Nigel Farage Accuses Teachers of ‘Poisoning Our Kids’ on Race Issues

Nigel Farage has asserted that teachers would go on strike shortly after a success at the polls for his party, charging that they are “harming young minds” by instructing children that black pupils are victims and white children oppressors.

During an event for a private US Christian college, the politician expressed his perspective on British schools, claiming that the “Marxist left” had “taken over schooling”.

“I’m anticipating a walkout by educators soon after winning the next general election,” he remarked in response to questions.

“They are corrupting young minds. They are telling them to feel guilt about their nation. They are telling little Johnny, who’s eight, who is black that he is oppressed and a white child of the same age that he is a perpetrator. They are dividing us, instead of fostering unity. They promote this harmful mindset.”

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”. He pointed out that any strikes must relate to educators’ working conditions, and questioned whether the party would target these immediately upon entering government.

“The politician has crafted his political career on dog-whistle politics and currently, similar to other figures, he is lining up teachers and their unions for a conflict,” the union leader said.

“I think that’s grossly irresponsible. I don’t – and nor does my union – advocate such divisive theories as he claims … Should he become prime minister he would undermine state services, particularly schooling … and he would be a disaster for students and learning.”

The party, which is leading the polls by about 10 points, has not set out much detail on a proposed education policy and seems not to have appointed an education spokesperson.

However, Farage’s remarks indicated the party would overhaul the system and the curriculum. Farage declared: “We have got a massive job with education – truly monumental. And, we can’t do it in six months or a year; it requires years, a long-term effort to reform.”

Farage expressed that gen Z was more open to critical thinking, but millennials were “absolutely hopeless”.

Honoring Charlie Kirk, Farage said: “My goal for schooling is to teach critical thinking – to instruct people that there are two points of view and they should decide for themselves rather than what’s happening now where views are labeled good or bad. This is a huge undertaking in both Britain and America.”

Reform has previously clashed with the UK’s largest teaching union, after the union leader labeled them “extremist and prejudiced” and dismissed Farage as “a cheap imitation”.

The politician has charged the union head with being “an avowed radical” … someone who is absolutely determined that our children should be poisoned through education, their thinking tainted regarding national issues” and maintained that the union is trying to indoctrinate teenagers against Reform.

Almost one million people are employed in education in the UK, with educators comprising half and the others teaching assistants and support staff. 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, Farage also pledged to help spread the digital courses of the Christian college in the UK. He said such groups were “part of the fightback”, adding that: “I mean this. I will help garner hundreds of thousands, if not millions of young people to these educational programs. I make that commitment tonight and I will follow through.”

The institution, a religious educational establishment, provides complimentary classes. According to its online description: “A scientific, literary, theological, political, and moral education is vital for well-being and to maintain the benefits of freedom. The college furnishes these beautiful courses for free to all who wish to learn.”