YES BUT - Kay Hampton, chair, Commission for Racial Equality
The language of race and faith should be sensitive and the outcomesconsidered, but teachers must not be fearful. No subject should be offlimits for democratic debate. We are driving racism underground. We needto stop being afraid of offending and have more confidence in the skillsof our teachers. Censorship of difficult subjects risks undermining thestruggles of those who have fought against evil practices such asslavery. Much of our history is controversial, bloody and shocking. Wemust confront our past.
NO - Martin Ward, deputy general secretary, Association of School andCollege Leaders
Children learn early to distinguish between reality and stories. Copingwith controversial statements that only some people believe is harder.Teachers should of course be sensitive to the social, cultural andreligious backgrounds of their students and should not imply that thosewho do (or do not) believe are inferior. But students need to know thatnot everyone agrees with them; and they have to learn inconvenient factsas well as those that confirm their world view.
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