Published on:
27
March 2008
Children at Alva Primary School are taking part in a community partnership project designed to broaden their knowledge and understanding of cultural and religious differences.
MSP for Ochil Keith Brown will visit Alva Primary School on Monday 31st March to learn more about Understanding Ourselves, Understanding Others.
Primary one pupils have been introduced to 'Asim' an almost life size persona doll, as a new character in the familiar Katie Morag stories that they enjoy. Asim has dark skin and sometimes wears traditional Muslim clothes and sometimes his jeans and T-shirt. When he visits Katie Morag's island home with her 'mainland Granny' in the story, the children have the opportunity to discuss where he comes from and what makes him similar to and different from Katie Morag and from themselves.
There will be a photocall opportunity with Asim at Alva Primary on Monday 31st March at 2pm.
Diane Davis-Bailey, who designs the persona dolls, was introduced to the school by Central Scotland Racial Equality Council. Together they came up with the character of Asim and wove him into the Katy Morag story.
Depute head teacher Carol Acutt, said: "The children were very curious about Asim and their questions prompted discussion about how it feels to be treated differently and how we are all similar underneath the skin. Persona dolls are a good way of exploring stereotypes and bias, helping children express their feelings and develop empathy with people who are different from themselves."
Keith Brown MSP said: "I'm really pleased to see these schools attacking prejudice at an early age. The primary years are when attitudes form - and then can stay with you for the rest of your life. I've already visited Alva Primary's environment week, and I've been really impressed with the work they do in teaching their pupils about the wider world. Education should be about opening children's eyes in every way possible."
Persona dolls provide an effective, non-threatening and enjoyable way to raise equality issues and counter stereotypical and discriminatory thinking with children and have been used by teachers for many years in Britain and around the world. They help children to express their feelings and ideas, think critically, challenge unfair treatment and develop empathy with people who are different to themselves.
Some Alva pupils have also been learning more about Islam through visiting the Alloa mosque. Visiting places of worship is an established part of religious and moral education and Alva Primary School is one of five local schools involved in developing, with the Alloa Imams, a resource that will support school visits. Before visiting the mosque, the children welcomed Abid Rasool, a local Imam to their classroom to learn about the sorts of things they would see and do during the visit.
Mr Rasool said: "Visiting the school in advance is a good idea as the children get to know me and feel comfortable asking all sorts of questions. At the mosque, we do lots of activities that help them learn about the Muslim way of life. We know the mosque is one of a number of places of worship in the community and we are very happy to welcome groups of all ages who want to learn more about what we do."
Amanda Brown, a parent who joined the visit to the mosque, said: "The children really enjoyed it and were interested in learning about the different things that they were told and they were shown."
This partnership work is being supported by the Scottish Government's fund set up to help schools challenge religious intolerance. The work at Alva aims to promote children's understanding of cultural and religious similarities and differences. It also promotes values that are consistent with equality and fairness and that will help them to challenge and overcome intolerance.
Other schools involved with the project are exploring the same themes through inter-active drama and through twinning with a multicultural primary school in Glasgow. Overall, the project intends that, through working with community partners and with each other, each school will deepen children's understanding of cultural and religious differences and similarities. The project will be evaluated and plans made for sustaining and sharing what has been learned.
Notes to Editors
The schools involved are: Alva Primary, Craigbank Primary, Deerpark Primary, Menstrie Primary and St Mungo's Primary.