In case you weren't aware, worldwide there are countries with education systems whose purpose is to advance the knowledge available to their children, so that the next generation can be better than ours and not repeat our mistakes, or those of our predecessors.
- We teach them History, so that pupils can learn about the World Wars, the history of Nazism, how it starts, what it leads to, and how people get caught up in it. We can show them how history repeats itself, and how even the ancient civilisations went through rough periods from which they recovered from war, famine, despots and terrorism. We don't need to teach them that some of what happened was despicable, as it's self-evident even to a child, or that it shouldn't be repeated.
- We teach them Languages, so they can communicate with foreign peoples to build ties and understand each other, absorb knowledge from other cultures and appreciate the differences.
- We teach them Geography, so that pupils can learn how the Earth and its systems work, how it changes over time, including what we're doing to it and what the effects might be.
- We teach them Biology, so that pupils can understand their own bodies and the effects of some of the choices available to them, how we differ, and what modern medicine and care can do for them.
- We teach them Mathematics, so that they can estimate, measure, and accurately record numerical information and statistics and interpret them logically.
- We teach them Literature, so they can read and comprehend written records, media and studies of subjects that they may not be able to find a teacher for, so they can further their own education, read other's opinions, or gain a fresh perspective through the eyes of another person.
- We teach them Religious Studies, so they can question, debate and understand religious differences and other's approaches to life, and express their own beliefs in an atmosphere of acceptance and tolerance.
- We teach them Personal and Social Studies so they can understand how their world relates to that of others, and form co-operation and strength of individual character without having to denigrate others, and understand their social responsibilities.
- We teach them Computer Studies, so they are able to command devices to research topics on their own, tap into media streams otherwise unavailable to them, and communicate with their friends across the world.
- We teach them Psychology and Sociology, so they can have an informed knowledge of how they and others react and perceive situations, so that they can bring people together and see through a tissue of lies, and work towards brighter futures.
- We teach them Media Studies and Journalism, so they can understand the methods, techniques and constraints of what a news story can tell them, and how they can interpret it.
- We teach them Art and Music, Drama and Dance, so they can see the beauty of the world and share their thoughts, feelings and imagination with others, evoke emotions in themselves that may not be expressible, and work together to see how the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
- We teach them Photography and Videography, so they can understand how a different perspective can change the outlook or focus of a person, place or object.
- We teach them Economics, so they can understand their contributions to their country and the world, and learn how to use the available resources to achieve the best possible outcome, with the least long-term damage.
- We teach them Sports, so they can learn to play and compete, work as a team and win, work hard and still lose, and accept defeat or disappointment or opposition gracefully and professionally.
We teach them all these things, and much more, but what we appear to have omitted, in the idyllic environment that is a childhood in full time education, is that people exist who are setting out to achieve the exact opposite (whether by accident or design) and how to handle them.
I'm afraid, Sir, that you appear to be working your hardest trying to destroy these noble aims, of millions of children and millions of teachers and parents, across the globe, with rumour, false promise, misinformation, ignorance, denial, hatred, divisiveness, bile, bitterness and carelessness.
I do not see why some of the people of your country tolerate you or support you in these aims. While they are quite free to do so, it is beyond my understanding and education to justify their reasoning for such.
However, I do not support you. And though your actions are out of my control, and happening on the other side of the world to myself, they do still affect me, my friends and other people that I deal with every day. Your intolerance and ignorance is contagious, and unbecoming of someone in your position. I expect better of you, and of your country.
You are doing yourself, and your country, an injustice to proceed along the directions in which you are currently heading. There is no shame in ignorance, so long as it is acknowledged by those that are ignorant, but you are an embarrassment to the education system of your time, to your own intellect, and those around you - whether they realise it or not - by their acceptance of your deeds and words.
I hope that if future generations are unable to erase your mark upon the world, that they would at least learn to forgive you, to avoid repeating your mistakes, and to hold you as a model of what happens when all of the education above fails to reach its intended target.
