Primary school

Educating against Racism
Friday 27th September 2013
Osei Sankofa
Lizz Bennett
EDUCATION
INFLUENCES
MEDIA
PARENTS
OUTCOMES
STEREOTYPING
VERBAL ABUSE
PREJUDICE
FRIENDS
SCAPEGOATING
SOCIAL NETWORKS
SUCH AS FACEBOOK
EXCLUSION
FAR RIGHT GROUPS
SUCH AS THE EDL
PHYSICAL
ATTACKS
DISCRIMINATION
Aims
1.
To provide starting points for discussion about racism
with young people
2.
To identify ways to effectively challenge negative
attitudes to create positive change
3.
To equip delegates with information and activities to
address racism throughout the curriculum
What are we doing
already?
Section One
To provide starting points for discussion about racism
with young people
Why do we need to think about
this with young children?
Studies by Jeffcoate (1979) show that White
nursery children learn not to express negative
attitudes in front of adults. They pick up
unspoken messages that there are times when
they are expected to express what they feel and
others when they should not.
Discussing similarities and differences between
young people
Discuss the things we all share - our common humanity, our
concern for others, our need to be loved, our need to eat and sleep
and play and have a home and clothes - all of which can be
different.
Give all children the opportunity to discuss similarities and
differences between people: skin colours, hair textures, eye, lip
and nose shapes, temperaments and abilities, about cultural
differences and about how positive self-identity and self-esteem
develops.
By not giving a negative message by trying to silence children or
not answering their questions properly or saying the subject isn’t
something to be talked about.
What can we use to discuss these
issues with young children?
Stories
Skin Tone
Paper
Persona Dolls
Photographs
‘Multicultural’
Crayons
Class 1, ‘Turtles’ – Elwood Infant School
The Importance of a ‘Safe Space’
•Perception is reality
•Things vocalised by young people are valued as
an insight into their perceived reality
•Denial of feelings or experiences
•Non-Judgemental
•Safe Space encourages participants to have their
grievances aired
Burning
Questions
Exploring
Stereotypes
Section Two
To identify ways to effectively challenge negative
attitudes to create positive change
Effective
Challenges
Section Three
To equip delegates with information and activities to
address racism throughout the curriculum
CRACK
THE
FACT
Muslims have
contributed
significantly to
UK society
You should avoid using the
terms “black coffee,
blackboards and black bin
liners” as they are offensive.
“Oh no…here come the PC
BRIGADE…”
Most terrorist attacks
in Europe are
committed by
Muslim extremists
In 2011 there were 174 terrorist attacks in EU
member states. NONE of these were carried
out by Al-Qaeda affiliated or inspired groups
In 2009 and 2010, there were 543 terrorist
attacks in Europe, of which only 4 were
committed by Muslims. This means that only
0.7% of terrorist attacks– less than 1%– were
committed by Muslims.
Over 1000 people have
been arrested whilst
marching with the English
Defence League
Many Local Authorities
renamed Christmas
celebrations “Winterval” and
banned Christmas Trees and
decorations as they offended
Muslims.
The majority of new
jobs in the UK go to
immigrants
In 2010 Immigrants accounted for
15% of people who were hired.
This means that 85% of “new
jobs” went to British workers.
Future Work