Towards an Improved School System in England: Facing the Challenges of Inequality and Woke Culture
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Towards an Improved School System in England: Facing the Challenges of Inequality and Woke Culture
21st January 2021 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
2020 marked a testing year for the English education system. Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been concerns that exam cancellations and the shift towards greater virtual learning, carries the risk of widening existing social and economic inequalities in England. In addition to this, cultural fault-lines have emerged over the content and structure of the English state-school curriculum. While some have argued for the “decolonisation” of teaching materials which are currently considered to be unrepresentative of England’s demographic diversity, others have raised grievances over the perceived growing influence of controversial critical racial-justice theories in the sphere of schooling.
What are the main strengths and weaknesses of England’s current school system? To what extent do divisive ideologies feature in the teaching materials of English state schools? And what are the core principles which make for a wholesome educational experience for schoolchildren in England? To get to the bottom of such questions, the Henry Jackson Society is delighted to invite you to our online event: “Towards an Improved School System in England: Facing the Challenges of Inequality and Woke Culture”.
HJS were honoured to host three passionate and brilliant leaders in the education sector to discuss the wide range of challenges inequality and the rapid rise of Woke Culture poses to the education system and the teaching profession.
Chaired by HJS Research Fellow Rakib Ehsan, the conversation analysed the purpose of schools, the growing political polarisation in teacher training and its increasing impact on students as well as the growing prevalence of Critical Race Theory and the desperate need for a knowledge-based curriculum that teaches children to ‘work hard, be kind’.
Of particular value was the point made by the Director of Campaign for Common Sense, Mark Lehain, who pointed out that race-based ‘woke’ policies in schools are often in breach of existing legislation, such as the 1996 Equalities Act and the 2010 Education Act.
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