Is our Education System 'Institutionally Racist'?

There are just 30 black male headteachers in England's 21,600 state schools, official figures obtained by the Guardian show, triggering accusations that the country's education system is "institutionally racist".

The Department for Education (DfE) revealed that there are 20 black Caribbean or black African male heads in state nurseries and primaries and 10 in secondary schools. There are none in special schools.

"These figures show historical inequalities. When I was at school, 50 years ago in Ilford, Essex, it was not on the agenda for black people to become teachers. It was seen to be a profession that was out of reach for us. To some extent, it is still like that. There is institutional racism."

Rollins said: "Often black teachers feel they can get to middle leadership positions, but no further. It's down to the perception that many people have that a headteacher is a white male in a secondary school and a white female in a primary school." Black teachers are often unfairly overlooked and told they are not ready to be heads, she said.

She said part of the problem was that selection panels, which choose headteachers, are made up of governors, who are predominantly white. "More black teachers could come forward and try to be headteachers, but they feel trapped in middle management and do not have the guidance to overcome this."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/apr/21/black-male-headteachers-state-schools

eilzel wrote:Haha! I see, so when I'm being 'less-PC' that's the me you like

MrDoodles wrote:

Why's posting the truth, less "PC"?

eilzel wrote:

Everyone has there own idea of 'the truth' though MrD; in this case, I truly believe that there is no racism at work. Other times, I believe the PC line may be right- depends entirely on the subject at hand

MrDoodles wrote:

We'll never agree on PC eilzel, as I see it as the work of the devil, which is destroying the very fabric of this Country!

eilzel wrote:

At times I very much agree MrD: as with the teachers here, utter nonesense. I imagine, especially considering (as I'm sure you believe) that the curriculum is SO liberal and based in political correctness itself that black teachers would have EVERY opportunity to become Heads if they seemed the right person for the job.

I don't like this idea of schools (or services and universities for that matter) being made to feel they should have to employ or take on more people of ethnic backgrounds purely for the sake of diversity and not ability. It is misplaced and I fully agree with the typically RW argument that doing such things WILL build up resentment

eilzel wrote:

At times I very much agree MrD: as with the teachers here, utter nonesense. I imagine, especially considering (as I'm sure you believe) that the curriculum is SO liberal and based in political correctness itself that black teachers would have EVERY opportunity to become Heads if they seemed the right person for the job.

I don't like this idea of schools (or services and universities for that matter) being made to feel they should have to employ or take on more people of ethnic backgrounds purely for the sake of diversity and not ability. It is misplaced and I fully agree with the typically RW argument that doing such things WILL build up resentment