Society & Culture1 min ago
Poorer White Pupils Let Down And Neglected
//White working class pupils have been failed by decades of neglect in England's education system, a report by MPs says.
The Education Select Committee accused the government of a lack of targeted support for disadvantaged white pupils.
It says use of the term "white privilege", suggesting white pupils are at an advantage, is the "opposite" of the reality for poor white pupils.//
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Whilst the report acknowledges that poor white children have been neglected it doesn’t acknowledge the obvious - that poor children from ethnic minorities have for decades received special attention - but no one seems to be willing to say so because that has the potential to elicit cries of ‘racism’. However, since this attention extends to areas beyond the State education system - for example Stormzy paid for two black students to attend university - (something that had a similar offer been available to white students would have created uproar, as would the creation of clubs and organisations aimed specifically at white people), laying the blame solely at the feet of the government is wholly disingenuous.
I’ve no doubt that ethnic minorities have been targeted with the best of intentions - but that doesn’t do much for the rest. This whole attitude that ethnic minorities need help and support and may be excused that which would otherwise be deemed unacceptable doesn’t and never will provide a level playing field.
Time to ‘target’ all children - fairly. Would you agree?
The Education Select Committee accused the government of a lack of targeted support for disadvantaged white pupils.
It says use of the term "white privilege", suggesting white pupils are at an advantage, is the "opposite" of the reality for poor white pupils.//
https:/
Whilst the report acknowledges that poor white children have been neglected it doesn’t acknowledge the obvious - that poor children from ethnic minorities have for decades received special attention - but no one seems to be willing to say so because that has the potential to elicit cries of ‘racism’. However, since this attention extends to areas beyond the State education system - for example Stormzy paid for two black students to attend university - (something that had a similar offer been available to white students would have created uproar, as would the creation of clubs and organisations aimed specifically at white people), laying the blame solely at the feet of the government is wholly disingenuous.
I’ve no doubt that ethnic minorities have been targeted with the best of intentions - but that doesn’t do much for the rest. This whole attitude that ethnic minorities need help and support and may be excused that which would otherwise be deemed unacceptable doesn’t and never will provide a level playing field.
Time to ‘target’ all children - fairly. Would you agree?
Answers
I began teaching in a Sec. Mod. that later became known as 'the worst school in England' - it wasn't, of course and the staff were a dedicated lot (most of whom I'd worked with). Anyway, I seem to have made rather a speciality of working in tough schools, with excursions into independent & grammars. Even then (early 1970s) it was obvious that support and money for...
16:56 Fri 25th Jun 2021
First I have seen of this thread - all pupils should have equal opportunities within our education system, I wholeheartedly agree on that.
Individuals making donations and/or bursaries are of course a more personal thing and have always been driven by the personal experiences of the benefactor - that may seem wrong to many of us but not sure how that could be overcome.
Individuals making donations and/or bursaries are of course a more personal thing and have always been driven by the personal experiences of the benefactor - that may seem wrong to many of us but not sure how that could be overcome.
We care Naomi, if we have the future well being of our Country at heart. It is perhaps best that I did not reply with a "heat of the moment" comment. Or I would be keeping the naughty step warm for 3T for a while. You know how the power crazy are at the weekends. What I want to know is how did they coerce all the teachers to go along with this manipulation, and accept the mental cruelty being administered by the implementation of this wicked policy. Shame on them.
I began teaching in a Sec. Mod. that later became known as 'the worst school in England' - it wasn't, of course and the staff were a dedicated lot (most of whom I'd worked with). Anyway, I seem to have made rather a speciality of working in tough schools, with excursions into independent & grammars. Even then (early 1970s) it was obvious that support and money for poor white children was being used up by the growing need of providing for ethnic minorities.
I even did my last Teaching Practice at Drummond Rd. where later on, the head was Ray Honnyford (can't remember how it was spelled, so sorry if it's wrong). White working-class (boys especially) more or less gave up. We tried so very hard, I still feel quite distressed. It all came down to money.
One year in a small inner-city Sec. Mod. in Halifax, which was a happy school (had it's problems and an even split ethnic white/Pakistani) we arrived for the first day of the Autumn term and the Head entered with a delegation of men in very smart suits. They told us that the council intended to close us down .
This was DESPITE the fact that we had the best C.S.E. results in Calderdale and our pupils nearly all went into decent jobs. Every year one or more of our kids was taken on by the Parks & Gardens Dept. - one of our staff had an allotment and taught them to garden. The reason we were to be closed was that we were the smallest (3-form intake) and they wanted the site for a primary school for the growing number of Pakistani children in the area.
Parents, staff etc. fought a good fight, but the council simply removed one of our terrapin huts - so we were down to 2-form entry and totally unviable. Our poor kids were bussed out to huge comprehensives, where they sank.
Now I help (voluntarily) in a local academy in a deprived coastal town. Virtually all-white - the children of poorer families have no aspirations, no obvious direction. Most do their best, but a fair percentage have already given-up.
Sorry for the lengthy rant - something I care about.
I even did my last Teaching Practice at Drummond Rd. where later on, the head was Ray Honnyford (can't remember how it was spelled, so sorry if it's wrong). White working-class (boys especially) more or less gave up. We tried so very hard, I still feel quite distressed. It all came down to money.
One year in a small inner-city Sec. Mod. in Halifax, which was a happy school (had it's problems and an even split ethnic white/Pakistani) we arrived for the first day of the Autumn term and the Head entered with a delegation of men in very smart suits. They told us that the council intended to close us down .
This was DESPITE the fact that we had the best C.S.E. results in Calderdale and our pupils nearly all went into decent jobs. Every year one or more of our kids was taken on by the Parks & Gardens Dept. - one of our staff had an allotment and taught them to garden. The reason we were to be closed was that we were the smallest (3-form intake) and they wanted the site for a primary school for the growing number of Pakistani children in the area.
Parents, staff etc. fought a good fight, but the council simply removed one of our terrapin huts - so we were down to 2-form entry and totally unviable. Our poor kids were bussed out to huge comprehensives, where they sank.
Now I help (voluntarily) in a local academy in a deprived coastal town. Virtually all-white - the children of poorer families have no aspirations, no obvious direction. Most do their best, but a fair percentage have already given-up.
Sorry for the lengthy rant - something I care about.
Jordain2 neatly puts a finger on the issue with this.
//The reason we were to be closed was that we were the smallest (3-form intake) and they wanted the site for a primary school for the growing number of Pakistani children in the area.//
Then expand that policy into a housing, health, or benefits system and bingo. We get to where we are.
//The reason we were to be closed was that we were the smallest (3-form intake) and they wanted the site for a primary school for the growing number of Pakistani children in the area.//
Then expand that policy into a housing, health, or benefits system and bingo. We get to where we are.
Re Stormzy...
I looked this up at the time the story came out, and if memory serves, the Equality Act of 2010 (a misnamed Act if ever there was one) is written that allowed Stormzy to limit his largesse to black people.
I actually have no problem with that, and think he should be applauded...however, had, say, Ed Sheeran, does the same for white people only, that would not be allowed.
I looked this up at the time the story came out, and if memory serves, the Equality Act of 2010 (a misnamed Act if ever there was one) is written that allowed Stormzy to limit his largesse to black people.
I actually have no problem with that, and think he should be applauded...however, had, say, Ed Sheeran, does the same for white people only, that would not be allowed.
Do you really think that white kids (which are I presume a majority of our school population) are being badly treated? Who decided that then? Our politicians are majority white. Our population is majority white. Our teachers are majority white - and so it goes.
Do you really think that a majority white country would deliberately persecute a majority of school kids who are also white?
I suppose you do. You seem to see the enemy everywhere.
Do you really think that a majority white country would deliberately persecute a majority of school kids who are also white?
I suppose you do. You seem to see the enemy everywhere.
From my personal experience Atheist, I don’t see poor white kids being neglected, but I think that’s because I’m fortunate to live in what is considered a nice town in the SE where all the schools are excellent and are largely made up of white kids.
I am not in a position to comment on areas which aren’t so lucky.
I am not in a position to comment on areas which aren’t so lucky.
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