This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Anti sectarian teaching material
11/09/2006
More anti-sectarian teaching tools for teachers and youth workers were unveiled today.
A training DVD, Challenging Sectarianism: anti-sectarian education in practice, and a revamped website offer new sources of materials to be used in working with youngsters on issues surrounding sectarianism.
The new-look website has been designed to be more user-friendly and now includes a section on Islam and Islamaphobia, as well as more school case studies.
The DVD features a drama teacher working with St Michael's Primary and St Joseph's College, both in Dumfries. Youngsters from the Tullochan Trust in Alexandria feature in the youth work section.
At Castlemilk's St Margaret Mary's Secondary School - winner of the One Scotland Anti-Sectarianism Award at this year's Scottish Education Awards - Deputy Education Minister Robert Brown said:
"For too long Scotland has lived with the scourge of sectarianism. But the time has come to stamp it out.
"By working with young people and helping them understand and celebrate religious diversity, we can build a generation for whom sectarianism will be part of their history - not their daily lives."
St Margaret Mary's headteacher Pat Scanlon said:
"I have no doubt that schools have an important role to play in developing and cultivating positive, enlightened attitudes and every day in St Margaret Mary's we encourage our young people to be open to the needs of all people.
"Our school ethos is founded on respect for others and I'm delighted that this project has been such a powerful contributor to the national campaign to promote tolerance and respect, and that, in the words on our promotional material, we have made a significant contribution in helping to 'Kick Bigotry Out'."
The Executive's Action Plan on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland was published in January, following a summit - chaired by First Minister Jack McConnell - in February 2005.
The summit will be reconvened towards the end of this year and Rangers, Celtic and the Scottish Football Association will all be invited to take part.
The Executive's web-based anti-sectarian education resource - Sectarianism: Don't Give It, Don't Take It - was launched in March 2005 to provide teachers and youth workers with a range of materials for raising the issues surrounding sectarianism with young people. It also contains some materials for young people to use themselves.
St Margaret Mary's won the One Scotland Anti-Sectarianism Award for their Kick Bigotry Out project, tackling bigotry by selling specially manufactured footballs to raise money for charities. The balls feature the image of a player wearing a blue jersey and green shorts.