Nigel Farage Claims Teachers of ‘Poisoning Our Kids’ on Race Issues
Nigel Farage has asserted that teachers would go on strike shortly after a success at the polls for his party, charging that they are “harming young minds” by telling students that African-Caribbean youth are oppressed and white children oppressors.
At a gathering for a Michigan-based religious institution, Farage outlined his viewpoint on the UK education system, stating that the “radical left-wing” had “taken over schooling”.
“I expect a walkout by educators soon after securing a victory,” Farage commented in response to questions.
“They are poisoning our kids. They instruct children to feel guilt about their nation. They inform an eight-year-old black child that he is a victim and little Oliver, who is white, who is eight that he is a perpetrator. They create division, instead of fostering unity. They are feeding this negative culture.”
Reacting to Farage’s claims, Daniel Kebede dismissed the notion that the schools were under Marxist influence as “absurd”. Kebede noted that any strikes must relate to educators’ working conditions, and doubted whether the party would target these immediately upon entering government.
“Farage has built his public life on coded rhetoric and now, similar to other figures, he is lining up teachers and their unions for a conflict,” the union leader said.
“This is highly reckless. I don’t – and nor does my union – push critical race theory as he’s suggesting … Should he become prime minister he would sell out our public services, particularly schooling … and the outcome would be catastrophic for students and learning.”
The party, which is leading the polls by a significant margin, has not set out much detail on a proposed education policy and seems not to have appointed an education spokesperson.
However, Farage’s remarks suggested the group would reform the system and the curriculum. He said: “We face an enormous task with education – truly monumental. Moreover, we can’t do it in six months or a year; it requires years, years to turn this around.”
He stated that younger generations are receptive to critical thinking, but millennials were “absolutely hopeless”.
Paying tribute to a conservative activist, Farage said: “All I want education to do to teach critical thinking – to educate individuals that multiple perspectives exist and they should decide for themselves rather than what’s happening now where views are labeled good or bad. It’s a massive job in both Britain and America.”
Reform has previously clashed with the UK’s largest teaching union, after the union leader labeled them “far right and racist” and described the leader as “a poundshop Donald Trump”.
The politician has charged the union head with being “an avowed radical” … an individual intent that young minds be corrupted through education, their minds should be poisoned about everything to do with this country” and has argued that the organization seeks to brainwash teenagers against Reform.
Almost one million people are employed in education in the UK, with educators comprising half and the remainder being assistants and administrative personnel. The leading teachers’ organization has hundreds of thousands of members.
National strikes over educators’ salaries and work environment in recent years led to significant interruptions in schools and millions of days of lost learning for students.
At the US event, Farage also pledged to help spread the digital courses of the institution in the UK. He stated organizations like it were “part of the fightback”, noting: “I mean this. I’ll assist attract vast numbers of youth to your online courses. I pledge this now and I’ll do that.”
The institution, a religious educational establishment, offers free courses. According to its online description: “Comprehensive learning is necessary for personal happiness and to maintain the benefits of freedom. The college furnishes these beautiful courses for free to all who wish to learn.”
