Teaching materials used in primary schools about the former shadow minister in Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party materials come with a disclaimer about her potentially ‘offensive’ opinions.
Teachers are advised to shield pupils from Ms Abbott’s ‘controversial’ views in warnings included in pre-prepared lesson plans and presentations.
However, the warnings do not explain which of her views may be found controversial or offensive by pupils.
The off-the-shelf classroom resources created by UK publisher Twinkl, and seen by the Sunday Telegraph, also suggest that young children should not be allowed to research the politician too thoroughly.
The illustrated resources include an overview of “Diane Abbott and black UK politicians”, and a template for a KS1 school assembly on “black British history”.
All materials carry a warning, for the benefit of teachers, which states: “Please note: although Diane Abbott has achieved great things in politics, we would advise against allowing your class to freely research more about her life.”
It adds: “Some of her recent comments have been controversial and potentially offensive.”
The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP, 70, had the Labour whip suspended earlier this year after a letter she wrote was published in the Observer in which she suggested that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people are not subject to racism “all their lives”.
She wrote that while white people “with points of difference” may suffer prejudice, they have not suffered the same racism as black people.
A KS2 overview covering 2,000 years of black British history from the Roman invasion to the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 carried disclaimers for only two issues: the subject of slavery, which may be “too upsetting for children”, and the opinions of Ms Abbott.
