Common Core State Standard L.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: Video of a current news event is presented for discussion to encourage student participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the video. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
05/04/2026
Banksy’s 'blind patriotism' statue jolts London
Street artist Banksy stunned London last week with a surprise statue installation showing a suited man blinded by a flag about to march off the plinth that holds the statue. The artwork triggered intense online debate about the dangers of nationalistic “blind patriotism.” Banksy, who hides his identity, posted a video on Instagram showing how the statue was installed during the middle of the night in the center of the British capital.
■Class discussion: Could fervent patriotism blind a nation’s people to the danger of rushing into war or other disasters? When has this happened in the past? Banksy grew famous for stenciling social message murals on the walls of buildings, and the London statue is a new medium for him. Do you think he may have been inspired by the guerrilla art group that has erected several statues mocking President Donald Trump on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.?
