Email confusion as rumor says Holocaust banned from UK classrooms
Emails are circulating around the world, claiming the UK has banned the teaching of the Holocaust in schools.
The false suggestion is that the action has been taken by the government to avoid offending Muslim communities.
The source of the rumour may be a report that some history teachers were uncomfortable with sensitive subjects.
In fact the government has reaffirmed that in England, teaching children about the Holocaust is compulsory, and it is not banned elsewhere in the UK...
A spokesman for England's Department for Education and Skills added: "Teaching of the Holocaust is already compulsory in schools at Key Stage 3 [ages 11 to 14]...
The report that may have given rise to the alarm was...from the Historical Association, which promotes the study and teaching of history.
It said: "Teachers and schools avoid emotive and controversial history for a variety of reasons, some of which are well-intentioned.
"Staff may wish to avoid causing offence or appearing insensitive to individuals or groups in their classes.
"In particular settings, teachers of history are unwilling to challenge highly contentious or charged versions of history in which pupils are steeped at home, in their community or in a place of worship."
Read entire article at BBC News
The false suggestion is that the action has been taken by the government to avoid offending Muslim communities.
The source of the rumour may be a report that some history teachers were uncomfortable with sensitive subjects.
In fact the government has reaffirmed that in England, teaching children about the Holocaust is compulsory, and it is not banned elsewhere in the UK...
A spokesman for England's Department for Education and Skills added: "Teaching of the Holocaust is already compulsory in schools at Key Stage 3 [ages 11 to 14]...
The report that may have given rise to the alarm was...from the Historical Association, which promotes the study and teaching of history.
It said: "Teachers and schools avoid emotive and controversial history for a variety of reasons, some of which are well-intentioned.
"Staff may wish to avoid causing offence or appearing insensitive to individuals or groups in their classes.
"In particular settings, teachers of history are unwilling to challenge highly contentious or charged versions of history in which pupils are steeped at home, in their community or in a place of worship."