A petition calling for a change in the way that anti-racism is taught in schools has attracted more than 1,000 signatures in 24 hours.
Brighton community activist Adrian Hart set up the petition on Change.org under the auspices of the anti-racist organisation Don’t Divide Us.
The petition is headed: “Stop the council teaching our kids that they are racists or victims of their classmates.”
The text of the petition says: “Brighton and Hove is an anti-racist city. We are proud to live in a city where racist violence and abuse is a rarity.
“Which is why we are shocked by the council’s decision to promote a racially divisive policy throughout Brighton’s schools.
“Brighton and Hove City Council has begun to educate governors, heads, staff, parents and even pupils based on their race.
“White children will be taught that they are ‘privileged’ while non-white children will be taught that they are victims of their white classmates.
“This warped ideology is known as ‘Critical Race Theory’ (CRT). The council is urging schools to take their ‘racial literacy’ training without consulting the public.
“It refuses requests made under the Freedom of Information Act to view the training materials, claiming that this violates the ‘commercial interests’ of the training providers.
“The council’s ‘Anti-Racist Schools Strategy’ document identifies citizens with an ethical objection to CRT, including ‘some BAME parents’, as ‘potential barriers to implementation’.
“To describe dissenting views in this way while favouring commercial interests is patronising and anti-democratic.
“We are calling on Brighton and Hove council to
- consult widely with citizens about the decision to adopt CRT as a defining framework for the council’s work, taking particular care to seek the opinions of parents given the statement by the Minister for Women and Equalities making it clear that CRT should not be taught in schools as fact
- be transparent about its anti-racist training by publishing a full exposition of its content for public scrutiny and comment
- show evidence to residents that, as a public authority, its actions in schools are lawful in relation to the Education Act 1996 (sections 406 and 407), section 78 of the Education Act 2002 and the Public Sector Equality Duty (section 149 1c) ‘the duty to foster good relations between groups’
…
“Our children should be taught in a politically neutral sphere in which they learn how to think as opposed to what to think.
“We must not be divided – by reactionary racists or culture warriors – who refuse to see us as individuals beyond our skin colour.”
Mr Hart addressed councillors about its anti-racism strategy twice last week, calling for a liberal approach to the subject.
I see the mainstream media are beginning to pick this up as ‘Critical Race Theory’ is illegal as a teaching in this country. Well done for hi lighting this Adrian.
Whatever next with this crazy council – having everyone go down on one knee?
Quick google search of this guy tells you everything you need to know about him and his motivations. What a surprise.
Please don’t divide us according to skin colour. It’s deeply offensive to those who are old enough to remember apartheid in South Africa.
The lens used for CRT has a cataract
Oh dear! Councillor Clare “a lens for developing understanding” is precisely what an ideology is! I’m afraid you and Councillor Powell are in way above your depth.
(Are other readers beginning to worry about this Green Council’s emphasis on “lived experience” – I mean, what exactly might “unlived experience” be?
This is deceitful and manipulative gibberish dressed up as democracy and ‘common sense’ to normalise attacking our schools so it’s easier to censor them later.
People like this want to pave the way for another Section 28.
Anyone who has read even a basic description of what Critical Race Theory is will know it is a degree level subject that has no relation to teaching history or celebrating diversity in schools and the term is being used in the dog-whistle manner of US right wing commentators to whip up outrage over a non-story by misrepresenting what is happening in schools.
It is embarrassing that these sorts of articles and petitions get any attention from the media. Parroting the crackpot complaints of bad actors should not be the mission of local press