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How to be an anti-capitalist teacher in the 21st century
As we are about to be plunged into the deepest recession of a generation, this is the time where we need to be looking for solutions to capitalism - not criminalising criticism, writes ROBERT POOLE
The Department for Education should remember its own guidance that schools have a duty to political impartiality — the banning of anti-capitalist discourse impedes teachers' ability to give children both sides of the most important questions of our times

THIS is my publicly stated desire to abolish capitalism. I’m sorry everyone but this means you can no longer quote my articles in class. You might also want to have a look through your current curriculum and check you aren’t including any other anti-capitalists. Dr Martin Luther King Jr for example, or Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein.  

I am of course referring to new guidance from the Department for Education which has provided information to help schools plan, develop and implement the new statutory elements of the relationships, sex and health curriculum.

The latest guidance states, amongst other things, that schools should not under any circumstances use resources produced by organisations that take “extreme political stances” on matters. The guidance gives a number of examples and listed along with racism and anti-semitism is “a publicly stated desire to abolish or overthrow democracy, capitalism, or to end free and fair elections.”

 

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