CHILDREN will be given lessons in racial literacy from the age of four as part of the council’s anti-racist education strategy.

Brighton and Hove City Council has previously refused to release details of anti-racism lessons to be taught in schools.

But a newly published version of the strategy has revealed more about what these are likely to include.

Citing Boston University associate professor Evan Apfelbaum, the strategy says: “There is ample evidence spanning decades that children as young as three years old begin to learn the markers of racial categories and racial hierarchy and yet the widespread view that children, particularly young children, are racially unaware persists.

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“In addition, we heard in our consultation with young people that children learn throughout their education that racism is an uncomfortable topic for adults and consequently have few opportunities to develop their own understanding and capacity to discuss this complex topic.”

Two curriculum frameworks will be developed, one from early year to key stage two (primary school), and one from key stage three through to five (secondary school and sixth form).

In relation to diversifying and decolonising the curriculum, the strategy quotes  the late sociologist Stuart Hall’s remarks:  “The very notion of Great Britain’s ‘greatness’ is bound up with empire. Euro-scepticism and Little Englander nationalism could hardly survive if people understood whose sugar flowed through English blood and rotted English teeth.”

It suggests ensuring colonial history is taught and contributions to scientific and mathematical knowledge across the globe is recognised.

The overall strategy’s stated principles and values include two quotes from Ibram X Kendi, a university professor linked with the controversial philosophy critical race theory.

The first is: “We are all socialised and conditioned into unequal and racialised societies.

“All of us have work to do to ‘unlearn’ the racism we have absorbed from society.”

The second is: “The majority of the people around the globe are not white and yet ideas about white superiority are still deeply influential and prevalent.”

The strategy is going before the council’s children, young people and skills committee on Monday.

Although details have so far been scant, it has already come under fire for using the controversial critical race theory as a “lens” for developing anti-racist education in schools.

In January, a petition presented by former teacher Adrian Hart, said that “critical race theory” was “racially divisive” and could place the council and schools in breach of equalities law. Last month, Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch said schools were to receive guidance that it should not be taught as fact. The same day, the city council released slides and video links from training sessions given to teachers.

These included links to videos from the author of White Fragility Robin DeAngelo and references to Make America Great Again and celebrating Columbus Day.

A linked report says the council has recruited an anti-racism education adviser as part of its £500,000 five-year strategy and conducted workshops and focus groups.

The annual £100,000 spend is broken down as £12,800 for staffing, £36,000 for school projects, £27,000 for community group projects, £21,000 for training and £2,000 for equipment.

Work funded by the strategy includes receiving feedback from 300 people through focus groups with headteachers, governors, parents and pupils. The report said: “The majority of feedback on the strategy was very positive.”