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Is it ever possible to make a curriculum that is neutral and unbiased?

(38 Posts)
sungi Mon 28-Sept-26 21:06:57

So i got an oxford style debate tomorrow on this topic and i have to speak as opposition against—

“Thbt there is no such thing as a neutral curriculum.”

That is, i suppose— there is, and must be such a thing called a neutral curriculum.
Lets exchange views. Do you think it is possible to have such a curriculum? Why?

MawsRosie Mon 28-Sept-26 21:59:20

You've left it a bit late haven't you?
I was going to suggest you outline your argument and invite comments- not ask your or anybody else's grans to do your homework for you!

David49 Tue 29-Sept-26 07:29:44

Teachers in general are a pretty left leaning bunch and they do take the opportunity of steering children towards their own agendas.
Years ago we had an English teacher that tried to instill socialist ideas into my class as 14 yr olds, he failed. It wasn't that we were especially rebellious, we were being told what to think.

MawsRosie Tue 29-Sept-26 07:39:23

David49

Teachers in general are a pretty left leaning bunch and they do take the opportunity of steering children towards their own agendas.
Years ago we had an English teacher that tried to instill socialist ideas into my class as 14 yr olds, he failed. It wasn't that we were especially rebellious, we were being told what to think.

What a sweeping generalisation -with which I do not agree.
But how odd, my English teacher would have written “instil” with one “L” as per UK English.
Was yours perhaps American?

Marydoll Tue 29-Sept-26 07:50:31

Teachers in general are a pretty left leaning bunch and they do take the opportunity of steering children towards their own agendas.

Wow! Certainly not the colleagues, with whom I have worked,

Sungi, I suspect English is not your first language, going by your spelling and grammar. Either that, or you are a teenager, who is trying to get others to do your homework!

MartavTaurus Tue 29-Sept-26 07:57:03

MawsRosie

David49

Teachers in general are a pretty left leaning bunch and they do take the opportunity of steering children towards their own agendas.
Years ago we had an English teacher that tried to instill socialist ideas into my class as 14 yr olds, he failed. It wasn't that we were especially rebellious, we were being told what to think.

What a sweeping generalisation -with which I do not agree.
But how odd, my English teacher would have written “instil” with one “L” as per UK English.
Was yours perhaps American?

My English teacher would have written ^ a teacher who, not that^. Seeing as we're criticising teachers and their worth.

Grantanow Tue 29-Sept-26 08:18:16

No, it's not but I don't think teachers are generally 'Lefties'.

M0nica Tue 29-Sept-26 08:23:20

No it is not. Anymore than anyone can claim to be non-judgemental.

Nanny27 Tue 29-Sept-26 14:32:26

I like to think that the curriculum I delivered for all those years was as neutral as it could be. However, I tend to agree that the political leaning of most teachers is towards the left.

Ziplok Tue 29-Sept-26 14:37:03

David49

Teachers in general are a pretty left leaning bunch and they do take the opportunity of steering children towards their own agendas.
Years ago we had an English teacher that tried to instill socialist ideas into my class as 14 yr olds, he failed. It wasn't that we were especially rebellious, we were being told what to think.

A rather sweeping assumption about teachers there, David49.

Alison333 Tue 29-Sept-26 14:47:55

sungi

So i got an oxford style debate tomorrow on this topic and i have to speak as opposition against—

“Thbt there is no such thing as a neutral curriculum.”

That is, i suppose— there is, and must be such a thing called a neutral curriculum.
Lets exchange views. Do you think it is possible to have such a curriculum? Why?

No, all knowledge in any curriculum is filtered by the opinions and agendas of the people who design them. Therefore a 'neutral' curriculum is impossible.

Skye17 Tue 29-Sept-26 15:00:59

In my experience teachers definitely lean left.

I think there can be a more or less biased curriculum, but probably not a completely neutral one.

EmilyHarburn Tue 29-Sept-26 15:01:21

Sungi give the problem to AI asking them to structure your response for and Oxford style debate and it will be done in seconds. You can then flesh the response out and make it more personal.

Roddi3363 Tue 29-Sept-26 15:06:40

As a teacher and headteacher I always tried to steer well away from politics in the classroom. One should act without bias and be inclusive, supportive and empathetic alongside firm but fair.

icanhandthemback Tue 29-Sept-26 15:25:13

I doubt it is completely unbiased because I don't think humans can be completely neutral. For a start, as teachers, there is a vast amount of lee way as to what you teach and since that every subject has far more detail than you could possibly teach, there is a certain amount of preference of how you cover it.

MawsRosie Tue 29-Sept-26 17:11:32

Give that the same opening post, but apparently by a different OP appeared this morning, I am sceptical to say the least.

JenniRen Tue 29-Sept-26 17:22:50

The same question is on Reddit.

You've left it a bit late haven't you?
Definitely. Preparation is the key.

Susieq62 Tue 29-Sept-26 20:25:01

David49 what a ridiculous statement about the teaching profession. At no time are we allowed to express political views. Doing so is a sackable offence

Mojack26 Tue 29-Sept-26 20:54:59

Totally disagree with David 49. I am a retired teacher and defo was not 'left leaning' That was his experience.... He's also making assumptions about the teaching profession as a whole being a pretty left leaning lot.... A good teacher provides balance and in my opinion,as a teacher, majority of teachers do this and do not push their own political agenda!

Galaxy Tue 29-Sept-26 21:01:36

It is reflected in the data from surveys though. Not that they push their views, (although some of my sons teachers consistently did) but that as a profession they skew left more than the general public.

MawsRosie Tue 29-Sept-26 21:07:21

JenniRen

The same question is on Reddit.

You've left it a bit late haven't you?
Definitely. Preparation is the key.

And we’re still treating this as a serious thread? 😂😂😂

JenniRen Tue 29-Sept-26 21:31:04

Of course 😁

David49 Wed 30-Sept-26 05:14:02

Mojack26

Totally disagree with David 49. I am a retired teacher and defo was not 'left leaning' That was his experience.... He's also making assumptions about the teaching profession as a whole being a pretty left leaning lot.... A good teacher provides balance and in my opinion,as a teacher, majority of teachers do this and do not push their own political agenda!

I didn't expect retired teachers to agree with me but with the deteriorating behavior and achievement of children what am I supposed to think. Schools are far too liberal, that is why so many teachers throw the towel in or dont remain in teaching for long.

Aldom Wed 30-Sept-26 05:30:44

Susieq62

David49 what a ridiculous statement about the teaching profession. At no time are we allowed to express political views. Doing so is a sackable offence

W e l l.... I'm not so sure about thatbSusieq62 !
My music teacher (school) encouraged myself and one other girl to join the Young Conservatives .
We did attend one meeting, but left it at that.

Marydoll Wed 30-Sept-26 09:27:33

David49 what a ridiculous statement about the teaching profession. At no time are we allowed to express political views. Doing so is a sackable offence

Same in my LA, Susieq62. It constitutes professional misconduct.

Under education law and Department for Education (DfE) guidance, schools and teachers must maintain political impartiality and must not promote partisan political views.

David 49, where is your evidence or is it just your opinion?