Jillaine Heather: Free Speech Union CEO on the rise of school-aged boys spreading 'extremism'

There's growing push-back on the idea that children should be censored at school, as extremism spreads.

PPTA members are seeing misogyny spread through the classroom, and they're putting it down to a 'toxic online culture of masculinity'.

The union wants to make addressing online extremism an official policy, and is calling for Government action.

Free Speech Union CEO Jillaine Heather says it's hard to stop children picking up new ideas different to their parents' views.

"What you want to do, if you disagree with those ideas, is engage with them. Engage in counter-speech, dismantle the ideas, test them, get them to bring their receipts. You can't censor those ideas, surely."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Secondary teachers say there's been a dramatic rise in extremism
among high school students, especially young boys. It includes the spread,
they say, of misogynistic views that are amplified by social
media figures like Andrew Tate. The Teacher Union wants the
government to do something about the whole thing. JILLIANE. Heather Is,
the chief executive of the Free Speech Union, is on
the line with us tonight.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Good evening, Hi Ryan, thanks for having me.

Speaker 1 (00:24):
Jelane. What did you make of the comments today from
the PPTA.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
I was, to be honest, I was a little confused
about the comments. I'm not at all downplaying that there
are issues that teaching is an incredibly tough and important job,
but it really seemed to be that these were the
ideas that they disagreed with. You know, they sort of
said that classrooms are not ideological battlegrounds, and they wanted

(00:51):
more the government to censor or prohibit certain views, and clearly,
with the Free Speech Union, that is absolutely something we
don't have cap for where where we're for more speech,
open discourse, more dialogue, and not censorship of ideas no
matter how bad they are.

Speaker 1 (01:09):
One of the issues that was raised was that there
were boys apparently saying they were pro Trump or Trump boys,
COUMP supporters, and some girls who were saying that they
wanted to be their career choice would be traditional wives
or tradwives, in other words, staying at home, raising children,
getting married, that kind of stuff. Is there anything wrong

(01:29):
with that?

Speaker 2 (01:32):
You literally are talking to the wrong person, Ryan. Those
are ideass kids are programmed to push back against the
ideas that the adults hold, the ideas that the generation
before them held. I think they were completely legitimate political
or vocational ideas that kids can hold. And what you
want to do if you disagree with those ideas is

(01:54):
engage with them, engage in counter speech, dismantle the ideas,
test them, get them to bring their receipts. You can't
censor those ideas. Surely.

Speaker 1 (02:03):
What about social media? The other argument here is that
social media is making everything worse. You know, as you
say you're from the free speech Union, that's free speech
and action Jesus pretty ugly.

Speaker 2 (02:16):
Look, I don't disagree at all that social media the
algorithms can bring out the worst and really amplify the worst.
You know, there are absolute legitimate concerns from many parents
and teachers, and you know, sort of that asymmetrical power
and balance between the tech platforms and kids. But again

(02:36):
we know from history censorship and prohibition just doesn't work.
You drive the ideas underground, you make them more enticing,
you give them that stride and effect. You know, what
you really want to do is engage with these ideas,
or if we're talking specifically about social media, you really
want to engage with more targeted school community education efforts,

(02:57):
enhance media literacy more soon, mention critical thinking skills, you know,
the ability to evaluate the evidence, give parents, give teachers,
and give the kids and hard skills to deal with
social media because it's not going away.

Speaker 1 (03:11):
Julian appreciate that. Thank you. Julian Heather, Chief executive Free
Speech Union.

Speaker 2 (03:15):
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Speaker 1 (03:19):
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