City schoolchildren face ‘physical and violent racism on walk home, according to MP

Pupils walking home from school in Leicester endure ‘physical and violent instances of racism’, according to Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe.

When raising the issue in the Commons, Ms Webbe spoke of being “shocked and alarmed” at reports of such racist abuse being aimed at schoolchildren in her constituency.

She urged the government to take action, and for all children and young people to be taught about the British Empire and the ‘enduring history of racism’.

Ms Webbe called for education secretary Gavin Williamson to introduce a curriculum which teaches children about racism to reassure those that had been victims of abuse.

The Leicester East MP said: “I’ve been shocked and alarmed to be supporting a school in my constituency whose children have endured physical and violent instances of racism on their walk home.

“This week, we’ve seen renewed calls for our schools to teach the true brutal history of the British Empire and the legacy of imperialism and colonialism rooted in racism which continue today to have generational impact.

“Given the ongoing systemic and structural inequalities and state-sanctioned racism, will the Government reassure my constituents, including the children who are victims of racist abuse, by introducing a curriculum which educates all children and young people about the enduring history of racism?”

Mr Williamson said that tolerance and respect is ‘incredibly important’ towards education and that a range of resources are available for schools.He told MPs: “I think we would all expect and we all see respect and tolerance to be very much at the heart of what happens in every one of our schools in every part of the country.

“And that tolerance and respect for all, whatever your background, is so incredibly important towards education.

“The national curriculum already has the ability to make sure that people who are able to teach about, whether it is what happened in terms of the British Empire, or whether it is not just through history, but through English and through PSHE.

“And there’s an amazing range of resources and we encourage all schools to look at those resources to make sure that children have the type of education that is able to reflect truly the rich and diverse nature of this truly wonderful country.”

Claudia Webbe MP is the member of Parliament for Leicester East. You can follow her at www.facebook.com/claudiaforLE and twitter.com/ClaudiaWebbe