Schoolchildren who have been influenced by Andrew Tate are writing sexist essays and harassing teachers, a conference heard.
Multiple teachers told the National Education Union’s annual conference they had noticed ‘a rise in the influence of misogynist influencers on social media aimed at students’ which normalises violence towards women.
Stephanie Reed, from Hackney, said: ‘In my school, English teachers have been marking essays where students say that the portrayal of Curley’s wife in Of Mice And Men proves that women are dangerous and they belong in the kitchen.
‘I haven’t read it for a while but I don’t remember that being my interpretation of it. I don’t think my colleagues are teaching that as an interpretation either.
‘If students are saying this in essays to be handed in to their teachers, this just shows how little they understand the problems with what they’re saying.’
She added that she had heard about pupils using ‘coded language, dog whistles, even hand gestures that students are using to reference online misogynists’.
A primary school teacher from North Somerset, Jennifer Bhambri-Lyte, said she had dealt with sexual harassment in her primary school – ‘a bit of smacking bottoms and some body shaming comments’.
She went on: ‘There will be primary colleagues in our workplaces and in this room who have dealt with far worse.
‘The rot starts early and even the thin end of this appalling wedge is not okay so we need to begin the education now.’
Caroline Gorczak, from Redbridge, told the conference: ‘In my nine years of teaching I’ve seen a worrying shift in some young people’s misogynistic views.
‘Hearing sexist comments in the corridor has become commonplace.
‘I’m sure that you have overheard (Andrew Tate’s comments on women) this discussed in playgrounds or in your own classrooms. This is deeply worrying.
‘How have we got to a place where toxic masculinity and misogyny has come to take over the minds of young people, in particular boys and young men?
‘It looks to me that we have gone backwards in this matter.’
Louise Regan, from Nottingham, added: ‘Andrew Tate’s misogynistic views have spread both globally and into our schools.’
The conference voted the executive to create resources on teaching about sexism, sexual harassment and violence and to develop resources to support students in identifying online misogyny.
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: ‘Empowering schools to take steps to challenge misogyny towards women is essential.
‘It is a necessary response to the climate of fear generated by the latest scandals about Metropolitan Police officers and the Child Q case, which have left women and girls, especially black women and girls, feeling unprotected and unsafe.
‘As educators we want schools and colleges to be safe spaces, free from sexual harassment, sexual violence and misogyny – which is why we are saying “it’s not OK”.’
Who is Andrew Tate?
Andrew Tate, 36, is a former kickboxer-turned influencer has spoken to his millions of followers about what he calls ‘men’s divine imperative to become as capable, powerful and competent as possible’.
He insists he is not misogynist, but has been banned from a number of social media websites for his content.
This has included a video where he has told the camera: ‘Females are barely sentient.
‘Females don’t have independent thought. They don’t come up with anything. They’re just empty vessels, waiting for someone to install the programming.’
He was arrested on December 29 in Romania as part of an ongoing human trafficking investigation – charges he denies.
Tate has been released from prison and put under house arrest in Bucharest, Romania.
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