Sinister, obsessive and insidious: The INDOCTRINATION of your children in the classroom
As another row erupts over ‘biased’ teaching materials...
A ROW over classroom propaganda erupted last night after children were handed ‘seriously biased’ teaching materials containing proindependence slogans and photos of Nicola Sturgeon.
Outraged parents contacted The Scottish Mail on Sunday alarmed about the contents of a handout on democracy given to pupils during Modern Studies lessons.
The 34-page booklet for S1 children contains 16 photos of Ms Sturgeon and other SNP politicians.
It shows two completed ballot papers with the boxes ticked for pro-independence parties, as well as separatist slogans.
The material – which claims to help pupils ‘come to your own conclusions’ about issues including Scottish independence – is also peppered with factual errors.
The lesson plans are the latest material to sound alarm bells over bias in Scottish classrooms.
Last night education experts and opposition politicians demanded action to protect the neutrality of teaching in schools.
Lindsay Paterson, professor of education policy at Edinburgh University, said: ‘The information gives
‘So one-sided as to be seriously misleading’
a very biased view of the way in which the Scottish Government, the Scottish parliament and Scottish democracy work. It is so onesided as to be seriously misleading and ought not to be used for teaching in any educational institution.
‘It contains elementary errors of fact, ignores the positive case that was made for the old style of Union before the Scottish parliament was set up in 1999, ignores large areas of reserved powers for the UK Parliament and the UK Government, and ignores the positive case that is made by opponents of independence. The material is also very seriously biased towards the SNP as a political party.’
Scottish Conservative spokesman for children and young people, Meghan Gallacher, described the materials as sinister and insidious. She said: ‘The creeping nationalist propaganda in our schools should be of grave concern to anyone who values knowledge, education and freedom of thought – regardless of your political views.’
Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, said: ‘Even people who support independence must recognise this discredits the cause and shows a lack of confidence.’ He added: ‘Schools must ensure lessons about political topics represent a fair balance of views, and the ideology or agenda of one political party is not favoured over any other.’
Parents contacted this newspaper last week after a booklet on ‘Decision Making in Scotland’ was handed to pupils aged 11-12 at a school in Lanarkshire. It is understood it was put together in the school and drew on nationally available support materials.
Last night North Lanarkshire Council was unable to say whether or not the booklet had been distributed to other schools.
Illustrations include a picture of an independence march and an image of Ms Sturgeon beside the SNP logo and a ‘Stronger for Scotland’ slogan. There are 16 photos of SNP politicians and nearly two pages devoted to personal information about Ms Sturgeon. Pupils are asked to ‘write down at least ten facts about Nicola Sturgeon’.
In contrast, there is just one picture of local Labour MSP Monica Lennon and one Labour logo – while the Tories are not mentioned at all.
The handout is also criticised for historical inaccuracies. It is wrongly stated that James V inherited the English crown in 1707. In fact a different king, James VI, inherited the English crown in 1603 with the Union of the Crowns.
The handout adds: ‘This meant that the Scottish, English and Welsh parliaments joined together.’
However, at that time there was no Welsh parliament.
Yesterday a spokesman for North Lanarkshire Council said: ‘The concepts discussed in the booklet are key elements of modern democracy and their historic context. We will review the booklet in terms of factual accuracy and make any changes deemed necessary.’