceptions here)

I love your comment Iam64, you're so right.

We can bury our heads in the sand about the reality children face in a right-wing country, or we can address the issues. You may not like his music (I don't) but his message is good.

Our 13 year old has been having a long running debate with his form tutor at school about why Labour would not win the recent election. His tutor seemed sure JC would win but the child we care for gave him a number of reasoned arguments he has concluded himself as he is an avid watcher of the news and reads newspapers. He came home very pleased as he says he teacher still does not seem to understand why Labour lost. He did complain when his Form Tutor told the class they should all hope JC would win election so schools and hospitals would get more money. I was a teacher before retiring and we were always told never give your own political views to pupils even if you teach Politics. I shall be commenting to Form Tutor when we get the next Parents' Evening.

You ok with Boris going into schools during his campaign?

I am not happy with any politician using school children for a photo opportunity or preaching their brand of party politics.

When I was at secondary school our MP hosted a visit to the HofP by a group of about 20 of us, but I cannot remember that he tried to sell any political message to us, just explained to us how the parliamentary system worked and gave us a chance to briefly listen to debates in the two chambers.

I do think it is important for MPs to visit local schools to meet, especially, older children, to talk to them about the importance of our democratic process and the importance of them taking part in it, but not to overtly proselytise for their party. The line between the two is fuzzy, but it should be possible to walk it without too much trouble.

I wish we could educate our children in an age appropriate way, throughout their time in schools. Primary schools are good in circle time - my almost 4 year old grandson is out of grabbing toys from other boys, his mantra now is "sharing is caring" .
We don't teach our own history well, or indeed at all these days. A significant influence on me age 13 was learning about the East India Company, which led on to slavery, the triangle between Africa, America and England. We were encouraged by the excellent teacher to discuss the subject as we drew maps.
I agree with MOnica's comment, that it should be possible to have our politicians visit schools to take about the importance of the democratic process.

I guess teaching political literature (which IS what is happening now) is age appropriate. BUT the stuff on the curriculum is very biased. In my opinion, appropriately so, but I'm not sure a right-winger would agree.

CERTAINLY the students I've taught have made direct links between the texts and the current UK financial situation.

As far as teaching politics in school, it is a bit like religion as far as I am concerned. Teach ABOUT religion and politics, but do not favour one only.

newnanny what would you do then if a pupil asked you what you thought about the current political situation. You could refuse to answer (in which case word would go round that you were a bit useless). You could lie and say you're not allowed to comment (in which case you'd be known as a wimp) or you could tell the truth and say why you thought that way, which might earn you a bit of respect. Children have changed a great deal and teachers now are not regarded with the same respect and awe they once were, when you could say and do as you wish and still be respected. Children now want more.
As far as the remark about schools goes the teacher was right. Would you prefer him to lie about things?
I've no objection to 13 year olds being given political or religious information. They will make up their own minds anyway. That's why so many are involved in climate change protests.

My granddaughter has told me I should vote Labour because teachers haven’t had a pay increase and labour would ensure they had one ...she also said the teacher pre election asked the children to ask their parents who they were going to vote for then they were asked in school the next day to report back. She also said we should vote labour to make sure there was a ‘redistribution of wealth’. Not the sort of phrase a 10 year old would use without them being told by a teacher. It’s so so wrong.

Trisher , I agree no problem with religion or politics taught in schools, providing its broad based and doesn’t single one faith or political view as good and the rest as wicked. I don’t expect we disagree about that

Unfortunately the religious indoctrination of children in schools is the norm in this country. Political indoctrination may not be so blatant but I am sure it still occurs.

Children should be taught critical thinking, how to question sources of information and how to tell facts from opinions.

If religious teaching is really so dangerous, why do so few people of any age profess any religion?

I went to predominantly catholic schools. Almost without exception these contained quite a number of children who were not catholic and a number who were not Christian. We had separate RE lessons,

I cannot remember on any occasion being taught to hate or be suspicious of people professing other faiths. Like most children in the schools I attended we did not live in catholic communities. Neighbours, friends, workmates and family belonged to every faith and none. Living in a pluralistic community means children mix with all denominations all the time and have friends and family among them. This is not conducive to prejudice or indoctrinisation.

The real danger is in living in faith based communities, whether these are in Northern Ireland or some cities and towns in Britain. In an area where 90% plus of the children in a school are of the same faith, the local school, whether faith based or not, will be a faith based school. Communities where children never meet people of another faith, never work with them or have friends among them are where prejudice and fear live. Not in religious schools.

But of course admitting the problem is communities not schools is so very political incorrect. Much easier, Don Quixote -like to make a big deal about jousting with windmills. than try and find ways of dealing with the real problem.

Communities indeed - of which schools are one part - and they have a captive innocent audience, who are never told how to distinguish the validity of, for instance 2+2 = 4; or Jesus is the son of god. Both are told to them by their teachers.

Luckygirl have you any experience of attending a religious school? Did you notice my point that most people whether they have been to religious schools or not are not religious, even though they still know and believe that 2+2=4.

And you ingnored my point that state schools, where almost all the children in the catchment area are of the same religious background are effectively religious school.

The problem is not religious schools it is communities where residents interaction with people of other faiths is minimal. Once again, uncomfortable with the actuality, because it is not politically correct.

Luckygirl in state schools these days children are taught about all the major religions. They are not taught "Jesus is the son of God" they are taught "Christians believe Jesus is the son of God" Quite a difference from the absolute assertion that 2 plus 2 equals 4.