A REPORT on racist bullying in schools, which reveals that East Lancashire has the worst record in the county, is at first glance depressing.

But closer examination reveals that the figures are probably higher in East Lancashire because many head teachers are tackling the problem in a realistic way.

They are confronting racial tension instead of trying to hide it on the grounds that an admission would lead to bad publicity for their schools.

Solat Chaudry, racial harassment project manager at Blackburn Racial Equality Council, said the high number of incidents in the Blackburn area represented an increase in confidence in teachers.

That is a good sign. Racism in any form is evil, but it must be stamped out in schools. If children are influenced at a tender age by the twisted arguments of racism, there is every chance that bigotry will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Schools must not be allowed to become breeding grounds for racist thugs, or even those who are prepared to discriminate on racial grounds.

And while Mr Chaudry's observations on the confidence of teachers in East Lancashire may be correct, there is clearly a long way to go.

There are still heads who prefer to turn a blind eye towards the problem rather than sully the reputations of their schools.

Pupils who are harassed must be able to come forward and talk, without fear of meeting a dismissive attitude.

Every head has the responsibilty to tackle racism in its infancy. They have a crucial role to play in ridding Britain of this evil.

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