Hopkins dilemma

Would any head teacher in a Scottish state school risk opprobrium from his or her employer by sanctioning a talk on the premises by TV personality and journalist Katy Hopkins (your report, 29 September)?

The idea of her appearance has already been met with deep scepticism by both the Holyrood government and a major teaching trade union. They are no doubt concerned that youngsters should be exposed to some of her more controversial views.

But this matter raises once again the question of freedom of speech not just in schools but in universities and colleges throughout the land.

The job of an enlightened school head should not be to think of ways to discourage her presence. It should be to

think of ways to ensure balance-giving individuals with an opposite view the chance to state their case.

In the run up to the referendum on independence former Secretary of State for Scotland Lord Forsyth expressed concern that pro-independence speakers, with their materials, might be given too much access to schools. It would give the ‘YES’ case an unfair advantage in persuading 16-18 year olds of their case.

I made the point then that the answer was not for heads to forbid discussion but to do all they can to ensure balance.

A similar case applies to university campuses up and down the country where there is a disturbing trend towards simply banning any speaker deemed to be too controversial.

If social and political issues are to be discussed in schools at all, then surely the main challenge for administrators is not to ban but to facilitate in as fair a way as possible.

Keeping Katy Hopkins out of schools may be another victory for political correctness. Would it really do anything to advance the spirit of ‘tolerance, diversity and inclusion’ her detractors claim to espouse?