There has been a rise in the need for change in trying to eradicate racism in UK top private schools. Westminster School, for one, has faced allegations from over 250 former students for the unending culture of racism.
Each of the alumni signed a letter urging the learning institution to tackle the culture of racism starting with their student bodies and introduce the learning of black culture, which is vital in helping students to come face to face with its historical links with slavery.
Racism in UK top private schools
UK top private schools are encountering pressure in trying to deal with the culture of racism as most universities have come up with ways on how to address racism in their learning institutions.
A letter issued to Patrick Derham, and his replacement headmaster, Dr.Gary Savage, indicated that there has been a rise in racial incidents that were spiked by the latest incidents in support of the movement, Black Lives Matter, whose former students include politicians like Dominic Grieve and Nick Clegg. This was just the begging in trying to address racism in UK private schools.
Despite the prestigious top private school in the UK being applauded for its productive approach to teaching, former students felt that not even once did they study books written by authors that are black. They then realized that they didn’t learn much about the black history in oppression
The alumni said,
A prestigious institution like Westminster, their key role should be ensuring their pupils lead in the forefront, in the need to end racism, devoted and armed to bring change in the community.
Westminster School has a committee tackling racism
Westminster School is linked to slavery. One of its alumni is William Beckford whose a Lord mayor. A total number of 28 former students outlined in the letter that among the houses in their Westminster school, one is named after Richard Hakluyt, a man who was known to encourage and support American colonization.
One of the societies in Westminster School is named after John Locke, a man well known to justify racism, and lastly, a queen Elizabeth I statute who was described as ` the monarch who began the English colonial project` by the students.
The 28 students in the letter inquired about what concrete measures the school had put in tackling the longstanding unpunished culture of racism in the school, for many years the school has been ignored and not dealt with accordingly.
A statement released by Westminster School responding to racism allegations stated that they had a committee formed by students and staff where they could review its policies in place to tackle racism and develop ways to promote diversity in the community as depicted in the society.
