Is our school an intercultural school? And how can we improve it?

Majella O’Shea

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Think about your school…….

What are the various diversities?

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Some diversities…..

Gender Ability Learning style Behavioural differences Personality differences Family type Economic background Religious beliefs Values Cultural Ethnic Language Others …….

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The context

Growth in ethnic and cultural diversityGrowing awareness of diversityDiscussion around diversityLaw and PolicyNational Action Plan against Racism

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Where is our school?

Intercultural

MulticulturalMonocultural

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Aims of intercultural education

Intercultural education aims to enable children and young people to

Respect, celebrate and recognise the normality of diversityPromote equalityChallenge unfair discrimination

Tolerance?

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Intercultural education is

For all young people irrespective of ethnicity For all schools For all age groups About more than just giving students accurate

information and telling them what is right and wrong

About knowledge, skills, attitudes and values Integrated across all subject areas and the life

of the school—not an add-on module

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Themes

Identity and belonging Similarity and difference Human rights and responsibility Discrimination and equality Conflict and conflict resolution

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Developing policies Changing school

practices

AssessmentChapter 7

Positive assessment

Inclusive schoolEnvironment

Chapter 3

School procedures for

newcomer studentsChapter 3

Supporting Language learning

Chapter 8

School planningPolicy

developmentChapter 3

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The role of the school

What people learn best is not what teachers think they teach, or what preachers think they preach, but what their cultures in fact cultivate.

George Gerbner

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The school as a model of good practice….

School development planning

– Intercultural awareness in the school mission?

– Policies, e.g. school enrolment and admissions, induction, school-home communication

– As an action plan, e.g. an intercultural physical and social environment, a school charter, selection of resource materials

What are the school procedures for new children?

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School as a model of good practice…….

The physical environment of the school?

– Evidence of celebrating diversity? And the social? Are teachers comfortable dealing with

diversity? The classroom environment – physical, social

and the curriculum? A representative student council? Parental involvement?

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School review checklist

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Some sample mission statements …..

The school strives to give every pupil the opportunity to develop his/her unique and special talents

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To promote success and fulfillment in our students’ lives through the development of key skills and values

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School A strives for excellence in a Christian environment

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Continues with ….

Our Aims To strive for excellence in a Christian environment To foster an understanding and critical appreciation of

Christian values, i.e., moral, spiritual, religious, social and cultural

To foster a spirit of self reliance, innovation, initiative and imagination and to prepare students for life

To create tolerant, caring and politically aware members of society.

To nurture a sense of personal identity, self-esteem and awareness of ones unique abilities and aptitudes combined with a respect for the rights and beliefs of others.

To raise awareness of students national and European heritage and identity, coupled with a global awareness and respect for different traditions and cultures.

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Some starting points for schools …….

Become more culturally aware Start where you are comfortable Seek opportunities to use the activities and extend

them Include diverse cultural perspectives when planning Help students to develop higher order skills e.g.

skills of critical thinking Be aware of how we use language Create a inclusive and culturally diverse space for

learning

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Anti-racism and intercultural training

National Consultative Committee for Racism and Interculturalism

kensika@nccri.ie

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Remember…

Racism is a form of discrimination that has much in common with other forms of discrimination

It takes time to develop intercultural ideas and practices

We are all on a journey

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For your reflection

One thing I would like to change in my school (or classroom) and how I will go about making that change.

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www.interfaith calendar.org

www.dea.org.uk/schools

www.trocaire.org

www.cafod.org.uk/resources/primary

www.christian.org.uk/learn/school/primary

www.globalgang.org.uk

www.cyberschoolbus.un.org

www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet

www.amnesty.ie

www.unicef.org/crc

www.paveepoint.ie

www.cso.ie