Philips: Separate classrooms and revoke fathers access

By Ligali Media Network | Mon 7 March 2005

Segregation headline

Comments by Trevor Phillips, head of the Commission for racial equality has been condemned after he suggested that schools try seperating African British boys in a bid to improve their academic attainment.


The government who rejected Philips idea stated that such separation would have negative effects and risked stigmatising African British pupils.

In the BBC magazine programme Inside Out, Philips was flown to the US to pick up tips on how to tackle the low academic attainment of African British pupils by observing practices at institutions that has predominantly African American students.

Trevor Philips


Eliza Doolittle

Dr Stan Mims, director of District Education, East St Louis, Illinois believes its ‘dad for donuts’ programme and ‘My Fair Lady/Eliza Doolittle’ strategy where students are instructed in table etiquette and dance are helping to turn the tide of African-American academic attainment issues.

Eliza Doolittle style table etiquette and dance lessons


External Links
BBC Inside Out Report
Has the Commission for Racial Equality lost its way?


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Speak Out!

Do we need African heritage schools similar to Jewish and Muslim faith schools where the teaching of a non Eurocentric version of the curriculum and an Africentric culture of educational excellence is the norm
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If they cant be bothered to turn up for parents evening, should they expect automatic access to their sons?


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Students awarded for Africa Before Enslavement film
The Way We See It: An interview with Dr Sandra Richards
Mixed Heritage Education

Philips bizarre proposal apparently encouraging the disengagement of uninvolved fathers warrants no further discussion, his calling for those who do not attend school parents’ evenings to be denied access to their children is ludicrous.

Yet it is ironic that the CRE chair has suggested a system of separate education in certain lessons for African British pupils so soon after calling for the death of multiculturalism. Whilst he is wrong on his strategy, surely his willingness to seek revolutionary answers is laudable.

In this instance we ask did he only fail in not going far enough. Shouldn’t he have proposed the development of schools based around African culture and heritage similar to Jewish and Muslim faith schools? Would not our children excel in an aspirational environment where their identity is not seen as a barrier and where the teaching of a non Eurocentric version of the curriculum with an endemic Africentric culture of educational excellence is the norm?

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