TREVOR Phillips (TES, July 28) is absolutely right to argue that the history of Britain is one of the successful integration of successive waves of asylum seekers and refugees.
He is right too, to suggest that the history of Britain needs to be central to history that is taught in the country’s schools.
A couple of problems. First, it is a little difficult to see New Labour embracing a move to a multi-culural, anti-racist school history curriculum.
Here’s hoping, however.
Second, the Government’s continued bashing of asylum-seekers fronted up by Home Secretary Jack Straw is rather undermining the message that, er, Jack Straw wants to send about national identity. One wonders if these two Straws are in fact related in anyway.
Keith Flett
38 Mitchley Road
Tottenham
London N17
