It’s soft bigotry to lower standards for minority kids
The so-called “antiracist” movement is inspiring a wave of ignorance and soft bigotry in American schools. I fear that Britain will be next.
Uncommon Schools – the world-renowned charter schools whose managing director, Doug Lemov, released the much celebrated Teach
Like a Champion book – announced a sudden and complete change of direction this week in order to become “an increasingly anti-racist organisation” that promotes “social justice”.
What does this look like in practice? They will no longer enforce a policy encouraging pupils to listen in class; ties will no longer be a uniform requirement; pupils will be able to wear trainers instead of shoes; detentions will no longer be given out for “minor infractions”; all staff will be trained in unconscious bias; and teachers will be asked to “manage their own emotions in conflict situations”.
No doubt these changes are well-intentioned, but they also reinforce the prejudice of low expectations. The idea that black and minority ethnic students can’t be expected to listen to the teacher or to dress smartly is insulting enough, but to suggest that black people cannot be expected to behave and therefore shouldn’t be given detentions is outrageous.
Similarly, Kipp charter schools in the US released a statement this week aiming to eradicate systemic racism and “anti-Blackness” with a new set of policies, including the “elimination of inequitable discipline practices”. They will also be retiring their “Work hard. Be nice” slogan. Why? Because it “places value on being compliant and submissive” and “supports the illusion of meritocracy”. In other words, dedication and kindness are fraudulent.
This lunacy is already spreading across the Atlantic. Just this week, a lecturer in education from Brunel University London published a series of tweets berating Teach Like a Champion, claiming that for teachers to correct their pupils’ grammar is punitive, discriminatory and oppressive.
Come on. Surely it’s a teacher’s duty to ensure all pupils have the knowledge and skills required to express themselves fluently and grammatically in speech and text? We must promote the proper use of language as a universally understood and respected tool of communication. It has been my job, as an educator, to set high expectations for all pupils, because that is how they will achieve success.
Teach Like a Champion
is more than a book; it is a methodology, one that promotes high standards for all. That is true equality, and it’s done well for institutions in disadvantaged areas such as Katharine Birbalsingh’s Michaela Community School in Wembley (Work Hard, Be Kind) and Bedford Free School (Respect, Honesty, High Expectations). These are schools that focus on respect and kindness and expect hard work from all, which is why their pupils leave with such high grades.
We cannot allow the bigotry of low expectations to take over our schools to the detriment of young people’s education.