Katharine Birbalsingh on Christianity, original sin and re-enchanting education

Dubbed 'Britain's strictest headteacher', Katharine Birbalsingh's no-nonsense approach to education has won her both fans and critics. But the Michaela Community School she founded in inner city London has proven itself with outstanding results. Katharine talks to Justin and Belle about why, even though she does not profess faith herself, she sees the value of the Christian worldview in education.
For Re-Enchanting: www.seenandunseen.com/podcast
There’s more to life than the world we can see. Re-Enchanting is a podcast from Seen & Unseen recorded at Lambeth Palace Library, the home of the Centre for Cultural Witness. Justin Brierley and Belle Tindall engage faith and spirituality with leading figures in science, history, politics, art and education. Can our culture be re-enchanted by the vision of Christianity?

[@katherinayalacuenca3160]

Still remember my year 7 french lessons with Ms Birbalsingh.. whilst other teachers couldn't control our class, her approach definitely kept everyone engaged :D

[@lubberwalker]

Birbalsingh makes me want to go back to school 60 years on.

[@martynmettam9296]

Katharine is such a breath of fresh air. She makes such good sense and is not apologetic about it. Kids do need to be taught right from wrong, and to be proud of their country.

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

I used to command a Royal Air Force Air Cadets unit, basically a military based youth organisation for 12-18 year olds. My adult staff and myself ran a highly disciplined unit based on instilling self discipline which we promoted from the moment a ceded came through the door for the first time. We had great attendance and few real issues. One of the things which always made me realise that we were doing it right was when parents would call me, often at the end of their wits asking if their son/daughter was as uncontrollable and bad at cadets as they were at home. Invariably I’d have to answer that their child was good mannered, well disciplined, positive and a great young person. Whenever I looked further into it it would transpire that there was no structure or discipline at home instilled by the parents. People need standards to work to, goals to reach just within their grasp, positive things to aspire to but to do that they need people to set those standards and to encourage them to achieve.

[@michellecuneo2427]

My husband is a wrestling coach. He has some really difficult boys, one is specifically the most rebellious. Ever since he put down the law and gave strict guidelines to him, he seems to like my husband more and gravitate more towards him for direction.

[@theinngu5560]

It’s true ..I used to be a teacher and most kids, especially the more difficult kids prefer strictness as long as they know the teacher is fair and cares.

[@nc0849]

They want guidelines and leadership. Children are well aware that they lack in skills and knowledge about the world and they look for this guidance they lack. But adults don't give it to them anymore... they expect them to find their way on their own.

[@codinghusky5196]

Children thrive under strict leadership. That's just a fact.

[@rosemaryalles6043]

Excellent podcast. Fascinating woman. 💚

[@steveh572]

Great podcast! Not just this episode but on the whole.

[@deal2live]

Changing the standard rather preparing to reach the required standard!!

[@bettymofokeng3404]

Thank you Justine 🙌🙌🙌

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

I think this woman is amazing in her attitude.

[@smt.mkpatel280]

St Katherine. Naughtiness are the seed of genius in dogs and cats. We have to focus universally so to speak God created the world. All of education/ learning is a balm. You are interesting. OK, Misha Patel my daughter is going to teach at Michaela. She would love to be good friends with you.

[@Chris_Patton]

Im an American so I may be misinterpreting some of the cultural subtext, but it felt to me like the interviewers were a british version of our evangelical Christians, who have the most passive aggressive elitism imaginable, and whose moral superiority is the side B of a record whose side A is puritanical woke liberalism. Could be wrong but that was my impression. Im always amazed to see that those two forces- woke liberalism and right wing evangelism- which i identify as pathologically American, have even more insufferable iterations in the UK. Katherine, on the other hand, is beyond awesome.

[@PocketDelicious]

37:00 Lol! Seriously...

[@deal2live]

Poor white kids are richer than poor black kids? The questioner compared black inner city kid v white kid from the home counties!!! 😂😂😂

[@PocketDelicious]

Almost made me stop listening. We don't need baited and leading questions. Katharine handled it very well.

[@seyiwole3383]

They like the strictness?😮😮😮😮😮

[@rosemaryalles6043]

Children need discipline. The role of an adult is to teach, not to ask kids "what gender are you today?" (being somewhat facetious of course). Children feel safer with structure/discipline. 💚

[@mrmikepreacher]

@@rosemaryalles6043 100%

[@suedavey8711]

Children need boundaries to learn respect.

[@ranonampangom2185]

I would rather have had more in my schools.

[@GreenWhitePurple]

Most kids hate having their classes disrupted by the few, even if they don’t feel they can say it.

[@PocketDelicious]

@51:15 Bruh...have you listened to yourself...?

[@codinghusky5196]

About identity. I don't understand today's kids really. Their identities are sexage and colourage. If someone of my generation was asked about their identity, the answer used to be "artist", "writer", "metalhead", "raver", "dancer", "hacker"... It's like there's a growth that's been stunted, like they're stuck at the age of 3 wondering am I a boy? Am I a girl? I must be a cat!