Labour government’s plan to tackle reporting of fake news welcomed
Education: Secondary / Mon 12th Aug 2024 at 08:35am
THE Society of Editors has welcomed an announcement by the government that differentiating fake news from accurate reporting online may be taught in primary and secondary schools in the wake of far-right riots across the UK.
The announcement of a widespread curriculum review was made on Saturday 10 August 2024 by the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (pictured) who said that 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”.
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Barry
2024-08-12 10:34:59
Welcomed by who? Communists probably. Allowing the government to deem what's true and what isn't sounds very Orwellian and CCP to me. Next they'll come for your thoughts. Just wait until the social credit scores, facial recognition and such are rolled out. We'll see if you'll welcome it then.
Seamus
2024-08-12 12:12:43
I'm sure Kim Jung Un said the same in North Korea. As with most things where there are two opposing views, the truth is somewhere in the middle. By saying "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”. MS Phillipson is deciding the government of the day is always telling the truth and that should be spoon fed by government dictat, as the truth. We know amongst most professions, politicians are one of the greatest groups for untruths themselves. Hardly a standard of leading from the front. Leave the kids alone and free from your subliminal indoctrination.
Resident
2024-08-12 14:25:45
It's not the fake news that's the problem, it's idiots who don't question what they read. This would be a really bad step away from freedom of speech and challenging the status quo. Read 1984 if you support this plan.
Guy Flegman
2024-08-12 14:50:29
Unless I have been sadly missinformed ( best put that in just in case) There is some very scary tech coming our way in the coming years that allow our governments to control us in ways most people would dismiss as science fiction. Yet these technologies are already in use in conflict zones around the world in what I would refer to as beta testing. The illusion of democracy is well and truly disappearing before our eyes. Luckily for use our ruling classes do not seem to be to bright, so I expect that they will shoot themselves in the foot with this as the government is usually the prime source of disinformation in most societies.
Guy Flegman
2024-08-12 14:54:37
Please excuse the spelling mistakes. I am blaming the pre-emptive spell checker. Now there is an idea. An AI spell checker that does not let you write falsehoods.
gary roberts
2024-08-12 15:46:45
When I went to school in the early 1970's everything was so much easier. No computers, no i-phones, no AI, or social media. Life allowed you to grow up. I despair for the young today who have to deal with all that nonsense and deceit. Mind you I have to admit to being a hypocrite given I have tutored MS Office. At nearly 65 that will end soon as well.
Exo
2024-08-12 21:39:47
Always find it funny when YourHarlow writers post about misinformation. Do they not look at the bottom of their articles? Easy to turn a blind eye when there's money to be made.
David Forman
2024-08-13 10:35:02
When disinformation by far-right activists and sympathisers causes riots, arson, looting and vandalism then something must be done. As Guy Flegman says it is governments that are routinely guilty of disinformation. A well respected journalist Peter Oborne was able to dedicate an entire book to exposing the lies of Boris Johnson and Donald Trump. So encouraging critical thinking in school children to sort the wheat from the chaff is no bad thing. See Oborne's book at https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/peter-oborne/assault-on-truth/9781398501003#GOR011147714
gary roberts
2024-08-13 12:32:46
Mr Forman, I am also aware of Mr Oborne but where would this subject be placed in an overcrowded curriculum? I would like to see finance included in the mathematics subject area. But that wont happen either because I have asked.
David Forman
2024-08-13 13:39:58
For Gary Roberts' benefit: It will be taught in the Citizenship section of the National Curriculum Key Stages 3 and 4. In Key Stages 1 & 2 it could be slotted in the Religious education section. See page 82 of https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5da7291840f0b6598f806433/Secondary_national_curriculum_corrected_PDF.pdf
Resident
2024-08-13 14:36:17
David Forman who will be deciding what media outlets are accurate and not fake news ? Children should be taught to have open minds , question sources, read around subjects to get more than one perspective. Do discussions on social media of actual lived experiences that contradict official sites who have their own agenda count as fake news? It's a slippery slope if the aim is to teach young children to only accept 'official' sources as reliable. Free Critical thinking is a good thing, children being taught to dismiss everything that isn't on an approved list of sources isn't. This needs to be clarified. They're not writing academic essays
Gary Roberts
2024-08-13 16:00:02
Mr Forman, when you start believing official documents as to process then be ready for disappointment on outcome. If it happens I will buy you a Labour party hat to display at council meetings. A rare treat for the Labour luvvies you once enjoyed the company of. If it doesn't you can buy me a retirement hat with Canada on it. Lol.
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