Make Black histories mandatory in the national curriculum

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Sharing this incredible organisation, The Black Curriculum.

A section of their website is below:

"Currently, the national curriculum and exam board specifications are limited in providing Black British history. Furthermore, Black history is not mandatory in schools which follow their own curriculum. Without the resources, time and understanding, we are still going to face the same problems of historical inaccuracies, bias and a lack of enthusiasm in teaching and delivery. In the same manner, we can not simply rely on parents and carers to provide this material to young people.

Black British history is not merely a theme for October, but started hundreds of years before Windrush and pre-dates European colonial enslavement. Our work aims to address and overcome these limitations by seeking to provide a contextual, globalised history that roots the Black British experience in histories of movement and migration - 365 days a year.

We want to help prepare students to become fully rounded citizens and ready for an increasingly globalised world. Our curriculum is grounded in the arts for young people to engage with history imaginatively, encouraging student satisfaction and critical thinking skills. Through our holistic approach we aim to remedy a wider systemic issue."

Changing the school curriculum would make a difference in the fight against systemic racism. All children need to learn about a diverse range of voices, histories and perspectives in school.

If you could spare 2 minutes, please send an e-mail to Gavin Williamson - The Black Curriculum have written a fantastic template.

Thank you!

www.theblackcurriculum.com

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Interesting the lack of comments, black squares are ok but no comments towards making a real change via education?

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Let?s start making changes by teaching our kids, they will be the generation that can make the important changes that we need, if they are taught from young the truth about our history. https://www.instagram.com/theblackcurriculum/

[seenbeen]

Interesting that you should post this in the Family Room Discussion. I could be very wrong but I assume the majority of readers here will be women. Ask them how they feel about whether or not education abut the Women's Movement , Homophobia and LGBT issues has changed anything.

One of the BIG problems is that in so-called 'faith' schools they exempt themselves from even discussing LGBT issues and contraception. And nothing will change in September because these 'faith' schools will still be able to wriggle out of this area of humanity - and they certainly will if the Birmingham school protests are anything to go by.

In England, by Law, Key stage 3 (year 9) children have to be taught about the Holocaust- the ultimate result of extreme racism.

(Has this changed the anti-semitic attitude of some people?)

In Citizenship (which deals with Equality directly, racism, sexism, disability awareness- LGBTQ+ in NON-faith schools) and in fact in all subjects there is a requirement on an OFSTED-advised lesson plan to include opportunities for introducing and addressing Equality topics such as avoidance of stereotypes, challenging negative attitudes, using multicultural themes.

In fact in the 1980s in council-run creches and nurseries there was a large pool of multicultural resources.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

It?s shared in the family room because the petition is for families to put pressure on SCHOOLS to add more diversity in class so this is the right place. I?m a woman and a mother myself.

[Clutterqueen]

We are in the middle of a terrible Covid situation with Britain having the most deaths.

[PeckhamNicola]

Thanks for bringing this to my attention DBB.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

What is your point? We can?t highlight inequality at the same time? But we can celebrate VE? Queue to go to McDonald?s, Ikea, go to the beach etc but we can?t sign petitions. Really? https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/05/reeks-of-hypocrisy-what-uks-minority-ethnic-mps-say-about-covid-19-death-toll

Clutterqueen Wrote:

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> We are in the middle of a terrible Covid situation

> with Britain having the most deaths.

[Soylent Green]

Well done for posting this here. Many people reading this section have very small children, who will be able to benefit from a curriculum change, if achieved. The current Black History Month makes BAME history seem very separate from the mainstream. It would be far better to integrate it within the main curriculum including the negative aspects of imperialism and slavery.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Thank you for understanding. It?s the only way to (hopefully) move forward by ensuring every child from young are educated on their ancestors history factually, in order to be the generation that makes society a fairer and more tolerant place in the future.

Soylent Green Wrote:

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> Well done for posting this here. Many people

> reading this section have very small children, who

> will be able to benefit from a curriculum change,

> if achieved. The current Black History Month

> makes BAME history seem very separate from the

> mainstream. It would be far better to integrate

> it within the main curriculum including the

> negative aspects of imperialism and slavery.

[Marmattee]

Great idea and definitely needed!

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

This is a good watch https://www.facebook.com/814966608530843/posts/3532354170125393/?vh=e

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

My son?s piano teacher just shared this if you could please sign:

Hi all

Could you please take a moment to sign and share my petition: http://chng.it/F6cdC7BV. I'm really conscious of the overwhelming number of white (male) composers on the ABRSM syllabus. The Musicians' Union have agreed to help with this campaign, and lots of other researchers in this area have contacted me over the last 24 hours, so fingers crossed something might actually come of it.

In the meantime, if anyone's interested in learning more about black composers, here are some resources:

BBC Radio 3: History of Black Classical Music - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000j2bt

BBC Sounds: Celebrating Black Music - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000jnml

Alternative Classical: 10 Contemporary Black Composers - https://www.alternativeclassical.co.uk/features/living-black-composers

Classic FM: 9 Black Composers Who Changed the Course of Classical Music History - https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/black-composers-who-made-classical-music-history/

Chineke! Foundation - https://www.chineke.org/

AfriClassical - https://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/History.html

Thanks 🎹

Grace