Nigel Farage Accuses Teachers of ‘Poisoning Our Kids’ on Racial Topics
Nigel Farage has asserted that educators would initiate walkouts within weeks a Reform UK election victory, charging that they are “harming young minds” by instructing children that African-Caribbean youth are oppressed and white children oppressors.
During an event for a Michigan-based religious institution, Farage outlined his viewpoint on British schools, claiming that the “radical left-wing” had “taken over schooling”.
“I’m anticipating a walkout by educators very quickly after securing a victory,” Farage commented during a Q&A session.
“They are poisoning our kids. They are telling them to feel guilt about their nation. They are telling an eight-year-old black child that he is a victim and little Oliver, who is white, who is eight that he is a perpetrator. They create division, not uniting us. They are feeding this negative culture.”
Reacting to Farage’s claims, the head of a major education union rejected the idea that the education system was controlled by Marxists as “nonsense”. Kebede noted that any strikes must relate to teachers’ terms and conditions, and questioned whether the party would target these immediately upon entering government.
“The politician has crafted his political career on coded rhetoric and currently, similar to other figures, he is targeting educators and their unions for a conflict,” the union leader said.
“I think that’s grossly irresponsible. Neither I nor our union – advocate such divisive theories as he claims … If he were to lead the government he would sell out our public services, including education … and he would be a disaster for education and children.”
The party, which tops surveys by a significant margin, has not set out much detail on a proposed education policy and does not appear to have appointed an education spokesperson.
Nonetheless, Farage’s remarks indicated the party would overhaul the system and the curriculum. He said: “We face an enormous task with schooling – absolutely herculean. Moreover, it won’t happen quickly; it will take us years, a long-term effort to reform.”
Farage expressed that younger generations are receptive to critical thinking, but older youth were “completely lost”.
Honoring a conservative activist, Farage said: “My goal for schooling is to teach critical thinking – to educate individuals that there are two points of view and you make up your own mind as opposed to what’s happening now where one is virtuous and one is evil. This is a huge undertaking in the UK and US.”
Reform has previously clashed with a major educators’ organization, after Kebede called the party “extremist and prejudiced” and described the leader as “a cheap imitation”.
Farage has accused Kebede of being “an avowed radical” … an individual intent that young minds be corrupted at school, their minds should be poisoned regarding national issues” and has argued that the organization seeks to brainwash teenagers against Reform.
Roughly a million individuals are employed in education in the UK, about half of whom are teachers and the remainder being assistants and administrative personnel. The leading teachers’ organization has about 450,000 members.
National strikes over teacher pay and conditions in 2023 led to significant interruptions in schools and millions of days of lost learning for students.
During the American gathering, the Reform leader also pledged to help spread the online educational material of the institution in the UK. He said such groups were “part of the fightback”, adding that: “I mean this. I will help attract vast numbers of young people to these educational programs. I pledge this tonight and I will follow through.”
The college, a small private Christian college, offers free courses. According to its online description: “Comprehensive learning is vital for well-being and to maintain the benefits of freedom. The college furnishes these excellent programs for free to every interested learner.”
