CYP Now - NCB Now: Comment - When it comes to race equality, it's good totalk

An article in the spring issue of Race Equality Teaching argues that young children from different backgrounds develop anti-racist attitudes when encouraged to play together. This strikes me as uncontroversial - yet the article has been subject to the "political correctness gone mad" criticism that predictably shadows many discussions on prejudice.

As adults we learn from opportunities to explore the beliefs andexperiences of the people around us. Why then are we reluctant toencourage conversations about race, culture and racism with children? Wegive many reasons not to talk - but how valid are they?

Firstly there is the perception that children do not notice skincolour.

Research dating from the 1950s notes the opposite. As a young child, Isoon realised that fairytale princesses and nativity play angels werenot Black, like me, although it was never discussed. This links to thenext "reason": which is that practitioners may argue they do not need totalk about difference because "there is no racism here". How can anyoneknow without investigating children's views and experiences?

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