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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garmicsmi · 41-45, M

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

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@garmicsmi Like what? Society was starting to become more tolerant but schools seem to be trying to prevent it.

garmicsmi · 41-45, M

As someone who knows a number of school teachers especially in more deprived areas of the country there are many administrations going out of there way promoting equality of race, religion and sex. There will of course be a minority of schools that break with that structure, but you can't judge every school based on a small sample.

Social media, fake news, parental influence, politics etc all have their role to play. As a nation of adults there was a majority voting to leave Europe mostly based on prejudiced beliefs, that isn't a schools fault.

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@garmicsmi I know there are schools that fully embrace equality but I'm not sure it is just a minority of schools that practice sexism. A lot have an "equalities policy" that, on the face of it, promotes equality. However, when we look at the school's rules, particularly those concerned with appearance, we find clear examples of blatant sex discrimination. Any policy that specifically mentions one sex is discriminatory.

garmicsmi · 41-45, M

So having F by your name on here is discriminatory?

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.