‘Racism in English Schools Should Be A Safeguarding Issue’. Guardian article.

[TottersBlankly]

www.theguardian.com/education/2022/jun/05/racism-england-schools-education-safeguarding-issue-jeffrey-boakye?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

I considered adding this to one of the ‘Should I send my child to an independent school?’ threads here - but it seems worthy of a separate thread.

It’s shocking to have to acknowledge that in 2022 this isn’t already a thing. Of course it’s a safeguarding issue. It isn’t enough to not be racist. Being Anti racist should be the norm. For various reasons (and previous positions held in schools) I’m all over the Anti-bullying policies and the adherence (or not) to them, but I’ve just face palmed myself for not ever considering there should be an Anti-racist policy for every school too.

What’s shocking is that until today (or whenever the argument is brought to one’s attention) every single Black pupil in the country - myself amongst them - will have felt shame, confusion, anger and despair over some aspect of their school experience where they were subject to discriminatory ill treatment, but didn’t know how to express it, and didn’t feel it was worth expressing.

The weight of despair, before one even leaves childhood, is almost impossible to bear, year after year, generation after generation.

Not knowing how to express it is one thing, not thinking it’s worth expressing, well, I’m blindsided. Hearing your truth makes me realise I need to do better.

Due to the amount of racism teachers from the global majority experience themselves in English schools, let alone the shit they hear about pupils from the same backgrounds, there isn't a hope in hell of that working even if it was taken up.

(The Guardian has done a series on racism in education if you don't know any teachers and/or ex-teachers who are black, brown and yellow.)

Also this government has decided that racism isn't a problem in this country after they spent a lot of money producing a report that said that. Ignoring a foreign office report and a cross parliamentary report that were both in existence and said differently. Added to that they are now throwing their toys out if the pram when a well-known journalist gets her hands on a Home office report that says the UK is structurally racist.

will have felt shame, confusion, anger and despair over some aspect of their school experience where they were subject to discriminatory ill treatment, but didn’t know how to express it, and didn’t feel it was worth expressing.

The weight of despair, before one even leaves childhood, is almost impossible to bear, year after year, generation after generation.
Yes they actually spent money on a paper to sweep racism under the carpet! I forgot about that. I would prefer it if all schools hired someone for the role. Nobody should ever have to experience racism in any capacity.

I really felt this!
It's such a shame that they spent money on a paper to try and sweep racism under the carpet. I felt really ashamed when that happened. Schools need to hire someone for that role in the same way they have a Safeguarding lead in every school.