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Teaching and talking about war
FromIraq: war and peace online resource
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Two Iraqi girls at Najaf
Photo: Geoff Hann/Hinterland Travel |
The activities on the following pages are designed to help pupils
to formulate, discuss and express their views, and to have their
voices heard.
Skills used include developing critical thinking, promoting self-esteem,
getting involved in discussion and debate, learning how to interpret
the media, and treating others with respect and fairness.
You will see links to subject areas in school, especially in Citizenship,
PSHE, PSE, PSD, RE and Literacy/ English.
Many children will have been anxious about the war and whether
it will affect them. They should be encouraged to share their thoughts
and fears. It helps to know that others are feeling the same things
too. It may be that pupils become very animated, and that a period
of calm and reflection would be helpful.
A circle-time activity can enable everyone to voice how they are
feeling, and to think about what has been said by themselves and
others. Follow the usual procedures for circle time – a helpful
resource for this is, Turn Your School Round (1993) by Jenny Mosley,
LDA.
A circle-time activity could be done at any point during this series
of lessons, or it could be done after each of them, with the introductory
sentence relevant to the issues that have arisen. Introductory sentences
could include:
I feel angry/ upset/ fed-up/ when…
I feel happy/ valued when…
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People say I have made a good point.
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Someone else supports my argument.
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I feel I have something to add to the discussion.
Keep informed
Children and adults alike are having to deal with huge amounts
of information. It is often difficult to separate fact from fiction,
let alone understand what is happening from a range of perspectives
(See ‘When
are facts facts? Not in a war’ by Chris Tryhorn (link
to external website))
The views of Iraqi people have been conspicuously absent from
media reports by journalists, most of whom are travelling with the
USA or UK army. Explaining to children what is happening –
as far as possible – will help them to make sense of the war.
Also, share and acknowledge what can’t be known.
(See Classroom Activity: The war –
what we know and what we can find out).
Help pupils think for themselves
Schools are there to help young people to think for themselves,
and to sort out and clarify their emotions, judgements and values.
They therefore need skills in weighing up evidence, choosing between
alternatives, thinking about pros and cons, showing respect for
people with whom they disagree, and abiding by rules and conventions
of courtesy and civil argument.
So it often helps to turn pupils’ questions around –
‘What do you think?’, ‘Why?’, ‘Have
you always thought that?’, ‘Are there other ways of
seeing this?’, ‘What do you think might cause you to
change your mind?’
It can be reassuring to children and young people, as distinct
from alarming or depressing, to be reminded that their elders are
in disagreement with each other about important matters. It may
be more important for them to live with differences and uncertainties
rather than to settle for simplistic solutions.*
Support children’s concerns
Some children might have relatives who are in the military, or
relatives in Iraq or in the Middle East, but all are likely to be
anxious about people being killed. Teachers cannot reassure children
about what may happen, but they can take their worries and fears
seriously.
Be vigilant about bullying and racism
It is important to stress that this war is not about Islam –
Iraq has been one of the most secular states in the Middle East.
Christian and Muslim leaders alike have spoken out against the war
(see the Muslim
Council of Britain website - external link opens in new window).
It is particularly important to keep informed about what is happening
amongst pupils, and be ready to intervene to prevent violence, verbal
as well as physical.*
Remember that you are supported in anti-racist work by the amended
Race
Relations Act (external link opens in new window).
*From the journal Race Equality Teaching, Spring
2003, published by Trentham
Books (external link opens in new window)
From Iraq: war and peace online
resource
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