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BNP members not barred from teaching
Date published: 12 March 2010
BNP members will not be banned from teaching following an independent review.
The Government-commissioned report said that barring school staff from being members of groups which promote racism and intolerance would be disproportionate.
Author Maurice smith, a former chief inspector of schools added that sufficient measurers were already in place to deal with the risks, although some could be improved
Ministers have agreed to review his recommendation every year.
Mr Smith, director of education for the Church of England Manchester Diocese, said: “To bar teachers or other members of the school workforce from joining non–proscribed organisations would be a profound political act.
“In my analysis it would be a disproportionate response, taking a very large sledgehammer to crack a minuscule nut.”
The review was ordered after a leaked report identified 15 teachers as BNP members.
But Mr Smith found that only four teachers and two governors had been brought to the attention of the Government as BNP members during the last seven years.
Nine teachers had been subject to disciplinary sanction for making racist remarks or having racist material by the General Teaching Council.
The review was branded a woefully inadequate and a golden opportunity squandered by the teaching union NASUWT.
General secretary Chris Keates said: “Maurice Smith seems to have focused, to a point of obsession, on the number of incidents. One incident is one too many.
“The idea that a person who signs up to membership of the BNP can simply leave these beliefs at the school gate and behave as a ‘professional’ when they walk into school is risible.”
Comments
Only someone convicted of an offence involving children in their trust should be barred from teaching.
There's no reason for any member of any political party to be prodcribed from any profession, as long as their political beliefs do not influence their work.
As Flake points out Communists aren't proscribed despite following an ideology that permitted unspeakable state oppression and mass murder of millions.
it shouldnt matter who people vote has they are confidential also if they are good at what they do and not harming anyone they should be able to teach
They will try and ban the IFE group members next......
As long as teachers keep their political views to themselves it should be of no concern.However why anyone would vote BNP with the benefit of a university education is beyond comprehension.
You dont have to be a member of any group to make racist comments.
I wonder if the nine teachers subject to disciplinary measures were members of any group
I recall one Asian teacher making racist remarks about Christianity and Christmas-was she in the BMP
Some time ago at a BNP rally in Oldham a shop stewart of the NUT was the only person to be arrested for a violent offence,who want people like that teaching kids?
The left wing have infiltrated every institution in this country over the last 50 odd years.Their ideology is every bit as poisonous as fascists but seems to be acceptable to the mainstream. When communists are subjected to the same proscription as the right wing then the playing field is levelled.Why is it deemed acceptable to have several organisations exclusively for black/asian groups yet white groups are ostracised and branded as racist?
unions have got to work for their members regardless of the members believes it is not for the unions to casgate anyone.to many times do i read of unions having a seperate agenda other that pay and conditions they are not a unelected governing body
And this country is a Democracy! I some how do not thinks so!
Have Your Say
Strange how the left wing teachers union only want to ban right wing groups, why is it they don't advocate the banning of groups such as the communists, or the socialists workers party, who also have their own hate figures and a history of violence that would shame the nazi party.
A suprise? Not realy because the unions actually support groups like this, indeed they are probably members themselves!
It's impossible to be professional as a member of any extemist group.
By Flake @ 12/03/2010 12:48:35