History Forum / General / British History / July 2008

> telegraph.co.uk
> By Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent
> 07/07/2008
>
> Toddlers who dislike spicy food 'racist'
>
> Toddlers who turn their noses up at spicy food from overseas
> could be branded racists by a Government-sponsored agency.
>
> The National Children's Bureau, which receives £12 million a
> year, mainly from Government funded organisations, has issued
> guidance to play leaders and nursery teachers advising them to
> be alert for racist incidents among youngsters in their care.
>
> This could include a child of as young as three who says "yuk"
> in response to being served unfamiliar foreign food.
>
> The guidance by the NCB is designed to draw attention to
> potentially-racist attitudes in youngsters from a young age.
>
> It alerts playgroup leaders that even babies can not be ignored
> in the drive to root out prejudice as they can "recognise different
> people in their lives".
>
> The 366-page guide for staff in charge of pre-school children,
> called Young Children and Racial Justice, warns: "Racist incidents
> among children in early years settings tend to be around name-
> calling, casual thoughtless comments and peer group relationships."
>
> It advises nursery teachers to be on the alert for childish abuse
> such as: "blackie", "Pakis", "those people" or "they smell".
>
> The guide goes on to warn that children might also "react negatively
> to a culinary tradition other than their own by saying 'yuk'".
>
> Staff are told: "No racist incident should be ignored. When there is
> a clear racist incident, it is necessary to be specific in condemning
> the action."
>
> Warning that failing to pick children up on their racist attitudes could
> instil prejudice, the NCB adds that if children "reveal negative
> attitudes,
> the lack of censure may indicate to the child that there is nothing
> unacceptable about such attitudes".
>
> Nurseries are encouraged to report as many incidents as possible to
> their local council. The guide added: "Some people think that if a large
> number of racist incidents are reported, this will reflect badly on the
> institution. In fact, the opposite is the case."