Bristol teachers tell pupils not to vote for BNP
A Bristol school is believed to be the first in the city to use an anti-British National Party leaflet in lessons to teach teenagers about political issues.
The leaflet being given to pupils at the City Academy in Lawrence Hill is published by a national campaign group called the Unite Against Fascism coalition.
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But the anti-immigration party, which is fielding eight candidates in tomorrow's city council elections – including local wards Lawrence Hill, St George West and St George East – has accused the school of "indoctrinating" its pupils and says it should leave children out of politics.
Pupils aged 12 and 13 are being shown the leaflet so they can analyse and discuss what the BNP stands for.
It is part of a project on the European Union which has been timed to coincide with the Euro elections, also being held tomorrow.
Principal Dr Ray Priest said: "We have a responsibility to teach young people about tolerance, caring for each other and respecting each other.
"The policies of parties such as the BNP do not represent any of these things and therefore, in my view, should have no place in our society."
Dr Priest said pupils were not being told in lessons, 'Don't vote for the BNP' but he said schools had a responsibility to take a proactive position in society.
He said: "We can explain that policies which are extreme or which result in harm to others are wrong."
The BNP lists among its objectives "restoring, by legal changes, negotiation and consent, the overwhelmingly white makeup of the British population that existed in Britain prior to 1948".
The City Academy, which was the first of its type to open in Bristol six years ago, has more than 1,300 pupils – nearly three-quarters of whom are from ethnic backgrounds other than white British.
Academies are state-funded but run independently of local authorities, giving them more freedom over the content of lessons.
Christine Townsend, head of citizenship classes at the academy, said pupils were looking at various posters and discussing issues such as why the BNP seems to be more prominent in these elections.
She said: "We are helping pupils to develop analytical skills so they are equipped to make up their own minds."
Paulette North, a teacher at the academy and Bristol assistant divisional secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "This is about taking pupils into the political arena and showing them the views that exist in our society."
She said the use of the leaflet was discussed and backed by other unions and the academy's management before being introduced to pupils. After school finished at 3.15pm, teachers were handing out the leaflets to pupils as they left the campus in Russell Town Avenue.
Ms North said the union had set aside money for a "Stop the BNP" advertising campaign, which included helping to meet the cost of producing the leaflet.
She said teachers and non-teaching staff from all unions had been handing out the leaflets to pupils after school and urging them to tell their parents not to vote for the BNP.
Supporters of the main political groups fear a low turnout at the elections could benefit the BNP.
Science teacher Vanessa Pinnington said: "What we do as teachers would be completely obliterated if we did anything that supported the BNP."
The academy's head boy, Zack Henry, 17, said: "There should be restrictions in place so parties like the BNP can't stand because their policies are wildly wrong."
Peter Mullins, South West regional organiser for the BNP, said he was saddened to hear that the leaflets were being given to children.
He said: "This is absolutely awful – beyond the pale. It is a step too far, as far as politics is concerned.
"Children should be allowed to enjoy their childhood. They should not be being indoctrinated with one-way political beliefs.
"We would never do that. We would never try to brainwash young people."
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by Mike, Bristol
Saturday, June 06 2009, 5:26PM
“I find this sort of bran washing in schools discusting and belive the teachers involved should be sacked at once.
Freedom of speech is something that we have a right to in this country and that includes the BNP.
In fairness if you look at their policies, they are not that extreme. However due to brain washing in this country people can't see or think out of the box that the pc nutters have made.
It is fact that Muslims would like to see us become a muslim state and to have a muslim government and prime minister. I don't want that, does that make me racist, because I'm not Comments from MP Shalid Malik state we should be a muslim state in 30 years. I belive that the teachers at this school may well have left that part out.”
by a g rawlings, truro
Saturday, June 06 2009, 3:17PM
“Well Benny, you seem to want to ignor race and its history and Anthropology. That is your choice not to except that races differ.Every nation has barriers
against some race or religion, this country only enforce racism
against Europeans. None that I'm aware of against any other race for talking hatred. I'm of a European decent I'm not superior to any other race but I do differ. In our nation we have had and still do have a higher from of racism that is within the law, its called snobbery. Sadly nothink the European can do under law, yet if we were of another race we would have an open door to bring action as racsim. So in this country different laws for different races.”
by Benny Durruti, Bristol
Friday, June 05 2009, 7:04PM
“David, Bristol
The Constitution of the BNP (available on their website) includes the following under the criteria for membership of the party:
2) The indigenous British ethnic groups deriving from the class of ¿Indigenous Caucasian¿ consist of members of: i) The Anglo-Saxon Folk Community; ii) The Celtic Scottish Folk Community; iii) The Scots-Northern Irish Folk Community; iv) The Celtic Welsh Folk Community; v) The Celtic Irish Folk Community; vi) The Celtic Cornish Folk Community; vii) The Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Folk Community; viii) The Celtic-Norse Folk Community; ix) The Anglo-Saxon-Norse Folk Community; x) The Anglo-Saxon-Indigenous European Folk Community; xi) Members of these ethnic groups who reside either within or outside Europe but ethnically derive from them.
3) Membership of the party shall be open only to those who are 16 years of age or over and whose ethnic origin is listed within Sub-section 2
For a party that's not 'racist', race and colour seem awfully important...”
by a g rawlings, truro
Friday, June 05 2009, 7:57AM
“We as a nation have lived under a fascist state for hundreds of years. The common man was not allowed to vote untill about 1860, women 1920's, the House of lords yet again never elected that would be against these anti fascist that blog on this artical. But strangly not a word, I have mentioned the removal of the Magna Carter and Hebeas Corpus by Winstone Churchill. So when you slang of the BNP of which I do not and will not support, just remember where they have got their fascist doctrine from? I know some have suggested that we forget our hidden history and just pick on the BNP and any other party that may be the same as our nation was. I advise everyone to read our hidden history before blasting off about fascism, and calling people scum.”
by D, whitchurch, Whitchurch
Thursday, June 04 2009, 11:51PM
“the intolerant on here tell me and the kids who to vote for--its disgraceful and hypocritical--- are you that empty that you cant win an argument?.If you beleive your politics argue! dont pick on the only soft minds you can find YOU FASCISTS”
by May, Bristol
Thursday, June 04 2009, 9:44PM
“Maybe in your opinion.... not in mine, but thanks anyway.”
by a g rawlings, truro
Thursday, June 04 2009, 8:47PM
“May, what we should do is let the proof prevail, and free speech for all races.”
by David, Bristol
Thursday, June 04 2009, 8:08PM
“Apology accepted Ken. You prove my point about people being able to make their OWN mind's up. And seeing through canards. Unfortunately, I don't think Uncle Joe will see it the same way.”
by May, Bristol
Thursday, June 04 2009, 7:23PM
“History is history A G Rawlings, full of shameful things and fantastic things alike. We all have to learn, grow and develop somehow and learning from others previous mistakes is definitely a good place to start, as is learning what works well in life from historical facts...”
by a g rawlings, truro
Thursday, June 04 2009, 7:08PM
“Well May, don't teach them our
hidden history, because we will have to hang our head in shame.”