I teach on a volunteer basis in several local state run schools
Schools that usually have around 1,500 children each
Some boys only, some girls only, some mixed
The age group is from 13-16
The children are of English, Asian, Caribbean and recently of East European origin
From countries as diverse as Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Somalia, Granada, Jamaica, Poland, and Lithuania
They are mostly British born or recently arrived in this country
For many though English is a second language
.
.
Many are Muslim others Christian of various denominations
An interesting age group
Full of hormones
Full of energy
Totally happy with IT and used to doing Power Point presentations
Imaginative and creative
The schools vary a lot
Some are clean and disciplined others less so
Some with good scholastic performance others less so
Our intervention is to help the children learn more about life and the adult world
.
How to understand the adult world
.
How to find a job
.
How to look at the subject of work
.
How to look at those things that their parents currently take care of for them
.
I work with several local councils in teams with other volunteers
.
We go into the schools at the invitation of the school
.
We are from very varied backgrounds ranging from engineers, scientists, businessmen and women to policemen, soldiers and so on
.
Usually we only have a day or two at a time in any given school
.
The vehicle used is review of the childrens work experiences in local businesses and organisations
.
To give them creative challenges, business challenges simulating real life problems and project
.
The challenge is to find what one or two ideas we can leave with them
.
To help them understand more about life and what to expect
.
And if we can do this then the time was well spent
.
The schools are all located in less than fashionable areas of North and East London
.
And the observation is that these children are fine with life
.
They are aware of the times we live in
.
They are the changing face of this country
.
Different cultures beginning the slow process of becoming a new society
.
And often the most difficult are those who are Muslim where the parents feel that loyalty to their roots and Islam are more important than to England their country of birth or adoption
.
And it is this that is creating so many tensions
.
Many of the Muslim children go after school to the local mosque for lessons in the Koran
.
Most do not speak Arabic but the source material is in Arabic
.
Often the lessons are in Arabic being translated for them to understand
.
But understand what?
.
A set of values that often conflicts with those of this country
.
Demanding loyalty and obedience to its own rules over and above any to this country
.
This creates separation, division and frustration
.
Time to be clear what this country stands for
.
To state clearly that those who cannot or will not accept its values must change
.
Will we do this?
.
Time will show
.
One thing is clear though and that is that a new society is emerging
1 comment:
very very nice and exiting news! makes my day!
Post a Comment