Are schools the cause of intolerance in the UK?

I've just been looking at come of the polices of various schools. The level of sexism some of them practice is astounding. They are either completely ignorant of equalities legislation or they hold the law and basic human rights in contempt.

When my own children were at school I was forced to take legal action to get them to drop their sexist rules after the headmaster told me, in no uncertain terms, that he didn't care what the law said, he made the rules in his school.

If it were not for schools deliberately causing resentment between different groups by treating members of one more favourably than members of another, perhaps we wouldn't have as much crime and social disorder.

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SatanBurger · 36-40, F

Most of the people just hold contempt for basic human rights. People who enjoy power trips tend to find human rights burdensome and "can't be bothered" by us peasants.

Schools in my opinion have always been places of indoctrination.

For instance Texas white washed text books that are circulating around our educational system. Back when public prayer was in schools it didn't matter what you were, you either said prayers in school, get suspended/mocked, or even threatened.

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@SatanBurger In the UK, schools are required by law to hold daily religious assemblies that are predominately christian in nature. They are also required to teach religion. In practice that tend to give special emphasis to christianity, thanks to pressure from the christian church.

I understand some schools, in a spirit of equality, habitually break the law by not holding those assemblies. Although I applaud their stance in standing up to christian oppression, it sets a bad example to their students.

No doubt there are some good teachers but, in my experience, a lot of them, especially headteachers, are just tinpot dictators. If they put as much effort into education as they do ensuring students are wearing the "right colour" socks, we would lead the world.

SatanBurger · 36-40, F

@suzie1960 In my opinion the students would learn better if they took after certain schools willingness by disobeying the religious order.

As long as they force religion in schools they will always be institutions of indoctrination. Students have the right to learn about religion and mythology but you either teach all religions from all points of view or none at all.

It's 2018.. we need to get moving on with other important stuff like how to solve poverty, homelessness, rape, and murder. Not peddling some version of a snake oil utopia 😏

Northernexile · 61-69, M

I think schools have no regard for any sort of legal "due process"

The classic being: "You're all getting detention unless the one who did it owns up"

ZenKitzune · F

Can't say I've noticed. The UK isn't exactly up there when it comes to intolerant countries.

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CheshireCatalyst · 36-40, M

@ZenKitzune I have a crossbreed. It's half shitzu, half handbag. Guess what it's called?

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@CheshireCatalyst That was very common. Schools started to become less sexist for a while but sexism seems to be on the increase again.

ZenKitzune · F

@CheshireCatalyst shit bag 🤣

Lynda70 · F

I think you're right, especially in respect of sexism. They would never get away with some of the discrimination anywhere else.

garmicsmi · 41-45, M

I think this is a very simplistic way of looking at it and ignores other social inputs.

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suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@garmicsmi No, it's just an identifier. Anything policy based on that would be discriminatory.

garmicsmi · 41-45, M

So having toilets for different sexes would be discriminatory?

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@garmicsmi That's right, it is. That's what transgender people are complaining about.

MartinII · 70-79, M

Your question implies that there is a lot of intolerance in the UK. I don’t agree that there is. Some, of course, but not a lot, either by historical British or contemporary world standards. The one exception to that, I think, is in politics, and schools may have something to do with that.

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@MartinII I didn't mean to imply that. In general I think most people are pretty tolerant but there are pockets of intense intolerance and a growth of the far right.

Schools that show a disregard for the law and human rights set a very bad example for their students. They send the message that it's OK to ignore laws that are inconvenient and normalize sexism.

unknownpoetx · 36-40, M

yes.

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