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Racist shame of pupils revealed after 7/7 attack
A fifth of children in Yorkshire believe that those from different backgrounds should not live in the same country, shocking new research shows.
This is a higher percentage than anywhere else in the country and double that of London, where just 10 per cent of children hold such beliefs.
The new Mori poll, published today by education charity DEA ahead of the anniversary of the 7/7 bombings, also shows that white pupils are far less tolerant of those from different backgrounds than black and Asian children.
The chief executive of DEA, Hetan Shah, said: "Ahead of the third anniversary of the London bombings, we need to face the reality of these deeply worrying findings.
"An education system that leaves English children intolerant towards those from different backgrounds gives us a society with tensions with the potential to erupt at any time. No one wants to live in a world like this."
The study, carried out between January and March this year, involved surveying 1,955 pupils from 82 middle and secondary state schools in England.
Pupils were asked how much they agreed with the statement "it is a good idea to have people of different backgrounds living in the same country together."
Twenty per cent of respondents in Yorkshire disagreed with the statement – more than anywhere else in the country.
Only 43 per cent of Yorkshire pupils agreed, compared with a national average of 50 per cent.
Nationally, clear racial divides were also exposed, 76 per cent of black children and 66 per cent of Asian children agreeing with the statement, compared with 47 per cent of white pupils.
DEA says that the findings raise "serious questions" about the Government's priorities in the education system.
The Education and Inspections Act of 2007 compels schools to promote community cohesion but many of those children surveyed said they knew little of world issues, 19 per cent saying they hadn't discussed news stories from around the world at all at school during the past year.
Mr Shah added: "Schools should be a place where young people can learn to get on with those from different backgrounds and learn about the wider world they live in.
"We all want education to be world class, but if it leaves children with a narrow view of the world and other people then how can we hope for them to succeed in the global future?"
The issues raised by the research will be discussed at a DEA event at Westminster on Monday, chaired by Sheffield Brightside MP David Blunkett.
Mr Blunkett said: "These figures come as no surprise given the activity of the British National Party who received its largest vote in the last European elections from this region.
"All the more reason for the development of citizenship education, the understanding of difference and tolerance and, above all, the reinforcement of security and freedom from fear which so badly affects the attitudes towards those from different backgrounds."
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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