UK Schools to Combat Fake News and Extremism in Curriculum Overhaul

[Social Media]

 

In response to the recent riots that have swept across the UK, the government has announced a significant overhaul of the school curriculum to equip children with the skills needed to identify and combat extremist content and fake news online. The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has revealed plans to embed critical thinking lessons across subjects such as English, ICT, and maths, aimed at arming pupils against what she described as "putrid conspiracy theories."

 

Speaking to *The Telegraph*, Ms. Phillipson emphasized the importance of preparing young people to challenge the misinformation they encounter on social media. "It’s more important than ever that we give young people the knowledge and skills to be able to challenge what they see online," she said. "Our renewed curriculum will always put high and rising standards in core subjects first – that’s non-negotiable. But alongside this, we will create a broad, knowledge-rich curriculum that widens access to cultural subjects and gives pupils the knowledge and skills they need to thrive at work and throughout life."

 

The changes come in the wake of violent disorder sparked by far-right riots, which were fueled by false claims online, including a fabricated story linking an asylum seeker to the Southport stabbings. These riots have highlighted the need for urgent action to prevent young people from being "sucked into dangerous online spaces," according to government sources.

 

Under the new curriculum, children as young as five will be taught to spot misinformation and extremist content. This will be achieved by incorporating critical thinking exercises into a range of subjects. For example, English lessons may involve dissecting newspaper reports to differentiate between independent journalism and propaganda. In ICT classes, students will learn to identify unreliable sources of information, such as fake news websites that mimic legitimate news outlets. Maths lessons could include analyzing statistics to help students recognize when data is being manipulated to support false claims.

 

 

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, has urged the public to be more discerning about what they share online. In a piece for *The Telegraph*, he warned of the real-world consequences of misinformation, saying, "How we behave online is not abstract. It has real-world consequences. Perhaps we should be deleting a lot more than we share."

 

The curriculum review, led by Professor Becky Francis, is expected to report back next year, with recommendations potentially being implemented by September 2025. The initiative is part of a broader government effort to tackle the spread of extremist content on social media platforms, with ministers considering reviving legislation to force tech giants to remove "legal but harmful" content.

 

 

As regional organized crime units investigate hundreds of leads concerning social media influencers who incited violence, the National Police Chiefs’ Council has warned that the number of arrests and charges related to the riots is expected to rise significantly. Mr. Stephens has also warned those responsible for spreading hate online to prepare for "a knock at your door," signaling a tough stance on those who use social media to incite violence.

 

The curriculum overhaul is seen as a crucial step in protecting young people from the dangers of online extremism and misinformation. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the ability to critically assess information will become an increasingly vital skill for the next generation.

 

Credit: Daily Telegraph  2024-08-12

 

 

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[thaibeachlovers]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

"Our renewed curriculum will always put high and rising standards in core subjects first – that’s non-negotiable. But alongside this, we will create a broad, knowledge-rich curriculum that widens access to cultural subjects and gives pupils the knowledge and skills they need to thrive at work and throughout life."

The devil is in the detail. "Cultural subjects" covers a wide range of sins, and just whom is to decide on them?

 

Of course any improvement will depend on the teachers, and we all know how unbiased teachers are, don't we!

[Chomper Higgot]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has revealed plans to embed critical thinking lessons across subjects such as English, ICT, and maths, aimed at arming pupils against what she described as "putrid conspiracy theories."

Excellent news.

 

 

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Excellent news.

 

 

Presumably they'll be teaching that blaming the far right for everything is a government conspiracy.

[Chomper Higgot]

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Presumably they'll be teaching that blaming the far right for everything is a government conspiracy.

Thank you for demonstrating the urgent, need for critical thinking in formulating fact based conclusions.

[James105]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

The changes come in the wake of violent disorder sparked by far-right riots, which were fueled by false claims online, including a fabricated story linking an asylum seeker to the Southport stabbings.

 

This is a lie.  The riots were fuelled by 3 little girls being killed and many others stabbed at a Taylor Swift dance class.   The details that he was a 2nd generation Rwandan immigrant were released way before people started rioting.  

[Celsius]

No one complain about Thailand politics anymore after this.....including myself.

 

UK is a third world chithole jailing citizens over online posts while rapists and stabbers are let go.

 

 

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

5 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

This is a lie.  The riots were fuelled by 3 little girls being killed and many others stabbed at a Taylor Swift dance class.   The details that he was a 2nd generation Rwandan immigrant were released way before people started rioting.  

Says guy misrepresenting the facts about the cause.

 

Millions of people were outraged by the heinous crime of the murder of three children, they didn’t riot.

 

The rightwing thugs, did riot and in response to online lies they attacked a completely innocent community.

 

Here you are once again engaging in your customary obfuscation of events.

 

 

[James105]

41 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Says guy misrepresenting the facts about the cause.

 

Millions of people were outraged by the heinous crime of the murder of three children, they didn’t riot.

 

The rightwing thugs, did riot and in response to online lies they attacked a completely innocent community.

 

Here you are once again engaging in your customary obfuscation of events.

 

Misinformation does not cause riots and certainly not misinformation that was corrected long before the riots started, but the needless and preventable slaughter of innocent little girls makes people in deprived working class areas angry.   It's no coincidence that these areas were the same areas where thousands of white girls were being raped by "asian" men with impunity for decades.  

 

"The rightwing thugs, did riot and in response to online lies they attacked a completely innocent community."

 

More misinformation.   You have zero idea what the political leanings of those involved in the rioting are, and statistically they are more likely to be Labour voters anyway as these incidents happened in deprived working class communities.  

 

It's not the kids that need educating on misinformation, it's people like you.  

[herfiehandbag]

A not particularly thin end of a very large wedge which will be determinedly hammered home.

[Chomper Higgot]

29 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

Misinformation does not cause riots and certainly not misinformation that was corrected long before the riots started, but the needless and preventable slaughter of innocent little girls makes people in deprived working class areas angry.   It's no coincidence that these areas were the same areas where thousands of white girls were being raped by "asian" men with impunity for decades.  

 

"The rightwing thugs, did riot and in response to online lies they attacked a completely innocent community."

 

More misinformation.   You have zero idea what the political leanings of those involved in the rioting are, and statistically they are more likely to be Labour voters anyway as these incidents happened in deprived working class communities.  

 

It's not the kids that need educating on misinformation, it's people like you.  

Counter factual nonsense.

 

The rioters attacked a completely innocent community in direct response to misinformation.

 

Examples of that misinformation were posted on this forum.

 

And here you are, once again, engaging in your customary misrepresentation of events.

 

You just can’t stomach the fact that rightwing thugs were so easily lead by online lies to riot and attack a completely innocent community.

 

And no wonder, it’s the evidence that undermines your whole biased misrepresentation of facts. 
 

 

Edited August 12 by Chomper Higgot

[Chomper Higgot]

4 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

A not particularly thin end of a very large wedge which will be determinedly hammered home.

Because of course critical thinking is such a threat.

[herfiehandbag]

8 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Because of course critical thinking is such a threat.

When led by and taught from one particular political stand point it is unlikely to be critically balanced, and will certainly become a threat.

Edited August 12 by herfiehandbag

[Chomper Higgot]

6 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

When led by and taught from one particular political stand point it is unlikely to be critically balanced, and will certainly become a threat.

It comes as no surprise whatsoever that you don’t understand the term ‘critical thinking’.

 

The events of the past week demonstrate precisely how ‘dangerous’ it is to the rightwing.

 

 

Edited August 12 by Chomper Higgot

[James105]

19 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Counter factual nonsense.

 

The rioters attacked a completely innocent community in direct response to misinformation.

 

Examples of that misinformation were posted on this forum.

 

And here you are, once again, engaging in your customary misrepresentation of events.

 

You just can’t stomach the fact that rightwing thugs were so easily lead by online lies to riot and attack a completely innocent community.

 

And no wonder, it’s the evidence that undermines your whole biased misrepresentation of facts. 
 

 

 

Do you have a link to back up your claim of the political motivations of those charged with rioting are actually right wing? 

 

My guess (note the use of the word guess here) would be that they are either Labour voters or non voters.  But that is all it is - a guess.   Their motivations were probably more aligned to simply being fathers who are scared for the future of their children if someone doesn't do something to address the actual problems caused by opening the borders to violent men who think it is normal to rape and kill women and children. 

[Chomper Higgot]

5 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

Do you have a link to back up your claim of the political motivations of those charged with rioting are actually right wing? 

 

My guess (note the use of the word guess here) would be that they are either Labour voters or non voters.  But that is all it is - a guess.   Their motivations were probably more aligned to simply being fathers who are scared for the future of their children if someone doesn't do something to address the actual problems caused by opening the borders to violent men who think it is normal to rape and kill women and children. 

Well there’s this:

 

https://www.thejc.com/news/jewish-groups-voice-disgust-as-far-right-rioters-do-nazi-salutes-and-target-muslims-y6u9w4za

 

And this from the rightwing Daily Mail:

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13717363/amp/Britain-far-right-riots-list-tonight-police.html

 

If you had any evidence they were left wingers or your ‘guess Labour voters’ you’d be banging on about it relentlessly.

 

You just can’t stomach the far rightwing being criticized for rioting, damaging property, torching cars and a library, attacking a totally innocent community and assaulting police officers.

 

[James105]

18 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Well there’s this:

 

https://www.thejc.com/news/jewish-groups-voice-disgust-as-far-right-rioters-do-nazi-salutes-and-target-muslims-y6u9w4za

 

And this from the rightwing Daily Mail:

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13717363/amp/Britain-far-right-riots-list-tonight-police.html

 

If you had any evidence they were left wingers or your ‘guess Labour voters’ you’d be banging on about it relentlessly.

 

You just can’t stomach the far rightwing being criticized for rioting, damaging property, torching cars and a library, attacking a totally innocent community and assaulting police officers.

 

 

So 2 out of the hundreds arrested were doing nazi salutes and 1 had a swastika tattoo (again with that same photo of the one man)?  That's your evidence to tar hundreds of people with?  Stop spreading misinformation if you cannot back it up, or if you don't want your "totally innocent community" to also be tarred with the same brush just because hundreds of them have been found guilty of raping children.  

 

The riots were caused by decades of appeasement and ignoring voters at every election about immigration.   It wasn't one single incorrect tweet.  It was pent up frustration at thousands of girls being raped, about kids being blown up at concerts and kids being stabbed every day of the week, and 3 kids being murdered when they should have been safe was a tipping point for some.

 

People have been ignored for decades about the problems.   Voting for the party that promised to fix immigration failed.  Also, recent history would have shown them that if democracy fails, then rioting will get you what you want:

 

1. BLM riots.  Got what they wanted, Starmer bent his knee to them.

2. Harehills riots.   Got what they wanted, concerns addressed.   

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

So 2 out of the hundreds arrested were doing nazi salutes and 1 had a swastika tattoo (again with that same photo of the one man)?  That's your evidence to tar hundreds of people with?  Stop spreading misinformation if you cannot back it up, or if you don't want your "totally innocent community" to also be tarred with the same brush just because hundreds of them have been found guilty of raping children.  

 

The riots were caused by decades of appeasement and ignoring voters at every election about immigration.   It wasn't one single incorrect tweet.  It was pent up frustration at thousands of girls being raped, about kids being blown up at concerts and kids being stabbed every day of the week, and 3 kids being murdered when they should have been safe was a tipping point for some.

 

People have been ignored for decades about the problems.   Voting for the party that promised to fix immigration failed.  Also, recent history would have shown them that if democracy fails, then rioting will get you what you want:

 

1. BLM riots.  Got what they wanted, Starmer bent his knee to them.

2. Harehills riots.   Got what they wanted, concerns addressed.   

Oh you don’t like the evidence, and skip the Days my Mail exposure of online rightwing groups agitating (who follows the lead of online rightwing groups agitating?)

 

And then you switch back to your customary whataboutary.

 

[James105]

15 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Oh you don’t like the evidence, and skip the Days my Mail exposure of online rightwing groups agitating (who follows the lead of online rightwing groups agitating?)

 

And then you switch back to your customary whataboutary.

 

 

Your links are just opinion pieces spreading the same misinformation you are doing.   "Angry fathers rioting after 3 little innocent girls were brutally murdered pushed them over the edge after decades of police inaction from certain 'communities' raping and killing children" is probably a headline closer to the truth but doesn't suit the current narrative really does it?  

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It comes as no surprise whatsoever that you don’t understand the term ‘critical thinking’.

 

The events of the past week demonstrate precisely how ‘dangerous’ it is to the rightwing.

 

 

Here we go again Chomper. You're off again after a short break.You have climbed into your bully pulpit, and once again are excoriating anyone who dares to deviate from your Orwellian stream of thought. Shout them down, accuse them of stupidity, drown them out with bellows of "left wing good, right wing bad"!

 

A point to consider, (you won't of course, far too busy shouting your slogans to even consider that any other view has any merit): if concrete measures are taken by politicians to ensure critical thought, on political topics amongst school pupils then the likely result is not critical thought, which means weighing all considerations before coming to a decision, but pupils following the prescribed "group think", particularly when you commence the process with primary school children.

 

And Chomper, you are becoming a comic figure with your enthusiasm for this government's authoritarian instincts. Were Charlie Chaplin still alive to remake "The Great Dictator" I'm sure he could find a cameo slot for you!

Edited August 12 by herfiehandbag

[MalcolmB]

3 hours ago, James105 said:

The details that he was a 2nd generation Rwandan immigrant

At least one of the stabbed girl saw also a migrant. Many people are forgetting that

[James105]

9 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Here we go again Chomper. You're off again after a short break.You have climbed into your bully pulpit, and once again are excoriating anyone who dares to deviate from your Orwellian stream of thought. Shout them down, accuse them of stupidity, drown them out with bellows of "left wing good, right wing bad"!

 

A point to consider, (you won't of course, far too busy shouting your slogans to even consider that any other view has any merit): if concrete measures are taken by politicians to ensure critical thought, on political topics amongst school pupils then the likely result is not critical thought, which means weighing all considerations before coming to a decision, but pupils following the prescribed "group think", particularly when you commence the process with primary school children.

 

And Chomper, you are becoming a comic figure with your enthusiasm for this government's authoritarian instincts. Were Charlie Chaplin still alive to remake "The Great Dictator" I'm sure he could find a cameo slot for you!

 

He doesn't want them to learn "critical thinking".  He literally wants them to be indoctrinated with group think.  Remember the teacher that actually taught critical thinking in a lesson?  He was fired for it:

 

 

https://scnr.com/article/teacher-from-viral-jk-rowling-critical-thinking-video-fired-from-college_a91f8d69117011ef9c930242ac1c0002

[JonnyF]

4 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Excellent news.

 

 

 

...If you're a Marxist. 

[JonnyF]

The idea that a couple from somewhere like Rawanda can land in Britain and give birth to a child and that child will hold British values and integrate is ridiculous. 

[RuamRudy]

5 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

The idea that a couple from somewhere like Rawanda can land in Britain and give birth to a child and that child will hold British values and integrate is ridiculous. 

 

What are British values and how do they differ from Rwandan values?

[John Drake]

4 hours ago, Celsius said:

No one complain about Thailand politics anymore after this.....including myself.

 

UK is a third world chithole jailing citizens over online posts while rapists and stabbers are let go.

 

 

 

 

 

Agree. There is only one subject that is out of bounds in Thailand. The political indoctrination that this story discusses in subjects such as mathematics tells you how thoroughly totalitarian the UK is becoming. Thailand is much, much freer.

[John Drake]

4 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

 

What are British values and how do they differ from Rwandan values?

 

Do the British engage in cannibalism?  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-24-mn-19379-story.html

 

 

[James105]

5 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

 

What are British values and how do they differ from Rwandan values?

 

Well, for starters there hasn't yet been a genocidal civil war in Britain (yet), so there is that.   

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_genocide

[RuamRudy]

4 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

Well, for starters there hasn't yet been a genocidal civil war in Britain (yet), so there is that.   

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_genocide

 

It is interesting that you should mention this particular horror, given that it was fomented by the spreading of deliberate misinformation and fake news. But regardless of the providence of it, it is hardly a quality of Rwandan people; it is a sad fact of history that blighted their lives. 

And it doesn't answer my question, which was in relation to BRITISH values.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, James105 said:

 

Your links are just opinion pieces spreading the same misinformation you are doing.   "Angry fathers rioting after 3 little innocent girls were brutally murdered pushed them over the edge after decades of police inaction from certain 'communities' raping and killing children" is probably a headline closer to the truth but doesn't suit the current narrative really does it?  

 

In summary:
 

‘Do you have a link to back that claim?’

 

Yes, here are two from reliable sources.

 

’No not those links, I don’t like those links, they blame the actual rioters and the people/groups that incited the riots with lies, they don’t blame the people I want to blame’.

 

Here’s the facts.

 

In response to the heinous murder of three children rightwing rioting thugs responded to online misinformation and lies by going on a riotous rampage destroying property, looting businesses, burning cars, torching a library, attacking a completely innocent minority and their places of worship, and violently attacking the police.

 

The Daily Mail article in particular links the online rightwing hate mongers to the rioting.

 

Despite the overwhelming evidence, police reports and court records you come back time and time again justifying the riots and the violence and blaming the completely innocent victims of the riots and thuggery.

 

Give it up with your ‘narrative’.

 

It’s over, justice is coming for the rioters and those that spewed the lies and misinformation that triggered the riots.