This investigation is important to me, as I am becoming an early year’s practitioner I would like to find out other people views and opines. Children aged 11-16 year olds are now being taught about Citizen Cyd this covers racism, friendships and even drugs, this is also being introduced to children as young as three years old in my nursery.
I will be saying how primary schools can promote positive learning for the children and how teachers could improve they way of learning by having skills to teach diversity. Even if the children in the area of the school where the questionnaires were handed out are all white children there is still need for children to learn about other cultures and religions. This is so when they are older even in secondary school, they show oppression for other peoples cultures and beliefs.
Review of literature:
The book I have been reviewing is called ‘Racism Issues, Craig Donnellan.’ I have read through the main points which links to my assignment, Donnellan has made it clear and simple to understand in the first section of the book he describes what is ‘Racial attacks and harassment’. He goes on to say what you can do at school according to Donnellan “Badges with offensive slogans, verbal abuse, bullying and attacks are all common methods of inciting racial hatred among fellow students.” (Pg. 2, 1999)
I agree with the information in this book, the book was made in 1999 formerly Issues for the nineties. I do believe the information was useful for that year. Donnellan explains discrimination at schools the information is from ChildLine’s recent study of bulling behaviour. “Children who complained to teachers about racist bullying to no effect did feel disregarded and reported that did not take racism seriously” (Pg.9, 1999) this is the perfect example of children when in school do not feel safe in an environment they should. Children have to do a school five days out of seven a week. The teachers, LSA’s and others should do go onto a course to learn about anti-bias and anti-discrimination practice while working in schools.
The CRE is under 1976 Race Relations Act this works towards the elimination of discrimination.
Method
The method I used to find out the results was by using a questionnaire that I thought of with other members of the class. I think it was a good way to get the answers I needed, I only put 10 questions inside as I thought too many will make it drag on to much. I handed 10 to my first placement but I only got five back as I gave them to a teacher to pass around I will not do that again as I only received five back. I then handed another five to my new placement to fill out.
Results:
Findings:
I have found the same information I had predicted. The questionnaires have been a great deal of help to find the information I needed to complete the results. I have all together 10 questionnaires filled out five of these are from Parkway primary school. I first handed 10 to this placement but I only received five questionnaires back even after a letter had been sent out asking for them back please. In my new placement Slade Green Infants I handed them out in the staff room and asked them to fill them in there and then. Parkways views are different from Slade Greens, question six asks if you agree with celebrating with all festivals? The feed back I got from Parkway on this question surprised me the person answered No and give the reason why as “Can’t be done in time available one class. It’s done on rota system throughout school” I found this information unfair as the children do not get to participate in every celebration and the knowledge is not formed throughout all celebrations.
70% of people who filled out a questionnaire were white British I do think it had effect on the way they answered the questions as they may have only ticked yes for answer 10 if the equipment is diverse and suitable for children to learn from, as they may not of wanted to come across bias. At parkway all the questionnaires received back never said where to buy positive images and resources only stating from catalogues in school. After I asked Slade Green to fill in the questionnaires, the teacher of my class I am in showed me books she has in Arabic writing, books on African people and in the staff room we looked at catalogues. These are some off the examples I have found that could promote equality to the school from Kent County Supplies 2005/2006
- European
- African
- Indian
- Oriental
- South American
- Eskimo
- Red Indian
- Multicultural play food set
Conclusion:
In conclusion to what I have found out while reviewing the questionnaires, is the schools are not promoting enough diversity for the children to learn from, the children need to know about the world outside their school. At my time at Parkway we did a week on Chinese New Year which shows promoting of equality and anti-bias. If you were to read the questionnaires the people who filled them in shows no diversity and don’t prove them to be promoting anti discrimination. According to Race Relations Act 1976 “it is unlawful to discriminate against a person-
- in the terms on which it offers to admit him to the establishment as a pupil; or
- by refusing or deliberately omitting to accept an application for his admission to the establishment as a pupil; or
- where he is a pupil of the establishment-
- in the way it affords him access to any benefits, facilities or services, or by refusing or deliberately omitting to afford him access to them; or
- by excluding him from the establishment or subjecting him to any other detriment.”
The way I would promote anti discrimination in the primary school I am in now would be simple changes to the routine of the day and introducing new diverse equipment to the children on regular bases to encourage them to think about other religions and cultures in this society. The children need to be considerate of other people beliefs, as some children at home may not have the opportunity to learn this at hit’s the teachers, early year’s practitioners, LSA’s and even students opportunity to promote anti-discrimination. The change to the routine I would make are as simple as introducing a country and learning, talking or doing activities on it for as little as an hour a day. If this was to come in to the curriculum plan for all school I am sure the children today would not be in some of the situations. Donnellan C says, “Children have the right to a life free of racist abuse-children need to be offered encouragement to report racial harassment and to view themselves as having the right to a life free of racist abuse. Where children see staff tackling action against bulling, they are more likely to feel able to ‘tell’.” (Pg.5, 1999)
This proves that children will feel more secure if they know that the adults and helper around them are there to provide support, positive thoughts and images.
The book that has provided me with the information I have needed to complete this assignment has showed me telephone calls that are made by children to ChildLine. This has helped me to release how important anti-discrimination is in the school environment.
References and bibliography:
- Donnellan C, Racism ISSUES volume 6. Published by independence England 1999
- www.Homeoffice.gov.uk