Children will be taught how to spot extremist content and misinformation online under planned changes to the school curriculum, the education secretary said.

Bridget Phillipson said she was launching a review of the curriculum in primary and secondary schools to embed critical thinking across multiple subjects and arm children against “putrid conspiracy theories”.

One example may include pupils analysing newspaper articles in English lessons in a way that would help differentiate fabricated stories from true reporting.

In computer lessons, they could be taught how to spot fake news websites by their design, and maths lessons may include analysing statistics in context.

  • @JustARaccoon@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    94 months ago

    Idk critical thinking skills might be good as long as it’s not politically backed to single out a specific ideology or propaganda source.

    • @rambling_lunatic@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      44 months ago

      I don’t know about you, but I have a sinking feeling that a country organized on liberal principles will integrate liberalism into its education.

      • @yamanii@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        44 months ago

        This already happens, most people that become socialists only do it by university age, I still think teaching kids to identify fake news is a good thing, maybe they radicalize even earlier thanks to that.

        • @rambling_lunatic@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          English
          34 months ago

          I know it already happens. I’m worried it will intensify.

          I myself became a socialist late into middle school, but I recognize that I’m an edge case.