Eamonn Holmes has hit out at the "woke" guidance in schools, saying education today is unrecognisable compared to when he was growing up.
It came after reports of new guidance to tackle absenteeism, which includes telling teachers not to ask pupils questions in case it "makes them anxious".
Speaking about this on GB News, Eamonn said: "A favourite programme on telly is called Educating Yorkshire, and it’s on Sunday nights at eight pm on Channel Four.
"Every week, my mouth just hangs open at what is permitted in schools and how different they are compared to my day and the amazing job that teachers have to do.
Eamonn Holmes blasted the 'woke' guidance
|GB NEWS
"But, it is completely different from what you and I would remember at school."
Eamonn’s panellist Dawn Neesom said the idea was "ridiculous", insisting: "They are teachers. It is their job".
But fellow guest Kris Akabusi defended the move, saying it was about recognising neurodivergent pupils, including those with autism.
Mr Akabusi explained: "I get where they’re going, and it’s very easy to go with the popular view here, but I think they’re not saying all pupils.
"They’re asking teachers to take into account that there may be certain sets of classes with neurodivergent people, autistic pupils, for whom it does make a difference.
"I do work with children who’ve been in care, and sometimes I’ve got people in the room who are autistic.
Kris Akabusi defended the move, saying it was about recognising neurodivergent pupils
|GB NEWS
"Because I’m energetic and stuff, I’ve got to be very careful how I approach them. Sometimes, if I’m asking a question, I won’t even look directly at them."
Eamonn said: "I don’t think you can sit and say, 'We’ve got one girl, better not ask her that' or whatever. You can’t keep differentiating and cutting things up like that. I think you have to re-look at what teachers are expected to do."
Dawn agreed: "I think if we’re preparing children for the outside world, we have to be tougher with them than we are now.
"You can’t wrap them up in cotton wool. The world does not revolve around them, they have to toughen up, sorry. You will be asked questions in life."
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It comes after it was revealed last week that schools across Britain are handing out taxpayer-funded "wellbeing" surveys that ask children as young as 11 to label their gender identity and rate their life satisfaction.
The #BeeWell Survey, part-funded by the Government, is currently being distributed in schools across the country.
The questionnaire begins by telling pupils to select a gender identity from a list including girl (including trans girl), boy (including trans boy), non-binary, I describe myself in another way, and not sure.
One section titled Emotional Difficulties: Me and My Feelings asks pupils to assess their own mental health.
It then moves on to questions about "life satisfaction", "self-esteem" and "emotion regulation" areas critics say are far too complex for children barely out of primary school.
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