The Great British School Swap started last night (April 16th) and viewers were left fuming over the views of the pupils and their parents.
The programme, aired on Channel 4, puts youngsters from different backgrounds in schools where their race is the minority – all part of an experiment exploring segregation in Britain.
For many viewers it was an eye-opening watch – particularly a scene when two 13-year-old students, Lucas and Kiran, met one another.
Read more: Axed Emmerdale star Shila Iqbal’s racist and homophobic tweets revealed
Lucas, who is bisexual and transgender, was told by Kiran: “Shall I say my honest opinion? I just don’t like gay people. I just don’t know. I feel weird around them.”
The kids’ parents appeared to be similarly prejudiced, with one parent admitting: “I’ve not met many Asians in Tamworth because they’re all in Birmingham. They’ve not come over yet. I’m waiting for them to come over here and try and take our jobs.”
Outraged viewers took to Twitter to slam the scenes and the views being aired, blaming the parents for the things the children were coming out with.
One stormed: “No child picks up those words on their own! No one of any colour or religion is born racist, you are simply a product of your environment. I love the idea of this programme. #GreatBritishSchoolSwap.”
Another fumed: “Children are not born racist. Learnt behaviour! So important to teach equality and diversity! Can’t bear to watch.”
A third tweeted: “WHO is bringing their children up to think that this sort of racist and homophobic attitude is okay? My kids could NEVER #GreatBritishSchoolSwap.”
Someone else said: “Rather than be angry at the racists or bigots featured in #GreatBritishSchoolSwap. I feel embarrassed that so many parents have failed their own children. Be thankful you had good parents who taught you to view everyone the same and be open minded. I am.”
A fifth commented: “It worries me there are adults that are so uneducated and ignorant to not know which words are racist and which aren’t. Their kids don’t have a bloody chance.”
https://twitter.com/BiancaRoseOx/status/1118448949713678336
Children are not born racist.
Learnt behaviour! So important to teach equality and diversity!
Can’t bear to watch 😢#GreatBritishSchoolSwap— ICR (@GWMissGLW) April 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/ambxenos/status/1118264530805641218
Rather than be angry at the racists or bigots featured in #GreatBritishSchoolSwap i feel embarrassed that so many parents have failed their own children.
Be thankful you had good parents who taught you to view everyone the same & be open minded. I am.
— Yousaf 🏴🇵🇰🇯🇴 (@Yousaf_S_1987) April 16, 2019
It worries me there are adults that are so uneducated and ignorant to not know which words are racist and which aren’t. Their kids don’t have a bloody chance. #GreatBritishSchoolSwap
— Rose Ely (@roseely11) April 16, 2019
Others, while not specifically blaming the parents, felt for the kids and argued they’re just a product of their environment and the language they’re around every day.
Read more: EastEnders viewers argue over Kat Moon’s ‘racist slur’ to newcomer Habiba
One wrote: “That poor girl didn’t realise that what she said was offensive. Possibly not her fault if that’s the language she’s been exposed to. He could’ve explained it in a more informative way rather than basically saying ‘that’s racist’ #GreatBritishSchoolSwap.”
Someone else said: “I hope none of the kids in #GreatBritishSchoolSwap are reading the twitter commentary about how ignorant / racist / vile / uneducated / homophobic / rude they & their families are… when they are just honest, naive and vulnerable for trying to learn by taking part #Exploited.”
Not sure about Mr Wahab. That poor girl didn’t realise that what she said was offensive – possibly not her fault if that’s the language she’s been exposed to – he could’ve explained it in a more informative way rather than basically saying ‘that’s racist’ #GreatBritishSchoolSwap
— FB (@stirfriedwild) April 16, 2019
I hope none of the kids in #greatbritishschoolswap are reading the twitter commentary about how ignorant / racist / vile / uneducated / homophobic / rude they & their families are.. when they are just honest, naive & vulnerable for trying to learn by taking part #exploited
— RedSquirrel (@GodSquadandMe) April 16, 2019
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