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Schools 'avoid Holocaust lessons' | Schools 'avoid Holocaust lessons' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Some schools avoid teaching the Holocaust and other controversial history subjects as they do not want to cause offence, research has claimed. | Some schools avoid teaching the Holocaust and other controversial history subjects as they do not want to cause offence, research has claimed. |
Teachers fear meeting anti-Semitic sentiment, particularly from Muslim pupils, the government-funded study by the Historical Association said. | Teachers fear meeting anti-Semitic sentiment, particularly from Muslim pupils, the government-funded study by the Historical Association said. |
It also said the way the slave trade was taught could leave both white and black children feeling alienated. | It also said the way the slave trade was taught could leave both white and black children feeling alienated. |
Ministers in England had asked for guidance on teaching emotive subjects. | Ministers in England had asked for guidance on teaching emotive subjects. |
Staff may wish to avoid causing offence or appearing insensitive to individuals or groups in their classes Historical Association report | Staff may wish to avoid causing offence or appearing insensitive to individuals or groups in their classes Historical Association report |
When he commissioned the report last year, schools minister Lord Adonis said the national curriculum encouraged teachers to choose content "likely to resonate in their multicultural classrooms" - but some found it difficult to do that. | When he commissioned the report last year, schools minister Lord Adonis said the national curriculum encouraged teachers to choose content "likely to resonate in their multicultural classrooms" - but some found it difficult to do that. |
The Historical Association report claimed: "Teachers and schools avoid emotive and controversial history for a variety of reasons, some of which are well-intentioned. | The Historical Association report claimed: "Teachers and schools avoid emotive and controversial history for a variety of reasons, some of which are well-intentioned. |
"Staff may wish to avoid causing offence or appearing insensitive to individuals or groups in their classes. | "Staff may wish to avoid causing offence or appearing insensitive to individuals or groups in their classes. |
"In particular settings, teachers of history are unwilling to challenge highly contentious or charged versions of history in which pupils are steeped at home, in their community or in a place of worship." | "In particular settings, teachers of history are unwilling to challenge highly contentious or charged versions of history in which pupils are steeped at home, in their community or in a place of worship." |
The report gave the example of a history department in a northern city which decided not to teach the Holocaust as a topic for GCSE coursework. | The report gave the example of a history department in a northern city which decided not to teach the Holocaust as a topic for GCSE coursework. |
'Worrying picture' | 'Worrying picture' |
It cited another school which taught the Holocaust, but then avoided teaching the Crusades because "balanced treatment" of the topic would have challenged what some local mosques were teaching. | It cited another school which taught the Holocaust, but then avoided teaching the Crusades because "balanced treatment" of the topic would have challenged what some local mosques were teaching. |
Emotive issues such as the slave trade can be taught too blandly, portraying Afro-Caribbeans as victims and isolating black children, the report said. | Emotive issues such as the slave trade can be taught too blandly, portraying Afro-Caribbeans as victims and isolating black children, the report said. |
But when teachers downplay the role of the white authorities in abolishing the slave trade, white children can become alienated. | But when teachers downplay the role of the white authorities in abolishing the slave trade, white children can become alienated. |
The report called for resources, which were scarce at present, to be made available to teach controversial and emotional history subjects. | The report called for resources, which were scarce at present, to be made available to teach controversial and emotional history subjects. |
Initial teacher training should include more attention on how to teach these subjects and a better research base should be made available to teachers, it said. | Initial teacher training should include more attention on how to teach these subjects and a better research base should be made available to teachers, it said. |
Alan Johnson made clear in January there are certain subjects which will be protected in the new curriculum and that includes the Holocaust DfES spokesman | Alan Johnson made clear in January there are certain subjects which will be protected in the new curriculum and that includes the Holocaust DfES spokesman |
And further research into the issue, particularly the attitudes of different groups, families and individuals' to difficult subjects, needed to be carried out. | And further research into the issue, particularly the attitudes of different groups, families and individuals' to difficult subjects, needed to be carried out. |
A government review of citizenship education recommended that all pupils should learn about issues such as slavery and the legacy of the British Empire. | A government review of citizenship education recommended that all pupils should learn about issues such as slavery and the legacy of the British Empire. |
A Department of Education and Skills spokesman said there was scope for schools to make their own decision on what to teach within the national curriculum | A Department of Education and Skills spokesman said there was scope for schools to make their own decision on what to teach within the national curriculum |
But he added: "Teaching of the Holocaust is already compulsory in schools at KS3. It will remain so in the new KS3 curriculum from September 2008. | But he added: "Teaching of the Holocaust is already compulsory in schools at KS3. It will remain so in the new KS3 curriculum from September 2008. |
"As Alan Johnson made clear in January there are certain subjects which will be protected in the new curriculum and that includes the Holocaust." | "As Alan Johnson made clear in January there are certain subjects which will be protected in the new curriculum and that includes the Holocaust." |
The department and Understanding Slavery have launched a citizenship resource and a national competition, debate and showcase for Key Stage 3 students to explore the legacies of the transatlantic slave trade. | |
A Commission for Racial Equality spokesman said the Historical Association report painted a "worrying picture". | |
"The teaching of history provides the perfect forum for stimulating the development of shared values that are essential if everyone is to contribute and play a full part in an integrated British society." | "The teaching of history provides the perfect forum for stimulating the development of shared values that are essential if everyone is to contribute and play a full part in an integrated British society." |
It was essential that teachers were supported in developing the confidence and expertise to discuss all historical periods and events in a balanced and sensitive way, the spokesman said. | It was essential that teachers were supported in developing the confidence and expertise to discuss all historical periods and events in a balanced and sensitive way, the spokesman said. |
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