Nigel Farage Claims Teachers of ‘Indoctrinating Children’ on Racial Topics
The political figure stated that teachers would go on strike within weeks a Reform UK election victory, charging that they are “poisoning our kids” by telling children that African-Caribbean youth are oppressed and white children oppressors.
At a gathering for a private US Christian college, the politician expressed his viewpoint on the UK education system, claiming that the “radical left-wing” had “taken over schooling”.
“I expect a teachers’ strike soon after securing a victory,” Farage commented during a Q&A session.
“They are poisoning our kids. They are telling them to be ashamed of their country. They are telling little Johnny, who’s eight, who is black that he is a victim and a white child of the same age that he is a perpetrator. They create division, not uniting us. They are feeding this negative culture.”
In response to Farage’s claims, Daniel Kebede rejected the idea that the schools were under Marxist influence as “nonsense”. Kebede noted that industrial action must relate to educators’ working conditions, and doubted whether Reform would attack these right after taking office.
“Farage has built his public life on dog-whistle politics and currently, similar to other figures, he is lining up teachers and their unions for a fight,” Kebede stated.
“I think that’s grossly irresponsible. I don’t – and nor does my union – advocate such divisive theories as he’s suggesting … If he were to lead the government he would sell out our public services, particularly schooling … and he would be a disaster for education and children.”
The party, which is leading the polls by a significant margin, has provided limited specifics on a proposed education policy and does not appear to have appointed an education spokesperson.
However, his comments suggested the group would reform the system and the curriculum. He said: “We have got a massive job with education – absolutely herculean. And, we can’t do it in six months or a year; it requires years, a long-term effort to reform.”
He stated that younger generations are receptive to critical thinking, but older youth were “completely lost”.
Honoring 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 current practices where one is virtuous and one is evil. It’s a massive job in the UK and US.”
The party has conflicted with a major educators’ organization, after the union leader labeled them “extremist and prejudiced” and described the leader as “a cheap imitation”.
Farage has accused 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 maintained that the union is trying to indoctrinate teenagers against Reform.
Almost one million people are employed in education in the UK, about half of whom are teachers and the others teaching assistants and support staff. The leading teachers’ organization has about 450,000 members.
Countrywide walkouts over teacher pay and conditions in recent years led to significant interruptions in schools and extensive missed instruction for students.
At the US event, the Reform leader also pledged to help spread the online educational material of the institution in the UK. He said such groups were “part of the fightback”, noting: “I mean this. I will help attract vast numbers of young people to your online courses. I pledge this now and I will follow through.”
The institution, a religious educational establishment, provides complimentary classes. According to its online description: “A scientific, literary, theological, political, and moral education is vital for well-being and to maintain the benefits of freedom. It offers these excellent programs for free to every interested learner.”
