Education Conference Organizers Prioritize Safety and Cancel Critic of Anti-Racism Ideology

Organisers of an education conference have informed an educator that she will not be participating in a panel she was invited to after receiving complaints that her presence made some attendees “feel unsafe.”

Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, an experienced educator, was scheduled to appear at a panel at the Rethinking Education Conference on Friday. The conference aims to improve the way current and future generations are educated.

Mrs. Cuthbert is the director of Don’t Divide Us (DDU), an organisation that opposes the UK’s “divisive obsession with people’s racial identity.”

Mrs. Cuthbert stated that she was informed of the cancellation of her panel and appearance in the discussion on ‘indoctrination’ in schools, with the reason given as the necessity of “psychological safety for free debate.”

‘Ludicrous’

According to The Epoch Times, Mrs. Cuthbert was informed that seven individuals complained about feeling “psychologically hurt and distressed” due to the presence of a speaker from DDU at the conference.

She argued that safeguarding does not apply to adults, as it is meant to protect children or vulnerable individuals. She also mentioned that the organiser stated it was a logistical decision and that he held no position on Don’t Divide Us.

She called the claim of psychological harm absurd, stating that just seven individuals potentially prevented hundreds from hearing her on the panel.

She added, “Out of a panel of three speakers, it’s me, the one who is clearly most staunchly against indoctrination, and a woman of colour to boot, I’m the one who gets disinvited.”

Not Feel Safe To Speak

The Rethinking Education Conference spokesperson directed The Epoch Times to a statement from Rethinking Education Director James Mannion.

The statement did not address the claim that Mrs. Cuthbert was cancelled due to the necessity of “psychological safety for free debate.”

However, the statement confirmed that Mrs. Cuthbert would not attend the conference due to the prioritization of speakers’ and delegates’ safety.

In the statement, Mr. Mannion emphasized the importance of engaging in difficult conversations and subjecting ideas to scrutiny and challenge. He mentioned that several individuals had expressed concerns about feeling unsafe speaking alongside a representative of Don’t Divide Us.

Anti-Racist Policies

DDU has conducted investigations into anti-racist policies, arguing that they impose new ideologies that “re-racialise” society.

The organisation’s advisory council includes notable figures such as Tony Sewell CBE, Chair of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities; Rakib Ehsan, researcher and commentator; and Stephen Pollard, former editor of the Jewish Chronicle.

DDU has raised concerns about the Church of England’s adoption of the controversial ideology Critical Race Theory (CRT) in its schools, particularly the promotion of the “pyramid of white supremacy” theory. It also highlighted that the majority of councils partner with third-party providers to promote concepts such as “structural racism,” “white privilege,” and “unconscious bias.”

DDU has emphasized the lack of standardization in the availability of such materials, which contributes to transparency and accountability issues.