20th December 2013 9:00
By Blue Tutors
In recent weeks, many students have become involved in demonstrations and occupations in protest of the funding and management of education in this country. Students are becoming politically aware at an earlier age, facilitated in no small part by the government’s removal of the education maintenance allowance (EMA) which teenagers received in order to help them with the costs of staying in education. Private tutors work with students from different backgrounds with different understandings and opinions on the issues which shape our society. They are at a crucial point of development, where some are becoming politically aware, and others, politically active. But how far should tutors make their own opinions known?
Tutors of humanities and social sciences in particular will be aware as they discuss the political themes which have shaped history, that it is difficult not to convey a particular opinion. Lessons on propaganda and media lead to discussions of politics, media and use of tools and techniques to produce certain ideas. Education is a key topic in Sociology, and many of the studies on the syllabus criticise aspects of education policies which still endure today. If students are doing well, they are making connections between education studies, political science and literature focussing on social justice, and the current state of affairs in our country’s education system.
Some will choose to discuss their opinions with their tutors, and it is the tutor’s decision how far they choose to reveal their own beliefs. It is certainly necessary to allow students the space to develop their own ideas, and interrogate their own ideas. Tutors then need to ask themselves whether revealing their own political views will bias the student and prevent them from reaching conclusions on their own. It is often the case that students pick up their political leanings from listening to their parents’ views, but should it be the case that they also pick up their opinions from their tutors? The reality is that they will, and should at least to some extent, as being exposed to ideas other than their parents’ is beneficial. But at the same time, tutors must ensure that their students are given the space to form their own opinions, and are encouraged to do so – even if the result isn’t what the tutor wants to hear.