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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Schools 'must teach Britishness' | Schools 'must teach Britishness' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Schools in England should teach "core British values" alongside cultural diversity, a report says. | Schools in England should teach "core British values" alongside cultural diversity, a report says. |
| A review of how schools teach citizenship and diversity found there was not enough emphasis on British identity and history. | A review of how schools teach citizenship and diversity found there was not enough emphasis on British identity and history. |
| The study, by Sir Keith Ajegbo, says pupils should be taught more about what binds them together. | The study, by Sir Keith Ajegbo, says pupils should be taught more about what binds them together. |
| Education Secretary Alan Johnson has said schools should "play a leading role in creating community cohesion". | Education Secretary Alan Johnson has said schools should "play a leading role in creating community cohesion". |
| Welcoming the report, Mr Johnson announced it would become compulsory for secondary school pupils up to the age of 16 to learn about shared values and life in the UK in their citizenship lessons. | Welcoming the report, Mr Johnson announced it would become compulsory for secondary school pupils up to the age of 16 to learn about shared values and life in the UK in their citizenship lessons. |
| British values | British values |
| He said youngsters should be encouraged to think critically about issues of race, ethnicity and religion with "an explicit link" to current political debates, the news and a sense of British values. | |
| Understanding the make up of the UK and the recent history of Britain was crucial, he said. | |
| Earlier, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme how he defined "Britishness". | Earlier, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme how he defined "Britishness". |
| "It involves the values that we hold very dear in Britain which is free speech, which is tolerance, which is respect for the rule of law," he said. | "It involves the values that we hold very dear in Britain which is free speech, which is tolerance, which is respect for the rule of law," he said. |
| The values our children learn at school will shape the kind of country Britain becomes Alan Johnson, Education Secretary | The values our children learn at school will shape the kind of country Britain becomes Alan Johnson, Education Secretary |
| The Ajegbo report says more could be done to ensure children "explore, discuss and debate their identities within their citizenship lessons". | |
| Sir Keith, a former head teacher of a London school and Home Office adviser, concluded that pupils should be taught more about the history of Britain and about how British values of tolerance and respect developed. | |
| He was asked to look at how the subject of "citizenship" was being taught in schools. It became compulsory in England's secondary schools in 2002. Primary schools are also expected to cover citizenship. | |
| Last year schools inspectors Ofsted said the subject was taught badly in one in four schools in England. | Last year schools inspectors Ofsted said the subject was taught badly in one in four schools in England. |
| Sir Keith's report, which was commissioned by the government, also says more needs to be done to engage white, working-class pupils with the issue of diversity. | Sir Keith's report, which was commissioned by the government, also says more needs to be done to engage white, working-class pupils with the issue of diversity. |
| It says white pupils can feel disenfranchised as much as pupils from other ethnic backgrounds. | It says white pupils can feel disenfranchised as much as pupils from other ethnic backgrounds. |
| "Many indigenous white pupils have negative perceptions of their own identity," it says. | "Many indigenous white pupils have negative perceptions of their own identity," it says. |
| "It makes no sense in our report to focus on minority ethnic pupils without trying to address and understand the issues for white pupils. It is these white pupils whose attitudes are overwhelmingly important in creating community cohesion. | "It makes no sense in our report to focus on minority ethnic pupils without trying to address and understand the issues for white pupils. It is these white pupils whose attitudes are overwhelmingly important in creating community cohesion. |
| "Nor is there any advantage in creating confidence in minority ethnic pupils if it leaves white pupils feeling disenfranchised and resentful." | "Nor is there any advantage in creating confidence in minority ethnic pupils if it leaves white pupils feeling disenfranchised and resentful." |
| Slavery | Slavery |
| The new element for citizenship lessons will be called "Identity and Diversity: Living together in the UK" . | The new element for citizenship lessons will be called "Identity and Diversity: Living together in the UK" . |
| British history will be essential to it, said Sir Keith. | British history will be essential to it, said Sir Keith. |
| At the moment, history is optional after the age of 14. The historical lessons could include topics such as slavery, the British Empire and its legacy and the movement towards votes for all. | At the moment, history is optional after the age of 14. The historical lessons could include topics such as slavery, the British Empire and its legacy and the movement towards votes for all. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY How dare they try to teach Britishness in only English schools! Chris Davies, Amersham Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY How dare they try to teach Britishness in only English schools! Chris Davies, Amersham Send us your comments |
| Mr Johnson said Britain was a nation built from and by people from other countries. | Mr Johnson said Britain was a nation built from and by people from other countries. |
| "I believe passionately that schools can and should play a leading role in creating greater community cohesion and combating ignorance of other countries, religions and cultures," he said. | "I believe passionately that schools can and should play a leading role in creating greater community cohesion and combating ignorance of other countries, religions and cultures," he said. |
| "By 2010 one in five pupils in our schools will be from an ethnic minority - this is a challenge but also an opportunity to instil a culture of understanding and tolerance at an early age. | "By 2010 one in five pupils in our schools will be from an ethnic minority - this is a challenge but also an opportunity to instil a culture of understanding and tolerance at an early age. |
| "The values our children learn at school will shape the kind of country Britain becomes." | "The values our children learn at school will shape the kind of country Britain becomes." |
| The three existing planks of citizenship lessons are social and moral responsibility, communtiy involvement and political literacy. | |
| Schools can give distinct lessons on the subject or introduce elements of it in various lessons. The report said it was best taught as a separate subject. | |
| Sir Keith said citizenship lessons had been introduced as a response to political apathy but it was now time to broaden their remit. |