Published on:
05
March 2008
Menstrie Primary School welcomes Gordon Banks, MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, on Friday 7th March. The purpose of the visit is to learn about a partnership project designed to broaden children's knowledge and understanding of cultural and religious differences.
With funding from the Scottish Government's anti-sectarianism project, Understanding Ourselves - Understanding Others aims to strengthen existing and new community partnerships in five Clackmannanshire primary schools. The partnerships are being used specifically to promote children's understanding of cultural and religious similarities and differences and to promote values consistent with equality and fairness to help them challenge and overcome intolerance. The schools and partners are pursuing a number of interlinked actions to achieve these aims.
Over a period of six weeks, primary six and seven pupils at Menstrie are working with their teachers and with INTER-ACT, the very successful interactive drama team from Forth Valley NHS, to explore and challenge religious and cultural stereotypes.
Menstrie teachers have also paid a visit to Alloa mosque to develop their own understanding of Muslim beliefs and to enrich their teaching about Islam. In the coming months, three classes at Menstrie will visit the mosque and some have already welcomed the Imam into their classrooms as part of their religious and moral education.
Ronnie O'Grady, headteacher at Menstrie Primary School, said: "All pupils, including Muslim children in our community, have visited the local church and know about its importance to Christian worship so I'm delighted they now have the chance to visit the local mosque well. The staff very much enjoyed their visit, especially being able to ask questions about Islam and to learn first hand about Muslim worship."
The project is supporting children at different stages in five primary schools and is promoting their learning in classrooms and in community contexts both close to home and further afield.
All schools taking part in the project have the chance to visit the mosque in Alloa which welcomes visitors. INTER-ACT is working with senior pupils in Craigbank and St Mungo's primary schools as well as Menstrie, drawing on anti-sectarian lessons that were developed with schools last year and which are now being enhanced by the relationship with the mosque.
Overall, the project intends that through working with community partners and with each other, each school has the opportunity to significantly deepen children's understanding about cultural and religious similarities and differences. The project will be evaluated and plans made for sustaining and sharing what has been learned.
The schools involved are: Alva Primary, Craigbank Primary, Deerpark Primary, Menstrie Primary and St Mungo's Pimary.