sounds like a bit of Giertych in the UK
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LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is considering introducing compulsory lessons
on "core British values" for children in response to last July's suicide bomb
attacks on London, the government said on Monday.
Education minister Bill Rammell said a six-month review would examine whether
all 11 to 16-year-olds should be taught about issues such as freedom of
speech, civic responsibility, and democracy and how historically they
developed in Britain.
"If we are to get a proper modern sense of British identity, which I think is
the best way to tackle extremism, then I think that's very important,"
Rammell told BBC radio.
"When we look at what happened with the bombings last July, when people were
prepared to kill themselves in order to kill others, I think education can
play a role in helping to get a better sense of what are the core values ...
that cut across the cultures in Britain."
The proposal comes in response to the attacks on London on July 7 when four
Britons blew up themselves and 52 commuters on the capital's transport system.
Last week the government produced a definitive narrative about the bombings
but some critics said it failed to adequately address what had driven the men
to carry out the attacks as they had shown little outward sign of militant
behaviour.
Mohammad Sidique Khan, who was believed to be the group's leader, was a well-
respected teacher who worked with children with special needs while another,
Shehzad Tanweer, played cricket with friends the night before the bombings.
Rammell said he had met Muslim students and academics since the July attacks
to listen to their views and grievances, and there was a consensus for a
debate on the issue.
"What are those things that are essential to all cultures within British
society?" he said.
"I think we need a better debate about that nationally and I do think we need
to be discussing it through the curriculum with children."
The government has previously said understanding British customs and history
was vital for immigrants who wanted to become British citizens.
Last October it brought in compulsory tests on British life which immigrants
had to pass before they could apply to become British.
Meanwhile a further government review will also study the quality of teaching
about Islam in universities to examine whether narrow, religiously orientated
studies might fuel extremism, the BBC reported.
uk.news.yahoo.com/15052006/325/lessons-british-values-considered.html 