Would defending Section 28 in a history essay be allowed today

[KateSixer]

Very obliquely following on from another thread elsewhere where children were being taught in history lessons about s28 and the ban in 1998 of the teaching relating to homosexuality.

When I did history we were strongly encouraged to come up with our own perspectives and make reasoned arguments for our point of view. We were encouraged to appraise critically the "standard" explanation of the origins of historical events.

I was wondering whether today on a subject like this whether it would be permissable to write an essay, for instance, defending the s28 legislation or whether a child who did would be sanctioned.

Just for context I am not expressing an opinion on s28 myself just trying to understand how the balance of free speech and historically contentious topics are managed in schools today.

Interested in views from teachers or parents.

In a history essay you are presumably not being asked to comment on your opinion or otherwise of the legislation simply on the historical analysis/research issues about which you are being assessed.

So its a moot point.

A school essay is not graded on personal opinion but on writing merit, argument used, historical context drawn and background information to support the argument.

I can’t imagine someone using ‘critical thinking’ could particularly construct an argument on the acceptability of homosexuality.

When I did history we were strongly encouraged to come up with our own perspectives and make reasoned arguments for our point of view. We were encouraged to appraise critically the "standard" explanation of the origins of historical events.
This doesn’t actually sound like the slant aimed for in a history lesson, which is much more around understanding sources, weighing up the validity of sources, considering sources in the historical context vs contemporary standards rather than personal critical thinking from the perspective of a teenager.

Standard history essays are usually given a statement and then you are expected to give the evidence and arguments on either side before coming to a conclusion.

eg Henry 8th’s marital troubles destabilised his kingdom

or

section 28 had no impact in practice

or
section 28 brought to public attention gay rights.

you’d generally be expected to evaluate the statement which means looking at both sides.