Does 'Free Speech' Exist in Schools? Facing Inequalities in Public Education
- Location
- Teaching and Learning Lecture Theatre 2
- Dates
- Wednesday 29 January 2025 (16:00-17:00)
Join Professor Karl Kitching for his inaugural lecture "Does ‘Free Speech’ Exist in Schools? Facing Inequalities in Public Education.
Right-wing governments and commentators across multiple countries have claimed that free speech is under threat in universities, while seeking to silence anti-racist and LGBTQ+ inclusive education in schools. These efforts in schools often use claims of childhood innocence and religious freedom to discriminate. They tend to assume that freedom to discuss and organise around issues of race, sexual and (trans)gender equality is irrelevant to school-going young people. Yet young people from minoritised backgrounds consistently, directly and indirectly show us how and why addressing multiple inequalities is not just important to them, but to the very meaning and future of public education.
In this inaugural lecture, Professor Karl Kitching will offer a personal and scholarly account of how and why freedom for young people, their teachers and communities to address inequalities and divisions is more important than ever. He will share his research from Ireland and the UK on how education policy and practice both enables communities to, and prevents them from facing inequalities. Rather than mourn the state of ‘public education’ in an era of right-wing dominance, Karl will argue the struggle to address race, class, religion, gender and sexuality inequalities and divisions is a vital part of schooling becoming public.