Politically Sensitive Subjects (Teaching) (Hansard, 4 February 1986)

§ Sir Keith Joseph

I, together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, have decided, in view of the concern which has been expressed, to invite the education service to endorse a statement of the principles which should inform teaching in relation to politically controversial matters in schools and colleges. I am issuing today, for consultation, the draft of such a statement together with a draft circular.

The texts of these and of my covering letter are as follows:

Draft statement of principles

THE TREATMENT OF POLITICALLY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES IN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

1. One of the principal functions of education is to prepare pupils and students for the active discharge of the responsibilities of citizenship. It has long been recognised that this means, among other things, that issues of a politically controversial character will inevitably figure in some parts of the curriculum and can arise spontaneously in many. In treating such issues the education service in this country applies the principles appropriate to a free and open society.
2. Their application has a positive aspect. It is part of the task of schools and colleges to promote the attitudes, knowledge and skills which are necessary for the preservation of our society's fundamental values, notably its commitment to parliamentary democracy, the freedom of the individual within the law, and the equality of all citizens under the law. Among the attitudes to be promoted are a rational approach to evidence and argument, both in forming opinions and in resolving differences; awareness of the duties and rights of citizenship; respect for the law; and respect for the rights of others, including the right to hold their own opinions and to express them within the law. Pupils and students need to be equipped with the intellectual skills which are necessary if our society's fundamental values are to be understood, critically appraised, developed and defended.
3. It follows that, within the limits set out above, schools and colleges should be ready, in the interests of good education, to tackle issues which are politically controversial. In doing this teaching staff should at all times seek to distinguish between fact and opinion, be ready to acknowledge personal bias, make clear that on matters of opinion views other than their own may be legitimately held, and encourage pupils and students to form their own conclusions on the basis of evidence and reflection and of discussion with others. How this is best done for pupils and students of varying maturity and understanding is a matter of professional judgment and calls for the exercise of professional responsibility.

DRAFT CIRCULAR The education service in this country has a long and honourable tradition of upholding the principles of a free and open society. The Secretary of State is concerned that this tradition should be upheld in al circumstances and at all times. Consultation has shown that his concern is widely shared. The statement attached to this Circular has been the subject of consultation with the bodies concerned within the education service; it sets out the principles in accordance with which the Secretary of State intends to continue to exercise his statutory functions. He asks local education authorities and the governing bodies of schools and further education establishments to have regard likewise to the statement when they discharge their own responsibilities and in any guidance which they give to the teaching staff.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

ELIZABETH HOUSE, YORK ROAD, LONDON SEI 7PH

TELEPHONE 0I-934 900

FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE

THE TREATMENT OF POLITICALLY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES IN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES The Government shares the widely held view that preparation for the responsibilities of citizenship is one of education's principal functions; and that pupils and students under the age of majority therefore need to be introduced, as indeed they are, to those issues of a political character which they will come across in the course of their adult lives. I am, however, aware of disquiet that certain politically controversial issues may sometimes be tackled in schools and colleges in a manner which amounts to the teaching, openly or covertly, of a particular partisan political view. The education service has a long and honourable tradition of upholding the principles of a free and open society. I am sure that all the partners in the service agree that this tradition must be upheld. In my view the public have a right to be reassured on this score. I therefore propose to issue a circular containing a statement of principles on the lines of the attached drafts. The statement sets out afresh the principles which the partners in the education service have long adopted in discharging their functions. I believe therefore that your association would wish to endorse such a statement and to commend it to your members. I should be glad to know whether you and the organisation you represent have comments on a circular on these lines and whether you are willing to commend the statement in it to your members. As in the case of all circulars issued in draft on my behalf, I would be willing to consider any suggestions you have for amending the text of the draft circular and the draft statement. Nicholas Edwards is consulting education partners in Wales in the same teams.

Keith Joseph.