Pupils’ work produced in anti-racism lessons to be displayed at Bristol Cathedral
Work produced by school children in response to specially designed lessons on anti-racism will go on show at an exhibition at Bristol Cathedral.
UWE Bristol researchers prepared educational materials and lesson plans – based on the theme of the Edward Colston statue toppling – and trialled them at five Bristol primary schools.
Pupils’ work developed in response to the lessons, including drawings and written pieces, will be displayed to the public at the cathedral on Thursday (16 January).
Dr Jane Carter and Dr Sarah Whitehouse, researchers at UWE Bristol’s School of Education and Childhood, say the project was designed to address the understanding of tolerance through the lens of racism in Bristol and its effects on children’s lives, experiences and identities.
They developed teaching resources focused on the value of tolerance, framed around the toppling of the Colston statue during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Bristol city centre in June 2020.
At Hannah More, Ashton Gate, Wallscourt Farm, Knowle Park, and Almondsbury primary schools, teachers received tailored training to implement the materials effectively. Following classroom implementation, educators collaborated to evaluate and refine the resources.
Dr Carter and Dr Whitehouse say the educational sessions prompted the pupils to make ‘powerful’ contributions on the topic of anti-racism. Their work is being exhibited in the cathedral thanks to a grant from Higher Education Innovation Funding.
Dr Whitehouse, a Senior Lecturer in Education and Humanities, said: “The children's work was inspiring, and teachers reported that children were able to articulate clearly their own views and opinions whilst being able to acknowledge and understand the perspectives of others.
“Our work with teachers received excellent feedback in how they could approach the teaching of a sensitive and controversial issue.”
The project by Dr Carter and Dr Whitehouse, members of UWE Bristol’s Education and Childhood Research Group, built on their published research for the European Union-funded Children’s Identity and Citizenship Education (CiCe) network.
Dr Whitehouse said: “Pupils worked with their teachers on a variety of activities initially exploring the value of tolerance. This was then used to analyse sources and viewpoints on the creation of the Colston statue, the work of Colston and the toppling of the statue. This work resulted in the children discussing and debating different perspectives and the impact of the Bristol Slave Trade and its legacy.
“Children produced writing, drawings, card sorts and discussion pieces which will be displayed at the cathedral.”
The exhibition, Teaching Tolerance: A citizenship curriculum for Bristol primary schools, will be held between 5pm and 6.30pm on Thursday 16 January, is open to all and free to enter. The event will open with a talk from Jen Reid, a leading member of Bristol’s anti-racist movement.
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