Open Debates In School Decrease Due To Anti-Extremism Strategy: National Union Of Teachers Protest ‘Prevent’

Anti-extremism "Prevent" strategy by the government is closing off avenues for open debates in schools. Delegates to the National Union of Teachers conference called for "Prevent" to be lifted from schools, citing that the anti-extremism strategy breeds more confusion, even suspicion.

According to BBC, the anti-extremism bid by the government through "Prevent" is disabling teachers from guiding their students in terms of dealing with current and challenging ideas. Should students encounter ideas outside of school, they should be allowed less vulnerable avenues for discussion.

The National Union of Teachers delegates voiced concern that "Prevent" stifles all discussions for legitimate opinions, political or otherwise. Furthermore, teachers also pointed to the overreaction that "Prevent" breeds where students are mistakenly associated with extremism so that the police are erroneously brought in.

The media agency cited cases where, because of "Prevent," normal student expressions and mistakes are escalated into association with extremism. Under "Prevent," a student's mistaken writing of "cucumber" as "cooker bomb" or a student's error of describing his "terraced" house as "terrorist" house were all addressed with police interrogation rather than an educator's diction correction.

The Department For Education, however, maintains that "Prevent" is the best way to counter extremism in schools and subsequently prevent terrorism. According to the Department For Education, they will not apologize for trying to keep schools safe from extremism with "Prevent."

Interestingly, delegate Lisa Tunnel pointed out that even though "Prevent" stands by a policy of anti-extremism, the strategy inordinately spotlights Muslims. Delegate Gary Kaye of North Yorkshire states that he senses teachers being used as "secret service agents" among the public.

Independent reports that "Prevent" creates fear in students from voicing out any opinion and being marked as extremists. The Department For Education maintains the stance that Counter-Terrorism and Security Act, through "Prevent," puts teachers in the best position to "challenge" terrorist ideology and support anti-extremism.