Black Lives Matter not allowed to be discussed in class

[Geppili]

AIBU to be shocked that my primary school DS told me that they are not allowed to mention or talk about Black Lives Matter. Apparently teacher said that it is a political issue and therefore against the rules to discuss? They are Year 5. I am angry and shocked.

I'd say that the question of whether black people and their lives matter - and how to achieve racial equality - is a social rather than political issue.

On the other hand, Black Lives Matter (in capitals) is a political organisation (whose leaders don't limit themselves to focusing on the above issue but a range of political issues). There's increasing controversy around it, which is why various people/bodies are now distancing themselves from it.

Maybe the teacher/school is looking to avoid controversy? And if the school policy is not to talk about political issues, then yes I'd say BLM (the political organisation) would be off limits - although the social issue at the top shouldn't be.

Which is the teacher/school banning discussions of - the social issue or the political organisation - or haven't they been clear?

My DD in Y8 was positively encouraged to talk about it. They had a whole module, listened to speeches, read articles and wrote their own take on it. I thought it was great and I really enjoyed talking to her about it. But that is secondary school so they are better able to discuss the issue. DD initially didn't get why 'all lives matter' was seen as a dismissive position to take or why even poor white people do have privilege but after some thinking and talking she was then able to understand better than many adults I've talked to IRL. Some people will probably think it is wrong she is taught this and is stupid indoctrination but I think it's really important and I was so glad to see it.

Maybe in Y5 it might have been the way some kids were discussing it in a divisive way? My Y4 DS doesn't understand so well and he tends to think that even saying someone is black just as a description might be racist. He thinks you should not mention race at all in case you say something wrong which is perhaps a bit sad.

Well it is political, and I doubt kids that age are able to discuss it in a rational way - they'd just be parroting what they hear at home. I can't see that it would add anything.

TBH, given that anyone with any objections to the organisation or messaging or CRT is regularly being accused of being an inveterate racist, it might be best just to not allow them to talk about it. No talk at all is better than talk where only one view is allowed.

I doubt kids that age are able to discuss it in a rational way

Year 5 is 9-10 years old, right? (I'm not in the UK) My grandchildren that age are certainly able to discuss it in a rational way. They are at the age where they are forming their own opinions, based on education and experience, as well as what their parents think.

Are they learning about political theories too, or just Marxist?

Black Lives Matter is a political movement. As teachers, we have to be careful to not impart our own political views to children. During the marriage or abortion referendum in Ireland I would never have discussed the topic with my class. I also don't discuss the political parties I vote for.

That's not to say that I disagree with Black Lives Matter - I support it - but it is a difficult topic to discuss in the classroom and I can understand teachers not wanting to overstep their boundaries.

Is your child actually back at school or were they discussing it online. Either way I'd imagine it was derailing the lesson which is probably time sensitive at the moment. Most schools would cover current affairs like this in an assembly which obviously isn't happening at the moment but will probably happen when schools are back properly and hopefully staff will be more mindful and embedding appropriate subject matter into future lesson plans.

Generally it isn't wise to take everything our children say as gospel as it's open to misinterpretation, if you are concerned ask the school about it.

BLM is definitely a political issue. a pretty bogus one at that. As for if black lives actually matter.....has anyone suggested they dont?

We live in a country, thank god, where people of all skin colours are equals in society and under the law. Of course there will always be pockets of racism here and there but as far as institutional affairs go we all have equality. This is not an issue for children in school.

Thanks so much for some really thoughtful replies. The context was they were watching the final of Junior Bake Off, so it was hardly derailing syllabus. A BAME child won and one kid cheered and said Black Lives Matter. And the teacher shut that comment down and said it's against rules.

Why is BLM bogus?

Maybe it's a function of where we live, but my DC have experienced and witnessed racism on a daily basis and in school. I can understand not imparting political views onto kids, but to say discussing race or BLM is against the rules seems institutionally racist in a way.

@Geppili

Why is BLM bogus?

Because the organisation BLM and some of the main leaders come from a far left, Marxist ideology. Have you not looked at their aims on their website?

Thanks. I suppose the kid just used it as a slogan and I was really surprised that it got shut down. All the kids were outraged by the shut down. It's kind of Fascist to me. They just wanted to be able to mention current affairs which touch on many of their lives.

BLMUK posted an antisemitic tweet about Zionists gagging the British media the other day. This is why the Premier League, Keir Starmer and others have publicly backed away from them.

@Geppili

Thanks. I suppose the kid just used it as a slogan and I was really surprised that it got shut down. All the kids were outraged by the shut down. It's kind of Fascist to me. They just wanted to be able to mention current affairs which touch on many of their lives.

I also don't really see the context that it was used in at school, but maybe others could explain it?

Was there a need to bring race into a cooking competition?

Thanks. All very enlightening. But I still think it's a vital thing to talk about in class . Not BLM per se, but racism. A previous poster amazed me by saying that she thought kids this age would not be able to discuss it! I'd put any amount of money on that poster having white privilege.

Hearhooves or was there even a point to them watching old telly after months of no school? A BAME kid won the bake-off and a kid cheered and said happily out loud black lives do matter! Teacher shut him up.

Of course there will always be pockets of racism here and there but as far as institutional affairs go we all have equality If only that were true.

I still dont know, nor has anyone succeeded in explaining to me what the whole BLM 'movement' is about? What do they want? What dont they think is right?

So far all it seems to have brought about is an excuse for people to cause social unrest and street riots which if anything has only brought harm to the black community they claim to stand for be it through damage to property or reputation.

Since when have black lives not mattered in the UK? Its absolutely ridiculous.

@Geppili

Thanks. All very enlightening. But I still think it's a vital thing to talk about in class . Not BLM per se, but racism. A previous poster amazed me by saying that she thought kids this age would not be able to discuss it! I'd put any amount of money on that poster having white privilege.

I guess the teacher would want to discuss it in a controlled way. The topic brought up was "BLM" which is proving controversial now given the aims of the organisation. BLM doesn't even stand for an end to racism does it? Apart from anything else, they are only concerned with black lives, rather than Asian lives or people of other ethnic minorities and throwing it out there during a baking contest seems a bit of a difficult time to discuss racism. What was racist about the bake off?

Nothing was racist about the Bake Off!

@Geppili

Hearhooves or was there even a point to them watching old telly after months of no school? A BAME kid won the bake-off and a kid cheered and said happily out loud black lives do matter! Teacher shut him up.

No idea why they were watching it. I guess the teacher was trying to stay on topic though.

Otherwise the children could bring up any discussion point during any lesson couldn't they? I dare say weighty discussions like that need to be handled correctly.

I mean, could a student decide they'd like to discuss government's handling of Covid during a lesson? That's very topical and definitely current affairs. I'd expect the teacher to close that down too.

They were watching television. Nothing academic and one of the poor isolated kids was chuffed that in the Final which they were watching A BAME kid won. The poor isolated kid cheered and said BLM! I am more interested in the teachers reaction and capacity to handle this.

@Geppili

Nothing was racist about the Bake Off!

So what was the relevance of shouting BLM then? I'm not understanding.

I mean fgs CBBC are running their annual 500 word short story on black lives matter.