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Kent school in right wing 'Hitler' and 'selfishness' row

00:00, 02 February 2016

updated: 16:24, 02 February 2016

Ashford MP Damian Green has slammed a teacher’s bias after right wing political ideas were linked to Adolf Hitler and selfishness.

Mr Green was alerted by a constituent whose child had been given the Year 10 lesson materials at school.

In the materials a question asked “What is left and right wing?”

Below it were bullet points in two columns for left and right wing political values.

Hitler leading his Nazi followers. Picture by AP Photo
Hitler leading his Nazi followers. Picture by AP Photo

The right wing column was linked with Hitler and given values such as “less help to the people” compared to left wingers, and also stated the right gives “more help for businesses” and asserts “we are not equal”.

By contrast there was no sign of Soviet tyrant Stalin in the left wing column, which instead was linked with “communism”, “the NHS”, “helping the people” and the notion that “everyone should be equal”.

This was the page given to pupils. Image courtesy of the Daily Express www.express.co.uk
This was the page given to pupils. Image courtesy of the Daily Express www.express.co.uk

Conservative Mr Green was left unimpressed by the page, which was not part of the national curriculum and was instead made by a teacher at the school.

Last week he wrote to the Secretary of State for Education Nicky Morgan to raise his concerns.

He said: “Everyone’s first reaction to this was that this is shocking. I’m told that the materials were prepared especially for a lesson inside the school. It’s clear that the material in itself was projecting an idea that was completely unacceptable.

Ashford MP Damian Green could be in Teresa May's Cabinet
Ashford MP Damian Green could be in Teresa May's Cabinet

“I have spoken with the school and I’m satisfied that all the right actions have now been taken to make sure that the way politics is taught in school is unbiased and serving a proper purpose.

“I have been assured by the school that the material didn’t reflect the lesson as it was taught to the pupils.”

Mr Green said he wasn’t prepared to name the school where the teacher had produced the work materials, and said he has yet to receive a reply from the Department of Education.

In June 2014 the previous coalition government published a framework document for the national curriculum to be taught to pupils.

As part of the requirement for good citizenship it stated that teachers should ensure that pupils gain a “sound knowledge and understanding” of how Britain is governed, British democracy and the political system.

Pupils should also be “equipped to think critically and debate political questions.”

Have your children been affected by these lesson materials? What do you think? Email: kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk or call the newsroom on 01233 895808.

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