Secret Teacher: my school is an echo-chamber for leftwing views

The Guardian ^ | 06-24-2017 | Anonymous

[NRx]

I teach in a mixed comprehensive in a constituency where on 8 June over two-thirds voted Labour, where an overwhelming majority voted Labour in the most recent mayoral vote, and where Labour has been the largest party on the local council for decades. A large majority of staff at our school vote Labour.

As a Labour supporter, this thrills me; as a teacher, it makes me question whether my school is doing enough to help our students appreciate other viewpoints.

As teachers, we are bound by the 1996 Education Act to present different political beliefs impartially and to not promote partisan political views. Yet, probably unintentionally, my school is often an echo-chamber for the leftwing views of its staff and its students’ parents.

Views that fall outside the accepted liberal-left spectrum get short shrift in my staffroom. I have watched teachers react incredulously – almost to the point of tears – when colleagues have tried floating a reasonable case for Brexit. This would be harmless enough if it did not put in doubt their ability empathise with views opposed to their own.

Unfortunately, I see that lack of empathy in the classroom. It worries me that few of my colleagues seem to understand why Conservatives think as they do. In lessons discussing the general election, I have seen teachers make half-hearted attempts to present a rightwing line of reasoning about the major issues. Their bored or frustrated tone of voice says it all.

In theory students are introduced to a range of ideologies through studying government and politics. But I have only heard Labour politicians being criticised by fellow teachers for being too rightwing. We have had assemblies celebrating feminists and the campaign for a living wage, which are excellent and informative, but with no attention given to right-of-centre subjects (none that weren’t heavily critical, anyway).

[NRx]

This is quite astonishing, not just for the fact that a self avowed leftie is suggesting it might be good to try thinking outside of their ideological bubble, but that it was actually published in the Guardian (the British press equivalent to MSNBC).

[Steve_Seattle]

Youth are known to rebel against authority. When the authorities are leftists, maybe the youth will rebel and become conservative. On the other hand, maybe they’ll go hog-wild and finish the destruction the liberals have started.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

Interesting headline, but the content was not so good.

[bjc]

The objectivity and critical thinking of this teacher is simply an exception that proves the rule and the point of the article. That it showed up in the Guardian simply means some editor likely missed the point or they were short of copy.

[A strike]

“Yet, probably unintentionally, my school is often an echo-chamber for the leftwing views of its staff and its students parents.”

No. The leftwing is ALWAYS intentional !

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

The government should not run schools. Period. Full stop.