There are good reasons for avoiding talk of this conflict in schools

[mids2019]

Schools in England accused of closing down debate on Israel-Gaza conflict https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/29/schools-england-accused-closing-down-debate-israel-gaza-conflict?CMP=share_btn_url

If we wish pupils to discuss this conflict in schools it should be added to history lessons as part of modern history with an unbiased appraisal of the complex nature of the middle East especially post WW2. As say discussion about WW1 or the Napoleonic wars the conflict should be put into context of wider global geopolitical pressures with a nuanced analysis with importantly no bias.

What we don't want and I think the article below implies are discussions where pupils get to rant about 'evil Israel' and a school sanctioned display of Palestinian solidarity which some children may feel will allow them to express anti Semitic sentiment. I could easily see a passionate class pupil lead discussion leading to some pupils saying the problem couk d be solved as not having Israel in the first place and criticise Britian in its role in the formation of Israel. We have to avoid this.

Teachers are right to not want to allow discussion on class where tanti Semitic or anti Israel views could be be openly expressed with little sanction. Schools have quite rightly very severe policies on discrimination and racism and it would be easy for the pupils or even a teacher to overstep the mark in these areas.

We also have to consider the feelings of Jewish and Muslim children who may feel they may be targets for bullying as a result of these 'discussions'.

I fully support school decisions to not allow formal discussion of this topic currently though we do discuss the events of October 7th and the resultant war in my home with the aid of reputable media and valid wider historical context.

It takes a lot of courage to speak out against wrongdoers in a country with a government that is enabling the oppressors to do what they're doing

No. It doesn't take any courage to affirm the opinion of the loudest and angriest people in your country.

It takes courage to protect the children in your care - even when you don't like what their relatives are doing.

I think the reasons for not holding such debates are being very eloquently put by a number of posters on this thread. I think something that has cemented my view is the emotive language used by those advocating such debates. A debate or discussion has a definition (use a dictionary) and again students wish to emote their feelings about a foreign conflict that has wide spread coverage in the internet age. Schools are not responsible for facilitating this no matter the strength of feeling or the distressing nature of the conflict. Schools are places of learning and by definition these debates don't seem to be wanted as means of learning about the history and politics of the middle East or even as means of appreciating others perspectives but simply as a means of protest and expression of feeling with the hopeful affirmation of the school.

I was reflecting on this and one thing that is incredibly important that we do not do anything to exacerbate racial or religious tension. There may be a feeling by some that the actions of Israel are 'anti Muslim' and if schools are not willing to participate in such debates then they are in some way endorsing this view. This is simply wrong.

We may have students expressing opinion that there is something inherently anti Islamic about the nature and prosecution of this war and by extension the historical and current political positioning of the British state.

We do not want conversations in schools which of not extremely carefully regulated could lead to polarisation of pupil cohorts exacerbated by their opinions on a foreign war. I am sure schools do a hell of a lot in terms of promoting community cohesion and certainly will not be in a position to allow inflammatory discussions which could easily being race and religion into them in an obvious way.

Again this is not about silencing people but making schools place of learning where all pupils feel safe and we minimise any unnecessary discussion which leads to community division rather than understanding.

@twinklestar10

Please look up definitions of debate and discussion in a literal sense.

I respect your honesty in that you are advocating a room for protest not debate in schools and I think that is a separate discussion. Personally I think and many teachers will agree protest does not have a place in school.

It is quite obvious from you postings the strength of feeling you have for this issue so I put it to you what is to be gained from a group of passionate teenagers in a non anonymous environment expressing this feelings in school with confidence their will be no retribution or consequences against children with opposing views?

We all are horrified by images from the middle East as with a lot of foreign situations and those feelings are legitimate. However it is simply not the place of schools to promote a political point of view or indulge in discussion that is not of benefit to the school community.

Info not work in a school but I do value education and community relations.

Mental health support importantly should be offered to individuals in an individual confidential basis. I am not a teacher as pointed out but I presume schools offer this.

I was watching this morning a spokesman from the IDF giving a perspective of the course of the war on BBC news. I presume some posters would be switching off the TV with a number of curses at this point.

If you want meaningful debate in an academic sense you have to allow that viewpoint and yet allowing that viewpoint may cause offense and anger in some pupils.

More reason for not facilitating debate

We all agree it’s terrible. I just don’t think it is wise to bring the discussion into school