To think that banning teachers from being members of the BNP is outrageous!

[londonone]

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8112747.stm

Now I abhor the BNP and their policies however they are a LEGAL political party and as a teacher I would find it appalling that my freedom to join legal political parties was being curtailed.

If the establishment believe the BNP to be that abhorrent then they should make them illegal. If a teacher acts in a racist, sexist, homophobic way AT WORK, then discipline them on that basis.

If BNP membership is to be banned then what about the SWP, some would say they are as extreme.

Absolutely Spokette

And thats whatb this HR action is about I think

But you'll get teachers who hate you even if you're white.

I had a German teacher at my old secondary. She used to pick on me for the slightest thing, I still don't know why. I was quiet, shy, awkward - she took that as arrogance. She would regularly humiliate me in front of the entire class.

I was bullied A LOT and she chose to ignore it, even encourage it.

When I changed schools I was mortified to learn that she had also moved to my new school and was to be my form tutor!

She was white, I was white. You just can't stop some teachers from hating some kids. They don't have to be a different colour.

True Rhubs, I ahd a wonderful example (she fell out with a friend on day one, got our names mixed up when reporting so looked a fool when she was found to have reported wrong child and amde my life Hell for two years)

However, there's a difference between having a personality clash or grudge against one pupil and being ideologically opposed to some becuase of part of their genetic makeup

Yes but there are teachers who don't like children because they are middle class/working class or come from the wrong part of the country. Sometimes there is no rational reason for the prejudice, but it exists.

I don't think that banning teachers from joining the BNP will make those who want to join, any less racist. It will just make them more resentful.

What I would like to see is the BNP member list made public more often. So we know who the feckers are! If they are so proud of their views then why not make them public?

The HR action is a much better idea.
Make the rules that apply to everybody also apply to the BNP, don't make special rules just for them.

But should membership of a political party be a private matter? Or should affiliation with a party that seeks election be a matter of public record?

The BNP policy on education, from their website:

EDUCATION - discipline, standards, achievement!

We are against the ?trendy? teaching methods that have made Britain one of the most poorly educated nations in Europe. We will end the practice of politically correct indoctrination in all its guises and we will restore discipline in the classroom, give authority back to teachers and put far greater emphasis on training young people in the industrial and technological skills necessary in the modern world. We will also seek to instill in our young people knowledge of and pride in the history, cultures and heritage of the native peoples of Britain."

PMSL!
No indoctrination, just instilling pride in 'native' British heritage. Which for some reason doesn't count as indoctrination

I've been thinking about skidoodle's post for a good 10 mins... I've come to the conclusion that yes, if a party is seeking office then maybe it should publish its membership list?

That would knock this argument on the head - allow teachers to be BNP members, but allow parents to check the membership list and remove their kids from class if they want. After all, the BNP are doing nothing wrong apparently, so why would anyone object to it being known they were a member?!

Lol at the heritage of the native peoples! Which native peoples? The Romans/Vikings/Saxons/Normans/French/Germans/Irish etc etc.
They really are entirely deluded...

"But should membership of a political party be a private matter? Or should affiliation with a party that seeks election be a matter of public record?"

I think it absolutely should be a matter of public record, for all parties, not just the BNP. Why does a person join a political party? To advocate and promote for a stance. Why would you join a party that you would be not admit to being part of?

Oh I don't know. I think it's high time all the Angles and Saxons went back to Germany where they belong and left a bit more room for us natives

I'll miss dh and dd a bit, but it will be nice to put these islands back to hoe they they were in in the glorious 6th Century.

Oh no hang on. What about any breeding with the damned Romans? How shall we weed those beggars out?

and rofl at the BNP complaining about people being poorly educated.

There'd be nobody left to teach if the BNP had their way.

You know come to think of it, I am not 100% certain BNP members should be banned from being teachers but they should definitely be banned from teaching history.

Agree Kathy. They shouldn't be teaching English either. I can't imagine how a BNP member could effectively prepare students for the GCSE exam module on Poetry from Different Cultures.

LOL at the idea of a BNP member doing John Agard's phonetic poem 'Half Caste'.

"Explain yuself
wha yu mean
when yu say half-caste
yu mean when Picasso
mix red an green
is a half-caste canvas?
explain yuself
wha yu mean
when yu say half-caste"

londonone doesn't think I should teach history. It must be all that presenting the facts that I do...

Am intrigued at what those people who think londonone is an 'apologist' for the BNP think should happen if she was (not that I think you are, londonone, I'm with you on the principle here).

Shock horror - someone on Mumsnet might hold different views to you! An anonymous person on a forum, who has no idea who you are either, might disagree with your world view! Put the mouse down, they might convert you to their way of thinking via your wireless connection!

So what if there are BNP members on here? Are we not all big and ugly enough to make up our own minds about things? Or should we ban people from holding opinions we don't like, even if they don't act of them....we could call it ThoughtCrime, there's a catchy word.

Or should MNetters not be allowed to be members of political parties either? Policemen, teachers and MNetters - well that's got things covered...

d'oh - 'don't act on them'

I think that we make it clear their views are unacceptable actually. Unless you want non-white people and, erm, women to feel uncomfortable posting here.

If it's a choice

between alienating non white people

the disabled

(and indeed womean (who the BNP also unite against)

or the bigot

then I say forget political correctness or equality

weed out those who stand for causing people pain and hardship

who stand against the rights of all people

weed out those who made the choice to think that way

rather than those who are targeted

share, if we can, and listen becuaase we might learn

but never accept, if accepting means hatred

BTW I wasn't pro a BNP teaching ban, I was pro awaiting the output of the HR action which I think is both timely and wonderful

That came out odd LOL and crossed a bit with BoF

Sorry BoF

Feel uncomfortable why? This is an open, anonymous forum, with no restrictions on beliefs, religion, political views etc. Anyone can join (even men and people who aren't mothers , as long as they stick to the rules.

Kind of like society, really.

I feel uncomfortable when eople exp[ress opinions that basically equate to you are not welcome nor is your family, of course I do 9and there are anti SN topics sometimes)

Of course you'd feel uncomfortable!