To have gently told her she was wrong

[Calyrical]

Awkward one: about politics (sorry) but only indirectly.

An inexperienced teacher in my department announced brightly at lunch she had told some year 8s the party she was voting for and that's the one 'they should also vote for.' She listed the reasons she had given them.

I interjected and quite nicely but also firmly told her that she was wrong to have done so. I said it was unlikely anyone would complain but if they did her actions would be difficult to justify as we are in an influential position.

However I got quite a lot of grumbling and muttered 'well it's true!' remarks from other departmental members.

I'm 99% sure I was NOT BU.

But I will leave it to MN to decide.

It's a tricky situation as in theory the teacher is in breach of safeguarding regulations.
I've been very clear to keep my opinion to myself and remain impartial. We have discussed parties and policies but I like to be objective and allow the children to have the debate. It's intetesting to watch and listen too.

A teacher in my school made it clear who she was voting for and told my sixth year history class all the reasons we should vote for them. It was in the run up to the 2005 election and many of us were newly 18. Many parents - and their politically aware kids - were outraged.
She didn't come back after the summer and years later when actually working with the HoD at the time I learned she had been offered early retirement or disciplinary action- apparently it was completely against the school code of conduct.

I just wore a big red flower on my lapel all day at work, but said nothing except 'don't forget to vote'

Just been talking with my dd1 about this funnily enough. She said they have been discussing the various policies today and had to choose which ones they agreed with without knowing what party they were for.

One of her teachers told her that he voted conservative last year but that this year he wasn't voting at all as it's pointless and he doesn't agree with any of them anyway. Great way to encourage the youth!

she had told some year 8s the party she was voting for

Thats fine if she so chooses.

and that's the one 'they should also vote for.'

Unprofessional and she shouldn't be doing it. When I taught secondary I would have been in trouble by SMT for doing that. When covering politics, etc we were supposed to impart knowledge and facts, not turn a lesson into a party political broadcast. Most teachers seemed capable of managing it.

I hope my 14 year old students are able to distinguish between my answering a question and my trying to influence them - they deserve a bit more credit, I think. It's not like they do what I say the rest of the time

Yanbu, teachers shouldn't be voicing their political opinions to pupils. Unlikely, but she could've had the son or daughter of another candidate in the class, or more likely, children of parents strongly supporting the party she denounced.

Many jobs require political neutrality at work, I work in a call centre and can't talk politics with customers (not that I want to) because it could be construed as the opinion of the company. Apart from the very occasional racist bigot I just make polite listening noises, even the bigots I just go very cold and polite rather than friendly. (I mean people who make genuinely racist comments not just people who support s particular party).

Trifle their intelligence or otherwise isn't the point to be honest.

DDs PSHE classes over the last 2 weeks have only been about the positives of and importance of voting for labour. Apparently they ran out of time to cover any other political party and they should have a look online for information on others.

I wont complain but schools really should either cover all parties involved in a non biased or judgemental manner or stfu.

Calyrical

I didn't say it was. I think their maturity is the point. They aren't little children I can brainwash by telling them that I happen to be voting for X party. But anyway, I think these rules are open to interpretation. I doubt SMT will be reprimanding me for it.

Sadly, this is no longer included in teacher training, due to the falling budgets in education.

To be fair it wasn't discussed in any teacher training I did either under a previous Government. Whether due to cuts r whatever, I don't know. But it never came up.

However, it is pretty much common sense when you are teaching influential teens.

And it is part of teaching - teachers are responsible (and should be intelligent enough to find out) for knowing what they can and cant do. To be this is a fairly obvious point, just like you don't tell children "well you should all be christian/muslim, etc because I say so."

I think she's wrong, but then I'm a civil servant who's expected to be politically neutral. I am slightly horrified at other public sector staff that seem happy to mouth off!

Obviously we all have views and vote how we like - just think certain professions should keep quiet about it.

But teenagers ARE very much influenced by the people around them, be it parents and family, teachers, or friends. They always have been. Its to do with the stage of development their brains etc are at.

Hence why grooming at this age can be so successful sadly, and why many teenagers do silly and reckless things at the say so of older friends and peers.

Infact about the age of 12-15 is one of the most influential ages for children.

Yanbu. I haven't read the whole thread. My 9 year old DD tells me their head teacher hoped parents would do the right thing and vote conservative. I haven't complained but thought school were meant to be impartial.

Since when was it immoral or illegal to offer an opinion on politics ????????

Sections 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996 make it illegal for teachers to give their political opinions in schools.

AnneElliott

But surely 'politically neutral' means being happy and able to work for a government of whatever composition? You're still allowed to vote and there is surely no rule that says you can't tell who you vote for, provided you aren't canvassing and provided it doesn't affect your professionalism? Maybe I am wrong.

IchBinEinBerliner1963

Not when I read it, it didn't.

I have not told any of my students how I voted (although I am sure some of the older ones could work it out) and I would never tell them how they "should" vote. Totally inappropriate.

"407 Duty to secure balanced treatment of political issues.

(1) The local education authority, governing body and head teacher shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that where political issues are brought to the attention of pupils while they are—

(a) in attendance at a maintained school, or
(b) taking part in extra-curricular activities which are provided or organised for registered pupils at the school by or on behalf of the school,

they are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views."

IchBinEinBerliner1963

I can read. That doesn't say I can't tell a student how I intend to vote. It says students should be offered a balanced presentation of issues, where possible.

She was wrong by telling them they ought to agree with her political stance IMO.Better if she's simplified the manifestos of the 3 main parties and told the children a little bit about each one, in an unbiased way.

This. Discuss politics with them by all means, but you DON'T tell them who they should and shouldn't be voting for, directly or indirectly.
You give them the facts and let them make up their own mind.
Otherwise how is what you're doing any better than brainwashing?

Telling students how they should vote (which the teacher in question did) does not offer a balanced presentation of issues.

I should have used "promote" instead of "give" in my first post.

I think Hulababy has it bang to rights

Teachers have expressed opinions at both Secondary and Primary schools here. My gs's primary school teacher has admitted that he wants to kill Donald Trump, by strangulation so quite specific there.

In my gs1's secondary school, his class voted today and UKIP won. Not much you can say to that then. I asked why and he said they were meant to be good.

For all those who see no problem with the teacher's behaviour, would they feel the same about a teacher trying to persuade her students to follow the same religion as her or who tried to tell students why same sex marriage is wrong?

By all means have a debate and elicit students opinions, and demonstrate and show student how to fact check claims and not just to believe everything people claim (so important now) but don't lecture about personal beliefs.