Children and Politics

I am not happy with any politician using school children for a photo opportunity or preaching their brand of party politics.

When I was at secondary school our MP hosted a visit to the HofP by a group of about 20 of us, but I cannot remember that he tried to sell any political message to us, just explained to us how the parliamentary system worked and gave us a chance to briefly listen to debates in the two chambers.

I do think it is important for MPs to visit local schools to meet, especially, older children, to talk to them about the importance of our democratic process and the importance of them taking part in it, but not to overtly proselytise for their party. The line between the two is fuzzy, but it should be possible to walk it without too much trouble.

You ok with Boris going into schools during his campaign?

Our 13 year old has been having a long running debate with his form tutor at school about why Labour would not win the recent election. His tutor seemed sure JC would win but the child we care for gave him a number of reasoned arguments he has concluded himself as he is an avid watcher of the news and reads newspapers. He came home very pleased as he says he teacher still does not seem to understand why Labour lost. He did complain when his Form Tutor told the class they should all hope JC would win election so schools and hospitals would get more money. I was a teacher before retiring and we were always told never give your own political views to pupils even if you teach Politics. I shall be commenting to Form Tutor when we get the next Parents' Evening.

I love your comment Iam64, you're so right.

We can bury our heads in the sand about the reality children face in a right-wing country, or we can address the issues. You may not like his music (I don't) but his message is good.

When you ask a successful ex-student back to a school, you expect them to show some judgement.

It is great to get some one like Stormzy into the school he once went to. It tells the children that children like them form their neighburhood, can if they get it right be successful.

BUT

To then make a political party broadcast is beyond acceptable. Supposing he had come in and given a religious broadcast, pushing one faith whether Christian, Muslim or Hindu. How would we feel then?

I come from an army family. The three things you never discussed in the Mess was religion politics (and in my youth) women.

It would be good if primary schools in particular followed a similar rule with visitors: Do not talk about religion, politics or individuals in the public sphere (there will be someexceptions here)

*Urmstongran' HP sauce bottles were my introduction to French!

I read everything, notices on the bus, in the doctor's waiting room, labels etc

I didn't know much about Stormzy until a friend who is a worker with Yizidi women and children in Iraq posted a link to one of his talks. I also heard him interviewed on radio 4 news recently. I was very impressed.
I haven't seen the article the OP refers to. My response to what I've read here, is that Stormzy seems to me to be a Good Thing. He is someone who understands the alienation so many black children and young people experience on a daily basis.
We need to somehow work together.

As a child I would eat my breakfast cereal and read the cereal box. Or the label on the HP sauce bottle.

Who knew that Enid Blyton and Stormzy would have something in common: they both used/use the N word.

He's black, he went to the school, he's made a career for himself and he's successful. He also has a social conscience.
Of course the only black characters in Enid Blyton are the Golliwogs who are always naughty. So perhaps not the sort of books for a Croydon Primary School.
Ethnicity: Currently, 50.7% of Croydon's population (all ages) are Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups. By 2025 this is predictedtobe55.6%.Youngeragegroupsaremorediverse.

chestnut I loved Enid Blyton, in my day I read her avidly but on going to read my old books to my grandkids i was horrified I realised how far away from today she was ... there were mothers’ smoking in the kitchen not to mention them slapping ‘Teddy’ for not sitting still then of course they were little n.....boys and goll..... I can’t even bear to say the words
Wonderful Enid Blyton times, my foot
She was an author of her time but today no way

Enid Blyton books
I loved them as a child
Me too and I had no idea until I read your post that she was a Nazi sympathiser so obviously that passed over my head as a child.

I know for a fact that I enjoyed them, they did not influence my views on life and that the only thing that I wanted after reading her books was to go to boarding school.

As for better books I had a whole range of books to choose from but Enid Blyton books were definitely exciting and encouraged children to read.

I read books about ponies by other authors, knew I would never have one but it did not stop me reading them.

I'd rather give a child a popular book to get them reading with enthusiasm than have someone like Stormzy trying to influence them.

Who is he and why on earth would he be invited into a school to speak to junior school pupils?

Oh, just googled him, he's a rapper
I repeat my question, why on earth would a rapper be invited into a school?

Harry Potter books are very poorly written. I'm happy children read them, because so few do read now, but I'd guide them towards books that develop their language skills as well as their imaginations.

I didn't give my daughter Enid Blyton and will steer grandson away from them too. If I'd had better books to read as a child, I wouldn't have read them then, either.

If you loved them then that says it all GagaJo. Did they do you any lasting harm? Or did you enter a world of fantasy and adventure and have a ripping good time? There are lots of people who think Harry Potter is dangerous for young minds as it deals with black magic and evil. Should children be reading about demons and the dark side?

It isn't just inner city children at risk either. I live in the wilds and the school I work at is in a little village. Key county lines fodder. Children need to know reality to be able to understand when they're at risk.

And actually, Enid Blyton was a nazi sympathiser. Not to mention her books were totally white-washed, heteronormative claptrap.

I loved them as a child, but I've looked back at them since and there is no way a child should read them. There are MUCH better writers available for children. If only my parents had been more discerning.

Michael Gove stated UK children should only be taught texts by British writers.

So currently, that means Dickens, champion of the working class and the poor and JB Priestly, socialist. These texts are preset by the exam board (there ARE other choices, but these are less accessible for students).

Previously, we would have taught a far greater range of texts, but would-be-PM Gove (much hated by teachers) was too interested in making a name for himself.

Most primary school children are with their parents or another adult at all times, so unlikely to be groomed. I agree children of any age who are on the streets alone need to know what to do if a stranger approaches them for any reason. I can't see how disgusting song lyrics will help them though.

If you don't discuss drugs, gangs or any of the things children are going to encounter in secondary school at primary school you are effectively sending children out unprepared. The age of many gang members in London is 14. It's unlikely that they were just recruited at that age they will have been aware of what was going on for a long time. Croydon is a suburb of London and inner-city children are often more informed that children from other areas. If you want to know what is going on and how children are being groomed from 7 www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jul/05/children-as-young-as-seven-being-enslaved-by-uk-drug-gangs

Anyone writing lyrics like that is no role model!

Stormzy earns his living as an entertainer
Boris Johnson is a politician, was previously a journalist who has been sacked for lying .
Stormzy sponsors two young people through university.
Boris Johnson belonged to a university club that smashed up restaurants.
Stormzy visits schools in his own time.
Boris Johnson visits schools to gain votes.

Just who is the better role model?

I agree Luckygirl that no politician should visit schools but they all do it! Still, I'm sure they don't tell the children that their opponents are 'bad, bad people'.

I agree it feels unacceptable. But so does the presence of Boris in school classrooms making political capital out of the visit - gosh, if this had happened when any of my children was at school I would have been incandescent with rage!

Of course, if these issues arise then even young children will need to know about them. It is truly awful how our society has changed. It was a different world 60 years ago; I used to travel by bus in London on my own aged 8 years.