The issue of Educationally Subnormal (ESN) or ‘Special’ schools as highlighted by Lyttanya Shannon’s 2021 documentary, as well as an Afrika Speaks show last year is back in the news amid the launch of a new campaign. (1)

The launch took place on March 1^st in a packed Committee Room 12 at the House of Commons, hosted by Labour MP Kim Johnson (Liverpool Riverside) and chaired by Leigh Day solicitor Frances Swaine, who is “spearheading the campaign.” (2)

The panellists included esteemed educator and activist Professor Gus John who provided a comprehensive historical context of the issue.  Crucially, he pointed out the differential treatment of Afrikan and Asian pupils with allowances being made for the latter due to English being deemed an additional language.  No such concession was afforded Afrikan students who were characterised as ‘English speakers’ even though they were purveyors of what poet and academic Edward Kamau Brathwaite would call “Nation Language.” (3)

One of the key moments of the event was when fellow panellist Leslie Thomas KC, advanced a Ten Point Plan to address the legacy of ESN school in the Afrikan Community:

1. Acknowledge the harm done to Black children in the UK educational system in the 1960s and 1970s and its ongoing impact.  We can’t move forward until that is acknowledged. This will help to begin the healing process for victims and their families.
2. The government should provide compensation to the victims and their families, upon suffered.  This could include financial compensation, access to education, healthcare and other resources.
3. The government should provide education and training to teachers, administrators and policy makers on the history of the impact of racism in education, cultural competency and anti-bias practices.  This will help ensure that all children regardless of their background receive a fair and equitable education.
4. Develop culturally responsive and anti-racist curriculum and teaching practices in schools.  The UK education system should undergo curriculum reform to better reflect the experiences and contributions of Black people throughout history.  This includes teaching about the legacy of slavery, colonialism and racism as well as highlighting the achievements and contributions of Black people in all fields.
5. Increase diversity and representation in the teaching profession   The UK education system should work towards increased representation and diversity among teachers, administrators and other education professionals as well as in the ranks and among the leadership.  This will help ensure that all children have access to role models who reflect their own experiences and backgrounds.
6. Provide training for teachers and school administrators to recognise and address the specific needs of Black children. 
7. The government should establish mechanisms to monitor and hold accountable schools and other educational institutions that perpetuate racial discrimination and bias.  This could include setting up an independent body to investigate complaints of racism and discrimination in schools.
8. Community engagement. The government should look to work with Black communities, families and other stakeholders to ensure that their voices are heard and their needs and concerns addressed in education policy making.
9. Implement measures to reduce exclusion rates and improve academic attainment for Black children. 
10. Establish a public enquiry to provide a space for the public acknowledgement of the harm done to Black children and to provide accountability for the wrongs that were done with appropriate actions and apologies.

Bro. Leslie offered these as “an example of a few potential action step that will require a sustained concerted effort from all stake holders to create lasting change.”  He added that we should all “speak up for Justice, reparations and a more equitable society.”

The plan certainly puts the emphasis on the state who advanced the pernicious practice in the first place.  It is an attempt to get some relief for a community that historically has had a tendency to, as Prof. John put it apply “Private solutions to public ills,” that can inadvertently have the effect of letting institutions off the hook.

In addition, Bro. Noel Gordon who has been very active in this area has re-launched a petition for: “Justice for children incorrectly labelled “educationally subnormal” in 1960s/70s” (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/631043)

If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate in Parliament.  The deadline is 23 July 2023.  So far there are almost 500 signatories.  Last time the community fell well short of the target. Our participation should be seen as an indication of how seriously we view this issue.

Sis, Blaze of Chalkhill Community Radio has drafted to letter to the Prime Minister that community members can use as a basis to send their own:

Apology for Labeling children from  the Caribbean Educationally Subnormal

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing to you today to address a matter of great importance, which is the recent controversy regarding the wrongful labeling of Caribbean children as “Educationally Subnormal” in British schools.

It has come to light that during the 1960s and 1970s, many children from the Caribbean were wrongly labeled as “Educationally Subnormal” by teachers and educational authorities in the UK. This labeling had a devastating impact on the lives of these children, who were often marginalized and denied access to educational opportunities and support that they needed to succeed.

The impact of this labeling has been felt for generations, with many of these children and their families suffering from low self-esteem, decreased opportunities, and limited social mobility.

As a nation, we must take responsibility for the harm that was done to these children, and seek to make amends for the damage that has been caused. I am therefore calling on you, as the leader of this country, to issue a public apology to the children and families affected by this injustice.

This apology should be accompanied by a commitment to providing support and resources to help these individuals and their families overcome the effects of the labeling they experienced. This might include access to counseling, educational opportunities, and financial compensation for those who have been harmed.

It is only through acknowledging and addressing the injustices of the past that we can move forward as a society and ensure that all individuals have equal access to opportunities and resources. I urge you to take action on this matter and provide a clear signal that the UK government stands in solidarity with those who have been affected by this wrongful labeling.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Sis. Blaze

It can be sent here: https://contact.no10.gov.uk/

(1) Lyttanya Shannon (2021) Subnormal: A British Scandal. Rogan Productions/Lammas Park/Turbine Studios. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000w81h/subnormal-a-british-scandal; Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (11/07/22)  ‘SUBNORMAL’: Has the education scandal really ended? https://alkebulan.org/2022/07/10/aswag-389-esn-scandal/

(2) Vic Motune (28/02/23) Black Britons launch legal action over ‘educationally subnormal’ label. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/uk-news/2023/02/28/black-britons-launch-legal-action-over-educationally-subnormal-label/

(3) Montague Kobbé (19/12/10) Caribbean identity and nation language in Kamau Brathwaite’s poetry. https://memofromlalaland.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/caribbean-identity-and-nation-language/

we ask the question:

ESN Schools – what is their legacy?

1) Have you signed the petition? Can we get to 100,000 by July?

2) What do you think of the Ten Point Plan?

3) Do we have the capacity to a “sustained concerted effort” to support it?

4) Is this a reparations issue?

Our Special Guests:

Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant.  Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of almost 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.

Bro. Noel Gordon: was wrongly sent to an ‘Educationally Subnormal’ (ESN) school for ten years from the age of six.  In spite of being unable to read or spell when he left school he gained a raft of impressive qualifications as an adult, including a degree in computing.  Bro. Noel is now spearheading a campaign to get an apology, justice and compensation for thousands of victims of the ‘ESN’ Scandal (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/631043).

Sis. Maisie Barrett: was wrongly sent to an ‘Educationally Subnormal’ (ESN) school for seven years from the age of six.  She entered mainstream school aged thirteen she was diagnosed with dyslexia, but the damage was already done and she never really caught up.  However, she later applied herself in evening classes and qualified as a social worker.  She is the author of Windrush Children: Our Stories and  Subnormal: How I was Failed by The British Education System and a Colonial Family: The Windrush Generation published on 1^st March. 2023 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Subnormal-Education-Colonial-Windrush-Generation/dp/B0BW23RXXV/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=subnormal+how+the+british+failed&qid=1678024613&sr=8-1)

Bro. Renee Stevens: was sent to an ESN school from the age of 11. He suffered physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his teachers. He is now 57 and is still traumatised by the experience.