Righting a wrong

A survey, which shows more than four-fifths of teachers have witnessed racist attitudes or behaviour among students, should not undermine the progress that has been made since the middle of the last century, when the colour of a person’s skin was seen as an acceptable target for abuse. What it should do, however, is remind us how far we have still to go, particularly when nearly a third of people questioned said they had seen racism among teachers.

School staff, parents and children themselves all have a part to play in cutting out the cancer of discrimination. Right-thinking people must be quick to challenge those adults or children who use racist language in everyday life while politicians must also play a part. It is not a problem that can be solved by legislation alone, but our country’s leaders must do more to ensure different ethnic groups integrate rather than living side-by-side but separately, as is the case in London and in some cities in Yorkshire, the Midlands and the North West. Clearly, a good command of the English language among migrant groups is also part of the solution.

Without these changes, young people growing up with Britons of varying colours will see them as different or somehow “other” rather than accepting them as part of their community. Likewise teachers must do more than simply punish children and should explain that all human beings have been made in the same way. The grim alternative is that fear turns to suspicion and then to hatred and the prejudice of one generation is passed over to the next.