A teacher at the front of their class teaching a group of secondary school students

Talking to Children About Terrorism: Tips for Discussing Sensitive Issues


This blog post was published under the 2017 – 2019 Conservative government


 

Teachers do a fantastic job of safeguarding children against many threats and dangers, even though this is not always an easy task. Talking about radicalisation and terrorism, for example, can ignite broader debates around politics, culture, religion and prejudice; these are sensitive conversations that can be tricky to manage in a classroom environment.

However, the importance of educational professionals in leading these difficult conversations cannot be overstated. If neither school nor home is a safe space to discuss these issues then it leaves an information gap that can be exploited by those with sometimes sinister agendas. This includes those looking to radicalise young people.

Most Prevent referrals come from statutory agencies and this reflects teachers’ unique position in fostering resilience though critical thinking and pastoral care and support.

 

 

With this in mind, Educate Against Hate has put together some tips for facilitating honest, thoughtful and dynamic discussions surrounding terrorism and its associated influences:

1. Ask pupils what they currently know and plan your lesson accordingly.

Not only does this help children feel listened to, it provides teachers with an opportunity to tailor the conversation toward specific concerns and prepare a response to any difficult questions which might arise.

 

2. Address challenging narratives with empathy.

Generalising or stereotyping comments can be tackled by helping pupils to understand how prejudices are formed and reinforced. Encouraging pupils to think about the issue from a different perspective is key, as is providing examples which dispel commonly held preconceptions.

 

3. Emphasise community cohesion.

Though the complexity of the factors involved in terrorism and extremism should be acknowledged, we must be mindful of overwhelming pupils, and in turn fostering a sense of division or powerlessness. One way to mitigate against this might be to highlight the sense of solidarity and shared values in your own school. By celebrating our own communities and providing positive examples of people working together to address problems, we are presenting pupils with a model of resilience in practice and providing a strong counter narrative to polarising influences.

 

4. Engage directly with the causes.

The best way to build resilience against extremism is to ensure that pupils understand how extremist ideas establish themselves and what extremists are trying to achieve. Resources such as Extreme Dialogue can be helpful to explain why some people are attracted to extremist narratives – whether that be Islamist, far right or as part of the Northern Irish conflict. Then, by explaining why values like democracy, inclusivity and tolerance are important, and by clarifying the threat that extremist ideologies pose to them, we can give pupils the tools they need to challenge dangerous ideologies where they confront them.

 

5. Be clear about what is and is not acceptable.

While there are no “right” answers to many of the questions associated with radicalisation, there are some views which should not be tolerated, and may even need to be escalated. Students should be able to speak freely, but this must also be done safely, and with the rights of others in mind. This can be ensured by clarifying that ideas which infringe on another’s safety or incite hatred or violence are in breach of the law, and by exploring the balance of rights and freedoms with pupils. For further support and practical resources for conducting safeguarding, visit our Teachers’ hub.

Popular Resources

Debating can enable young people to engage with a broad range of social, scientific and ethical issues facing society today. It can provide students with the opportunity to learn how to argue and defend points of view. Debating Matters provides guides and resources for setting up debate clubs in schools, together with details on the Institute of Ideas’ National Debating Matters Competition.

 


A note about our third-party resources 

Third-party resources are those not created directly by the Educate Against Hate team, or by the Department for Education. All third-party resources hosted on Educate Against Hate have undergone a quality-assurance process, a due diligence assessment and content review before being added to the site, so you can have confidence that you’re using trusted, accurate, high-quality content.  

You should use any resources on this website at your own discretion. When selecting resources and materials to use, schools may find it helpful to review guidance produced by the Department for Education on using external agencies.  


 

A 15-hour programme of creative activities for young people to develop awareness, skills and knowledge related to democracy and voting, thereby supporting the promotion of British values. It is likely to be most effective when used with young people whose engagement with politics and the democratic process is relatively low, but who have some interest in social and community issues and who care about making a positive change in their communities and beyond. The programme helps to make ideas about democracy accessible. Information and activities can be adapted so they are relevant and appropriate for each group of young people.

Through a series of hard-hitting films of real people affected by radicalisation, Extreme Dialogue enables teachers to show young people all the faces of extremism. It equips young people to challenge extremism, helping them navigate core themes and questions using films, educational resources and training. Videos are accompanied by interactive presentations (Prezis). The downloadable resources are all modular and are informed by more than 20 years of research and experience in managing global and community conflict. The seven true stories include a mother whose son died fighting in Syria and a former member of a far-right terrorist group. You will need to give your email address to Extreme Dialogue when downloading the below resources.

 


A note about our third-party resources 

Third-party resources are those not created directly by the Educate Against Hate team, or by the Department for Education. All third-party resources hosted on Educate Against Hate have undergone a quality-assurance process, a due diligence assessment and content review before being added to the site, so you can have confidence that you’re using trusted, accurate, high-quality content.  

You should use any resources on this website at your own discretion. When selecting resources and materials to use, schools may find it helpful to review guidance produced by the Department for Education on using external agencies.  


 

Magistrates visit schools, colleges and community groups to discuss how our justice system works, including how verdicts and sentences are decided. Teams of magistrates give a presentation and discuss a range of topics, including how magistrates are appointed, what kind of cases they deal with, how guilt or innocence is decided and sentencing when guilt is established. The presentations are tailored to suit different audiences and requirements. These visits can support schools in promoting fundamental British values by giving students the opportunity to learn about and engage with the rule of law.