Schools in England are now required by law to ‘actively promote British values’ (DfE, 2014). This paper seeks to set this requirement within the context of a somewhat longer history of debates about values in Britain. It discusses the views of certain neoconservatives who claim that multiculturalism has eroded or even abolished British values. It then discusses the refocusing of the debate in relation to the rise of Islamist terrorism and examines some of the key rhetorical responses of leading UK politicians. The view that ‘promoting British values’ will strengthen identities and promote social cohesion is challenged. The concluding section of the paper develops an argument focused on liberal values, and stresses the importance in a pluralistic society of prioritizing certain values over others – notably rationality and autonomy – especially in education. Aspects of the work of Amartya Sen, John Rawls, Bernard Crick and Charles Bailey are discussed in this regard.

中文翻译：

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学校不列颠尼亚？“英国价值观”的修辞和教育用途

现在法律要求英国的学校“积极推广英国价值观”（DfE，2014）。本文试图在英国关于价值观的辩论历史较长的背景下设定这一要求。它讨论了某些新保守主义者的观点，他们声称多元文化主义已经侵蚀甚至废除了英国的价值观。然后讨论了与伊斯兰恐怖主义兴起有关的辩论的重新聚焦，并检查了英国主要政治家的一些关键修辞反应。“促进英国价值观”将加强身份认同和促进社会凝聚力的观点受到挑战。论文的结论部分提出了一个侧重于自由主义价值观的论点，并强调在多元社会中优先考虑某些价值观的重要性——尤其是理性和自主——尤其是在教育方面。在这方面讨论了 Amartya Sen、John Rawls、Bernard Crick 和 Charles Bailey 工作的各个方面。