Researching Reform: Toddlers, anti-terror measures and taking children's passports - why our plans to conquer hate will fail

Since the Paris attacks last month a large body of work looking to understand the reasons why terrorists targeted France has come to light. We can learn much from these detailed analyses not least of all the importance of remaining calm and considered in the wake of widespread panic. Our government's current proposals to tackle terror however only create more opportunity to stoke the fires of hatred on both sides and crucially embroil our children in the next phase of extremism.

Given that terrorism is essentially a movement which seeks to defy oppression whether just in its quest or not policies which ultimately make a vulnerable group of people feel subdued further are going to be counter-productive. A slew of measures proposed by the current government and which target children continue to highlight a deep lack of understanding even on this basic principle.

At the beginning of the year the government hoped to enlist nursery school staff and registered child minders in the fight against extremism through a draft directive which wanted to make reporting on toddlers...

Read the full article here.