Former Labour MP Lord Mann warned that there is no training for teachers on what anti-Semitism is
(Picture: PA Wire)Some teachers do not know what anti-Semitism is or how to deal with it, a government adviser has warned.
Former Labour MP Lord Mann called for new teachers to be given specific training about anti-Semitism to fill this “knowledge gap”.
As he launched a major report on tackling the issue in the UK, Lord Mann said he wanted all young Jewish teenagers in this country to be able to live their lives “like any other teenager without any additional hassles”.
His report, published today, calls for secondary school children to be taught about modern anti-Semitism as a mandatory requirement, in addition to pupils learning about the Holocaust.
It comes amid mounting concern about the spread of anti-Jewish hatred among young people — much of which is promoted by far-Right and neo-Nazi groups on social media platforms.
Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Lord Mann, who is the Government’s Independent Adviser on anti-Semitism, said: “A lot of teachers are raising issues of anti-Semitism and aren’t sure what it is and what to do about it. There is no training for teachers on what anti-Semitism is, or for schools in how to deal with it.
“And I think a very small input, in terms of time, would have a very disproportionate impact.”
He warned that the worst anti-Jewish hatred was being spread on smaller online platforms such as Telegram and 4chan, and called for any new regulations brought in through the Online Safety Bill to cover those platforms.
Lord Mann added that if someone was issuing threats, police should have the power to access information from internet companies “to get that person arrested and dealt with”. He added: “If the internet companies aren’t prepared to co-operate with that, and they certainly haven’t been, then there needs to be the powers to compel them.”
He said Kanye West, who has made anti-Semitic remarks, was creating “lots of potential problems for people”.
A Government spokesman said: “We support schools to construct a curriculum that enables the discussion of important issues such as anti-Semitism.”
