Teachers across England lack the resources and confidence to persuade schoolchildren to reject dangerous extremist ideologies 20 years on from the world’s worst terrorist attack, a study has found.
Three quarters of teachers have heard anti-Muslim or misogynistic views in the classroom, while more than half have heard pupils express far-right opinions, the study found.
Despite police warning of a growing cadre of young extremists, staff said there was little space in the school timetable to address the concerns, with teaching often “superficial” or “tokenistic”, the study, commissioned by education charity SINCE 9/11, said.
The problems were compounded by an unwillingness by some teachers to address the issue for fear of getting it wrong, especially on matters related to race, it said.
“This research is a wake-up call for us all,” said Kamal Hanif, an expert on preventing violent extremism in schools. “We must make sure that every pupil is taught how to reject extremist beliefs and ideologies.
“We know that right now, extremists are trying to lure young people into a world of hatred and violence, both online and in person. We must use the power of education to fight back and help young people stand up and reject extremism and violence.”
The report pointed to a broad swathe of extremist views from race and religious hatred to more common conspiracy theories. Almost 90 per cent of teachers interviewed in the study had heard conspiracy theories, such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates controlling “people via microchips in Covid vaccines”.
The findings, by researchers from London's UCL, comes amid growing concerns about the impact of online grooming by extremists while pupils were confined to their homes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Teachers interviewed for the report, Addressing Extremism Through the Classroom, told researchers that they were concerned about a rise in pupils looking at hateful content online.
In Britain, under-18s bucked the trend of decreasing counter-terrorism arrests in the year to March 2021. Young people under the age of 24 have accounted for nearly 60 per cent of extreme right-wing terrorist arrests in the last year.
And the country’s most senior counter-terrorism officer told MPs last year that children as young as 13 were starting to talk about committing terrorist acts.
Teachers interviewed in the study said that they were concerned that the government’s primary ambition for teachers was to seek out and report pupils who are thought to be at risk of radicalisation.
Dr Becky Taylor, of UCL, said: “This report shows that some schools fail to move beyond surface-level explorations of violence, extremism and radicalisation.”
The study calls for teachers to be given better training to lead frank and open discussions in the classroom about extremism so that they can teach pupils how to reject dangerous ideologies.
Janice Brooks, who escaped from the 84th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Centre and works with SINCE 9/11, said: “Classrooms must be safe places in which young people can explore sensitive and controversial issues.
“Clearly, the burden of teaching about extremism is not on teachers alone, addressing extremism is everybody’s business.”
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Celtic Prince, David Liska (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).
7.05pm: Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
7.40pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Grand Argentier, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m
Winner: Arch Gold, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
9.25pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Ibn Malik, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
10pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
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