Christian Trust advises teachers to ‘re-educate’ children who make apolitically correct comments

A Christian foundation that runs 11 schools has instructed teachers to “re-educate” children who make non-PC comments on the playground.

The Aquinas Church of England Education Trust was warned today by a former Downing Street adviser that its approach appears “very sinister” – and could even backfire by turning controversial phrases into “forbidden fruit”.

The Trust, named after the well-known medieval philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas, laid out its move to challenge “negative language and actions” in its policies for equality, justice, diversity and inclusion.

The latest wake-up call is calling on schools in south-east London, Kent and East Sussex to “challenge negative language and actions, re-educate where necessary and apply sanctions”.

The Trust says teachers need to “challenge” students using phrases like “that’s crazy” – a phrase often used by celebrities – and “stop acting like a girl”.

A Christian trust running 11 schools has instructed teachers to ‘re-educate’ children who make non-PC comments on the playground (file image)

It advises teachers to first argue with children and explain why the terms are offensive or inappropriate.

But the policy goes on to say, “If repeated, the class teacher must ‘transform’ the student. More than twice = sanctions.’ It adds that for “direct attribution” related to sexuality or disability “the class teacher/chaplain leader MUST impose a sanction, e.g. e.g. a call home, incarceration, community service”.

Retired school principal Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education and former education adviser to David Cameron when he was Prime Minister, said the trust’s approach was wrong.

He said: “It’s very scary. The phrases are used a lot in the playground, and if you focus on the ones on re-education, students might actually be drawn to them because you’re giving them forbidden fruit.

“While certain children take the policy seriously, others may be drawn to the language deemed unacceptable and see it as a challenge. Re-education is a very unfortunate term because it is associated with authoritarian and totalitarian thinking.’

Mr McGovern said schools should instead provide “a broad overview” of the issue and “talk about how specific types of language can be accommodated”.

He criticized the general situation, including the revision of children’s author Roald Dahl’s books, as “a narrowing of language to accommodate an increasingly awakened ideology”. He added, “I don’t think the great St. Thomas Aquinas would have been happy about that.”

Retired school principal Chris McGovern (pictured), chairman of the Campaign for Real Education and former education adviser to David Cameron when he was Prime Minister, said the trust’s approach was wrong

The Trust runs ten primary schools in Bromley, Chislehurst and Penge in south-east London, Keston and Westerham in Kent and Rye in East Sussex, and one secondary school, Rye College.

A parent at St Nicholas’ Church of England Primary, Chislehurst – one of the schools run by the Aquinas Trust – said children are “far too young” to understand the language policy.

The 30-year-old administrative assistant, who requested anonymity, said: “It’s too confusing for children of that age when they’re told they can’t say certain things.

The mother-of-three, who has three children at the school, adds, “They’re way too young.” I think schools should at least wait until they’re older and have more knowledge and their brains can actually understand these things .’

Another mother whose son visits Santa Claus expressed concerns that the policy is promoting an “ideology” rather than promoting equality.

The 36-year-old financial assistant said: “I honestly think these issues should be left until they’re older.

“I’m very pro-equality and education, and all identities should be celebrated, but our children must come first.

“Lobby groups have so much influence over the government. It has to be checked whether this is equality or whether it goes further and pushes some kind of ideology.”

The controversy comes after the £172,000 chief fire officer for the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said the use of the word “firefighters” would no longer be tolerated.

Meanwhile, Dahl’s classic books have been altered, with references to weight, mental health, violence, gender, and race altered.

The Aquinas Trust, whose schools are rated ‘good’ by Ofsted inspectors, said ‘all staff, students and volunteers’ have a ‘duty to act in accordance with this policy and to treat others with dignity and not to discriminate at all times or harass others”.

The Bromley-based Trust added: “This policy has been developed on the basis of the Trust’s Christian values ​​and principles.

“The right to develop, learn and work in a non-discriminatory environment is part of the Trust’s Christian ethos, which has at its heart the highest worth and dignity of every human being before God.”

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk