'If a child feels an incident is racist - it is'

It is estimated that around 250,000 racist incidents have been officially reported by schools since the legal duty to report took effect in 2002. Race relations officials claim this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the hidden reality of racism in Britain - 'institutional' or otherwise.

Are schools awash with racism or is this a fiction produced by a new brand of official anti-racism?

The Myth of Racist Kids' is a report produced by The Manifesto Club Publications , Adrian Hart uses his own experience working in primary schools (and observing one too many diversity workshops) as a spring-board for exposing what passes for anti-racism.

Adrian Hart demonstrates that today's official anti-racism threatens to disable a generation of children from rising above the divisive concept of race.

This brand of anti-racism has no place amidst Britain's dynamic social diversity and should, Hart argues, be scrapped: "This brand of anti-racism is about as progressive as racism itself and bears the familiar hallmark of the state seeking further opportunities to colonise and regulate everyday life. It stifles the burgeoning diversity taking place in Britain's primary schools, undermines the authority of schools, mistrusts teachers and profoundly misunderstands the nature of children."

Recommended Readings

How official Anti-Racism holds black children back. Published on Spiked Online.

Can a Four Year Old be Racist?. Published on TES connect.

Jane Elliott, the American schoolmarm who would rid us of our racism. Published on The Guardian.

Schools reporting 40,000 racism cases a year. Published on The Telegraph.

Speakers

Chair

In the Media

The Jeremy Vine Show, BBC Radio 2
In this extract of the show, Jeremy Vine discusses the increases of racism in schools with Sonia Poulton and Adrian Hart.
Last broadcast on 29th October 2009, 12:00 on BBC Radio 2
Click here to Listen 10 mins 47 sec

The PM Show, BBC Radio 4
In this extract of the show hosted by Carolyn Quinn, Adrian Hart and Jane Lane discus the increase of racism in schools.
Last broadcast on 29th October 2009, 17:00 on BBC Radio 4
Click here to Listen 6 mins 22 sec

BBC Radio 5 Live - The Breakfast Show
In this extract of the Radio 5 Live Breakfast Show, Nicky Campbell discusses the increases of racism in schools with Adrian Hart author of 'The Myth of Racist Kids' published by the Manifesto Club.
Click here to Listen 10 mins 50 sec

More 4 News, Channel 4 TV
Nina Teggarty of More 4 News asks - Is school racism really a 'myth'?
Last Broadcast 29 October 2009 on More 4 News
Click here to Watch 3 mins 52 sec

The George Galloway Show, Talk Sport Radio
In this two part extract of the show, George Galloway discusses the increases of racism in schools with Adrian Hart.
Last broadcast on 30th October 2009, 11:00 pm on Talk Sport Radio
Click here to Listen to Part 1 8 mins
Click here to Listen to Part 2 5 mins

LBC Talk Radio - The Breakfast Show
In this extract of the LBC Sunday Morning Radio Show, Andrew Pierce discusses the increases of racism in schools with Adrian Hart author of 'The Myth of Racist Kids' published by the Manifesto Club.
Broadcast on 1st November 2009, 11:00 pm on LBC Talk Radio
Click here to Listen 10 mins 33 sec