The Reform UK leader Accuses Teachers of ‘Poisoning Our Kids’ on Race Issues
The political figure stated that educators would initiate walkouts within weeks a Reform UK election victory, accusing them of “harming young minds” by instructing children that black pupils are victims and white children oppressors.
At a gathering for a private US Christian college, Farage outlined his perspective on British schools, stating that the “radical left-wing” had “now in control of our education system”.
“I’m anticipating a teachers’ strike very quickly after winning the next general election,” he remarked in response to questions.
“They are poisoning our kids. They are telling them to be ashamed of their country. They are telling little Johnny, who’s eight, who is black that he is oppressed and a white child of the same age that he is an oppressor. They are dividing us, instead of fostering unity. They promote this negative culture.”
Reacting to these assertions, the head of a major education union dismissed the idea that the education system was controlled by Marxists as “absurd”. Kebede noted that any strikes must relate to teachers’ terms and conditions, and questioned whether Reform would attack these immediately upon entering government.
“Farage has built his political career on coded rhetoric and now, similar to other figures, he is lining up teachers and their organizations for a conflict,” Kebede stated.
“I think that’s grossly irresponsible. I don’t – and nor does my union – push critical race theory as he’s suggesting … Should he become prime minister he would sell out our public services, including education … and the outcome would be catastrophic for students and learning.”
The party, which tops surveys by about 10 points, has not set out much detail on a proposed education policy and does not appear to have appointed an education spokesperson.
However, his comments suggested the group would reform the system and the curriculum. He said: “We face an enormous task with education – truly monumental. Moreover, it won’t happen quickly; it requires years, years to turn this around.”
He stated that gen Z was more open to critical thinking, but older youth were “completely lost”.
Paying tribute to a conservative activist, Farage said: “My goal for schooling is to foster independent thought – to educate individuals that multiple perspectives exist and they should decide for themselves as opposed to current practices where one is virtuous and one is evil. It’s a massive job in both Britain and America.”
Reform has previously clashed with the UK’s largest teaching union, after the union leader labeled them “extremist and prejudiced” and dismissed Farage as “a poundshop Donald Trump”.
Farage has accused Kebede of being “a self-declared Marxist” … an individual intent that our children should be poisoned through education, their minds should be poisoned regarding national issues” and maintained that the union is trying to indoctrinate teenagers against Reform.
Almost one million people work in schools in the UK, about half of whom are teachers and the remainder being assistants and administrative personnel. The major education union has about 450,000 members.
National strikes over educators’ salaries and work environment in 2023 caused widespread disruption in schools and extensive missed instruction for students.
At the US event, the Reform leader also pledged to help spread the digital courses of the Christian college in the UK. He said organizations like it were “part of the fightback”, adding that: “I mean this. I will help garner hundreds of thousands, if not millions of young people to your online courses. I make that commitment tonight and I will follow through.”
The college, a small private Christian college, provides complimentary classes. According to its online description: “Comprehensive learning is vital for well-being and to perpetuate the blessings of civil and religious liberty. It offers these excellent programs for no charge to every interested learner.”
