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By Matt Blake: 08:22 GMT, 25 May 2012
'Why do people hate Jews?' Shocking GCSE religious studies question set by Britain's biggest examinations board
Britain's leading examining board has been accused of 'justifying' antisemitism in schools after GCSE pupils were asked in
an exam to explain 'why some people are prejudiced against Jews'.
More than a thousand religious studies students sat the test last Thursday, which was set by one of the three major
English exam boards, AQA.
The bizarre question has sparked fury among teachers, parents, ministers and members of the Jewish community who have
blamed the body for 'justifying' anti-semitism in schools.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=article-2149734-067AD3D9000005DC-827_468x337.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/article-2149734-067AD3D9000005DC-827_468x337.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The question has caused such outrage that it has been carried to the very top of Government. Education Secretary Michael
Gove said: 'To suggest that anti-semitism can ever be explained, rather than condemned, is insensitive and, frankly, bizarre.
AQA needs to explain how and why this question was included in an exam paper.'
However, one examiner leapt to the board's defence, saying it was a 'legitimate' question that pupils needed to be asked.
Educator Clive Lawton, formerly an A-level chief examiner for religious studies for another board, said: 'I do understand why
people might react negatively to the question, but it is a legitimate one.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=article-2149734-020DF23F0000044D-153_468x331.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/article-2149734-020DF23F0000044D-153_468x331.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
'Part of the syllabus is that children must study the causes and origins of prejudice against Jews.' A spokesperson for AQA
said that the question was part of a paper focusing on Judaism and the 'relevant part of the syllabus covers prejudice and
discrimination with reference to race, religion and the Jewish experience of persecution.
'Why do people hate Jews?' Shocking GCSE religious studies question set by Britain's biggest examinations board
Britain's leading examining board has been accused of 'justifying' antisemitism in schools after GCSE pupils were asked in
an exam to explain 'why some people are prejudiced against Jews'.
More than a thousand religious studies students sat the test last Thursday, which was set by one of the three major
English exam boards, AQA.
The bizarre question has sparked fury among teachers, parents, ministers and members of the Jewish community who have
blamed the body for 'justifying' anti-semitism in schools.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=article-2149734-067AD3D9000005DC-827_468x337.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/article-2149734-067AD3D9000005DC-827_468x337.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The question has caused such outrage that it has been carried to the very top of Government. Education Secretary Michael
Gove said: 'To suggest that anti-semitism can ever be explained, rather than condemned, is insensitive and, frankly, bizarre.
AQA needs to explain how and why this question was included in an exam paper.'
However, one examiner leapt to the board's defence, saying it was a 'legitimate' question that pupils needed to be asked.
Educator Clive Lawton, formerly an A-level chief examiner for religious studies for another board, said: 'I do understand why
people might react negatively to the question, but it is a legitimate one.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=article-2149734-020DF23F0000044D-153_468x331.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/article-2149734-020DF23F0000044D-153_468x331.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
'Part of the syllabus is that children must study the causes and origins of prejudice against Jews.' A spokesperson for AQA
said that the question was part of a paper focusing on Judaism and the 'relevant part of the syllabus covers prejudice and
discrimination with reference to race, religion and the Jewish experience of persecution.
