According to the country’s strictest headteachers, children are born with ‘original Sin’ and must be taught how to be good.
Katharine Birbalsingh (newly appointed Government adviser) was criticized for ‘whipping-up division’ in a Twitter spat.
Birbalsingh, who was previously the headteacher at St Michael and All Angels Academy Camberwell in south London, stated that all children must be taught right from wrong.
She had responded to a comment by a user of social media, which stated that “we all are born bad”. Birbalsingh, 48 wrote: ‘Exactly. Original sin. Children need to learn right from wrong and be trained to choose goodness over evil.
“That requires love, constant correction, and love from all the adults in their life over years. Moral formation is a positive thing.
Katharine Birbalsingh, a new Government adviser (pictured), was criticised for ‘whipping up discord’ in a Twitter spat.
Saeed Atcha, who was the commissioner for young people for three year before his term expired yesterday, blasted her comments as ‘unhelpful’. He stated that he hoped it wasn’t a sign of things to follow.
According to him, the Times reported that he thought that the chair of the commission should not be making unhelpful comments and whipping up division.
“Social mobility is serious business. It’s complex and requires people to come together. This is a tone that has been used by the commission throughout its three-year tenure.
Jessica Oghenegweke, another departing commissioner, said she disagreed with Birbalsingh. She said that she had always seen children ‘in their best light’ and that any negativity resulted from a lack support.
Sammy Wright, commissioner for schools and vice-principal at Southmoor Academy in Sunderland, said she supported Birbalsingh’s point but didn’t think it was very well phrased.
She said that Twitter spats were not beneficial for social mobility.
Boris Johnson visits Michaela Community Schools in Wembley (London) in 2015 as children participate in a history lesson.
According to Liz Truss (the women and equality minister), Birbalsingh will “level up opportunity and allow everyone the chance of succeeding” in her new role.
The former headteacher spoke at the Conservative Party conference about state education in 2010. She later resigned from St Michael and All Angels Academy in Camberwell, south London, to set up the Michaela Community School, in Wembley, northwest London.
She believes education should be centered on the teacher and that the adult is the authority in the classroom.
Her school does not accept excuses. Children must walk in a single file. Silence and lateness are punished with detention.
After the resignation of Dame Martina Milburn as chairperson of the previous commission, it was re-established by Sandra Wallace (and Steven Cooper) jointly.