Britannist

The new Polish Ambassador to the UK, Barbara Tuge-Erecinska, believes Polish history and culture should be taught in British schools as there are now so many Polish children in the classrooms (reports today’s Mail on Sunday) at:

:arrow:
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/...n_page_id=1770

John Carter

But who will think of the French/Spanish/Italian/Australian/American/Pakistani/Iranian/Jamaican/Indian children? :!: :!: :!: :!:

How's about... ...if you want your kids to learn Polish history and culture, go and live in Poland. If you want your kids to learn French history and culture, go and live in France. If you want your kids to learn islamic history and culture, go and live in the UK.

22ANDUK

Lol, John! :roll:

But seriously I don't mind British schoolchildren learning about other cultures, the world is an interesting place full of a variety of ways of life and custom. How can we ever be an effective outward looking power with relations, respect and influence across the world without knowledge (look at how the USA is seen across the globe now).

But the study of other cultures should always be secondary to, and not at the expense of, the study of British culture.

John Carter

Totally agree. There could be a class called "World culture" where every other culture is explored (with no particular one taking priority).

Britannist

Sounds a bit leftwing and 'one worldish' to me.

More emphasis on the 'three R's' is needed.

John Carter

Obviously, only when all other aspects of education are taken care of.

And of course, what mustn't happen is for leftie teachers to take those classes as an opportunity to say that the other cultures are better than British culture. Really, why shouldn't our kids be taught how most democratic parliaments are based on our own? Why shouldn't our kids be taught about how the Middle Eastern regimes treat their women? Why shouldn't our kids be taught how tribal elders in Pakistan impose the death penalty on rape victims? Or how Stalin liked a bit of genocide? Or how the caste system treats the lower members of society in India? Or how in some parts of Africa their cultural knowledge is so advanced that they think canoodling with babies will cure AIDS?

Teach the kids the cold, hard facts with no spin and the cream will always rise to the top, Brit.

Britannist

I agree, John.

I would also like to see lessons in schools on practical things like how to wire a plug or use a launderette. How to put up a shelf or repair a car engine. How to repair torn clothes. How to grow vegetables. First Aid. That sort of thing. NOT fill their heads with sociological clap trap.

I'm convinced there are a lot of leftie teachers in schools and I should like to see if something can be done to stop leftist (i.e. anti-British) political bias in the classrooms.

This-England

I seem to have come to the wrong forum.
I seem to to be on the forum of the Socialist Workers Party.

Have you all lost the plot?

22ANDUK

What's wrong with the central notion of this? Perhaps the name isn't the best but what about having a 'British culture' class once a week and an 'International Cultures' one as well?

Children learn all about Britain and its culture, as well as the world around them.

John Carter

Actually, the reason why there's even a socialist workers party is because people haven't been taught about other world cultures in any detail. They grow up with a delusion that other countries and cultures are somehow better than this one.

It's worthwhile comparison. How would you know that your Tess Daly was a keeper if you've never even heard of a Jade Goody?