EMTAS Termly Bulletin: opportunities for promoting inclusion, securing equality and celebrating diversity in your school

Issue 1 – Autumn Term 2012

Welcome to a new e-resource from EMTAS!

We have devised our new Termly Bulletin to give schools advance information, some new ideas and links to (often free!) resources relating to EMTAS’ remits. The intended audience for the Bulletin is all staff who hold a key position in school regarding inclusion, diversity and equality. Please feel free to forward a copy to colleagues who may also find the information useful.

1. Key calendar dates in the school year

In this first edition we are giving you an overview of key events relating to equality, inclusion and diversity during the 2012/13 school year, which you can cut out and keep somewhere handy. Don’t worry if some of these are new to you – in this EMTAS Bulletin we also look in more detail at this term’s four key dates. Our next two Termly Bulletins in November and March will similarly focus in on key dates which fall in the Spring and Summer terms.

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a. Special Days

Mon 10th Dec Human Rights Day

Mon 21st Jan 2013 Martin Luther King Jnr Day

Sun 27th Jan 2013 Holocaust Memorial Day

Fri 8th Feb 2013 UNICEF Day for Change

Tues 12th Feb 2013 Red Hand Day for Child Soldiers

Thur 7th Mar 2013 World Book Day

Thurs 9th May 2013 Europe Day

Tues 21st May 2013 World Day for Cultural Diversity

Wed 12th June 2013 World Day against Child Labour

Fri 21st June 2013 World Music Day

b. Special Weeks

22nd-26th Oct 2012 One World Week

12th-16th Nov 2012 Anti-Bullying Week

17th-21st June 2013 Refugee Week

C. Special Months

Oct 2012 Black History Month

May 2013 Local and Community History Month

June 2013 Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month

2. Autumn term 2012 – more about this term’s occasions

The 4 major calendar dates this term constitute ideal opportunities to develop pupils’ knowledge, understanding and attitudes in relation to themselves and others in order to fully engage in society. Ofsted rightly expects outstanding schools to plan high quality, wide-ranging enrichment opportunities, which develop pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness, complement the PHSE programme and support pupils’ engagement with Citizenship issues. Of course schools do this on a daily basis, not only on selected dates, though such special events can be used to give impetus to your work in particular areas or develop pupils’ views, knowledge and attitudes through focussed activity.

Remember that you can contact your EMTAS consultant (see contacts at the end of this Bulletin) if you would like to discuss ideas, loan resources or plan an event.

(a) Human Rights Day (Mon 10th Dec)

The United Nations' (UN) Human Rights Day is annually observed to mark the anniversary of the presentation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The aim is to educate people, especially children and teenagers, on their human rights and the importance of upholding these in their own communities and further afield. Cultural events are also organized to celebrate the importance of human rights through music, dance, drama or fine art.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted between January 1947 and December 1948. It aimed to form a basis for human rights all over the world.

A child-friendly version of the Declaration of Human Rights can be found at http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/humanrights/resources/plain.asp .

Lots of quality, relevant resources can be found on the web. Here are just 3 examples:

· a free set of 21 downloadable Primary assembly plans which includes plans about Human Rights (from http://www.globaldimension.org.uk/resources/item/1871 )

· a free pack with DVD from Amnesty International UK for use with11-16 year old students. It introduces students to current artists who are using words and music to make a stand for human rights and fight for change. The pack includes a DVD with a play script, three lessons and accompanying resources including PowerPoints, worksheets and film clips ( http://www.globaldimension.org.uk/resources/item/1909).

· The “Needs and Wants Auction” activity pack from the Red Cross website (http://www.redcross.org.uk/needsandwants) is a free resource that gets young people thinking about the difference between the things they need and the things they want, and how people around the world have their basic needs met, particularly in crisis situations.

(b) One World Week ( 22nd-26th Oct )

This week is an opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to come together to learn about global justice, to spread that learning and to use it to take action for justice locally and globally. There is a comprehensive website (http://www.oneworldweek.org/v2/). The theme for 2012 is “Sharing Destiny - moving towards one world". This is a very open-ended title with plenty of scope for innovative school activities.

(c) Anti-Bullying Week (19th-23rd Nov)

This is an annual event, during which many schools already organise successful activities. Within this sphere EMTAS can provide comprehensive guidance about racist bullying. We also provide training for school staff and pupils.

The charity Kidscape has found that in schools it is effective in countering bullying if eg:

- PSHE modules cover prejudice, direct/indirect discrimination, stereotypes, celebrating diversity

- the school ethos is one which values and respects people from all cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds

- all staff and governors are trained in equality issues, working with parents, supporting victims, changing negative behaviour and school procedures for resolving bullying

Your EMTAS consultant can provide support for your work on any or all of these. You can also contact EMTAS if you would like us to come and work with your pupils on the theme of racism and racist bullying.

(d) Black History Month (Oct)

Black History Month originated in the USA in 1926. Its purpose in America was to celebrate and acknowledge the achievements of African Americans in keeping alive their heritage, traditions and histories. In Britain, BHM was first celebrated in October 1987. It is an annual opportunity to recognise the rich cultural diversity and heritage of Black people and to celebrate the huge achievements of black people over the centuries.

“Celebration” is the theme for BHM 2012; celebrating the Black heritage through film, literature, music, performance, exhibitions and sport. This gives the perfect opportunity to involve all curriculum areas in some way.

Your EMTAS consultant can work with your school to plan engaging activities or events, deliver pupil workshops and loan a range of resources. There are also many resources on the web to support BHM.

3. Major religious Festivals falling during the Autumn Term

Fri 26th Oct Eid-Ul-Adha (Islam)

Tues 13th Nov Diwali (Hindu)

Sun 9th Dec Hannukah (Judaism)

Tues 25th Dec Christmas (Christianity)

Fri 26th Oct Eid-Ul-Adha (Islam)

Tues 13th Nov Diwali (Hindu)

Sun 9th Dec Hannukah (Judaism)

Tues 25th Dec Christmas (Christianity)

Eid-Ul-Adha

A public holiday in Muslim countries, Eid-Ul-Adha is a day of happiness celebrating the return of pilgrims from the Hajj (journey to Maccah). In the spirit of the Hajj, this is a day to forgive and forget any differences. Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Adha to commemorate Ibrahim (Abraham) preparing to sacrifice his son to Allah (God), before Allah provides a ram instead. This story is also found in the Jewish Torah and the Christian Old Testament (Genesis 22), a fact which could be shared with pupils to exemplify commonalities between different faiths.

Diwali

is the Hindu “Festival of Lights” and celebrates the New Year. Lamps are lit in honour of Lakshmi, the Goddess of Health and Prosperity, and/or to welcome home King Rama and his wife Sita at the end of the events described in the Ramayana epic.

Sikhs celebrate Diwali to commemorate the release from prison of Guru Hargobind in 1619 CE. There are different interpretations of the origin of Diwali but in each of them the festival marks the victory of good over evil.

Hannukah

is the Jewish Festival of Light and lasts 8 days. It dates back to two centuries before the beginning of Christianity. Hannukah commemorates the Jewish victory over an oppressing power in 165 BCE; this was followed by the “miracle of the oil”, where 1 day’s worth of lamp oil lasted for 8 days at the re-dedication of the Jewish temple. Jews light an 8-branched candlestick called a Hannukiyah over the 8 days.

A simple version of the Hannukah story is downloadable from: http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/botr/botr_026_11-12.pdf

4. British Council date for the Autumn term

Fri 14th Dec is the deadline to submit your action plan for 2012/13 if you are working towards the International School Award (ISA) at Full ISA Level. To find out more about the ISA visit:

http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-international-school-award.htm .

We hope you have found this EMTAS Bulletin informative. We like to hear about anything which schools have done to promote equality, celebrate diversity and ensure equality, so do contact us if you have something to share.

Your local EMTAS contacts

South schools Andrea Osborne (07919 624450) or

Mid schools Andy Richardson (07771 847643) or

West schools Sue Iles (07787 9116390) or

North-East schools Kate Manning (07969 857146) or