Teachers warn of surge in racism and misogyny

Misogyny and racism are flooding UK schools as pupils ape the behaviour of figures such as Donald Trump and Andrew Tate after exposure through social media and online gaming, teachers have warned.

- Richard Adams

A survey by the NASUWT union found most teachers identified social media as "the number one cause" of pupil misbehaviour, with female staff bearing the brunt. Teachers also raised concerns about parents who refuse to accept school rules or take responsibility for their children's behaviour.

One teacher told the union: "A lot of the students are influenced by Tate and Trump, they spout racist, homophobic, transphobic and sexist comments in every conversation and don't believe there will be consequences."

Patrick Roach, the NASUWT's general secretary, told the union's annual conference yesterday: "Two in three teachers tell us that social media is now a critical factor contributing to bullying and poor pupil behaviour. Pupils who believe it is their inalienable right to access their mobile phones throughout the school day - and use them to interrupt lessons, bully others, act out, or to garner respect from their peers."

One primary teacher said: "I have had boys refuse to speak to me, and speak to a male teaching assistant instead, because I am a woman and they follow Andrew Tate and think he is amazing with all his cars and women and how women should be treated. These were 10-year-olds."