This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Anti-sectarian package for schools
22/03/2005
Every school in Scotland is to benefit from an
anti-sectarian education package launched today.
The package includes a
web-based
resource and a series of training seminars for
teachers.
First Minister Jack McConnell today met with teachers
and pupils from Woodlands Primary School and its
neighbouring school, St Margaret of Scotland Primary School
in Cumbernauld. The schools worked together to try out
elements of the package during a two-month pilot in five
regions across Scotland.
Mr McConnell said:
"We are starting to make progress in stamping out
religious hatred. We have new laws to punish crimes fuelled
by bigotry and we have seen strong action by the Old Firm
and other clubs to tackle sectarian attitudes.
"But Scotland will never be free of the shackles of
sectarianism unless we teach our youngsters that bigotry is
wrong.
"They carry the future of Scotland in their hands, and
it is up to all of us - politicians, parents, sporting
heroes and teachers to help children understand that there
is no place for bigotry or sectarianism in modern
Scotland."
Annette Carmichael headteacher of Woodlands Primary
School, and Anne-Marie Bready, headteacher of St. Margaret
of Scotland said:
"We were delighted to be asked to pilot the Scottish
Executive resource. The children from both schools worked
very well together and we received positive feedback from
all involved, parents pupils and staff. We believe that we
have begun to change attitudes and that this will have a
lasting effect on our children."
The education resource package has a website at its
core. This will provide teachers and youth workers with
guidance, interactive resources and good practice examples
to help them develop anti-sectarian work.
The package also includes:
- A national conference in June to
promote the website and provide training for its
use
- A series of local seminars to
raise awareness of sectarianism among teachers and
youth workers, as well provide training for the
website
- A DVD to support drama-based
anti-sectarian work in schools.
The ministerial group on tackling sectarianism also met
for the first time today. This is chaired by Justice
Minister Cathy Jamieson and, as agreed at the recent
national summit, the group will play a key role in the
development of a national action plan to tackle
sectarianism.
The anti-sectarian web-based education pack was piloted
in Highland, Dundee, Dumfries and Galloway, North
Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire. The areas were chosen
to reflect that sectarianism and religious intolerance are
not confined to the west of Scotland. For an evaluation of
the pilot see:
http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/antisectarian/pdf/evaluationreportfinal090205.pdf
The web-site and its supporting package, was developed
by a consortium led by the Centre for Education and Racial
Equality Scotland (CERES). It was produced following
consultation with key groups and organisations, including
the Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic Church and Celtic
and Rangers football clubs. The Scottish Executive has
provided £50,000 to support the national roll out this
year.
To see the education web-site:
http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/antisectarian/