Hoon wants benefits of EU taught in schools

John Page · 01-08-2006, 11:53 AM

Quote:

CHILDREN will be required to learn more about the benefits of the European Union under plans to improve its image and standing in Britain.

Geoff Hoon, the Minister for Europe, has written to Alan Johnson, the Education Secretary, calling for a boost in EU lessons in the national curriculum, The Times has learnt. Mr Hoon said that he was concerned that children were indifferent to the EU because they were not taught about benefits such as free trade and cheap travel. He said: “There is a kind of grudging acceptance that we are members [of the EU] but without anyone understanding what it does or what it means.

“We have got to make what goes on in Europe come alive. It is about trying to explain what it does and what it means in terms of practical consequences.

“ I certainly think that that should be part of the national curriculum, a part of the citizenship process.

“I have no doubt there should be an element in there that explains what the EU is and how it works.”

Guidance for teachers states that the structure of the EU and other international bodies such as the UN can be taught in citizenship classes. But Mr Hoon wants the revised curriculum, currently under consultation, to require all children to learn about its benefits.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has added details to its website on Britain in the EU, including a virtual tour. These could form the basis of classroom materials, Mr Hoon said.

The Conservatives, however, said that they would resist any teaching resources that looked like propaganda.Graham Brady, the Shadow Europe Minister, said: “It would be welcome if genuinely objective information about the EU was available to British children. But that information must be clearly objective and must not be a kind of gloss attempting to promote a particular view of Europe.”

The National Union of Teachers said that there was no room in the timetable for extra EU lessons.

Hoon's nickname in the army when he was Defence Minister was Buff - geddit?

John Carter · 01-08-2006, 12:01 PM

I'm still waiting for someone to explain the benefits of the EU to me.

1) Cheap travel. I suspect this is more to do with the likes of EasyJet, not the EU.

2) Free trade. Except if you like Anchor Butter. Or Chinese shoes. Or wear a bra.

John Page · 01-08-2006, 01:01 PM

My friends like the fact that they have the automatic right to buy a property in Italy or Spain and go and live there.

ryansoton · 01-08-2006, 02:27 PM

This will be a short lesson then!!!!!

John Carter · 01-08-2006, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Page

My friends like the fact that they have the automatic right to buy a property in Italy or Spain and go and live there.

Not forgetting their automatic right for the mayor of their local Spanish town to hand over their back garden to developers and then charge them for doing so.

mkpdavies · 01-08-2006, 04:14 PM

The EU prevents wars in Europe (except Yugoslavia of course).

The EU promotes democracy.

The EU gives you the right to live in poorer countries (obiously the poorer countries people can come to Britain too).

The EU makes laws much better than your elected people can, as they don't have to worry what the people think.

The EU helps the environment, by forcing you to by EU goods instead of cheap foriegn muck.

The EU is a strong voice against America. One day we might even have a war with them to teach them.

The EU helps/forces you give money to the needy folk in other EU countries.

The EU removes all the worries of having to farm, fish etc, by destroying the whole silly system you have always used.

The EU invented the internet.

01-08-2006, 04:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,604	The EU prevents wars in Europe (except Yugoslavia of course). The EU promotes democracy. The EU gives you the right to live in poorer countries (obiously the poorer countries people can come to Britain too). The EU makes laws much better than your elected people can, as they don't have to worry what the people think. The EU helps the environment, by forcing you to by EU goods instead of cheap foriegn muck. The EU is a strong voice against America. One day we might even have a war with them to teach them. The EU helps/forces you give money to the needy folk in other EU countries. The EU removes all the worries of having to farm, fish etc, by destroying the whole silly system you have always used. The EU invented the internet. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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01-08-2006, 12:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
John Carter Uber Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On Sabbatical Posts: 5,110	I'm still waiting for someone to explain the benefits of the EU to me. 1) Cheap travel. I suspect this is more to do with the likes of EasyJet, not the EU. 2) Free trade. Except if you like Anchor Butter. Or Chinese shoes. Or wear a bra.

01-08-2006, 01:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
John Page Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Welwyn Hatfield (Herts.) Posts: 1,878	My friends like the fact that they have the automatic right to buy a property in Italy or Spain and go and live there.

01-08-2006, 02:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
ryansoton Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southampton Posts: 751 Party: Other	This will be a short lesson then!!!!!