Trainee Teachers and Race, inclusion and diversity

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Trainee Teachers and Race, inclusion and
diversity

• A workshop for trainee teachers

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Background

• This workshop has been designed as a result of
  research undertaken with 60 trainee teachers on
  a PGCE course.
• The aim of this workshop is to provide an
  opportunity for trainee teachers to explore the
  issues of race, inclusion and diversity as
  they affect their experiences as developing
  professionals.
• This workshop will also be useful as a launch pad
  for further sessions on these topics.

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Definitions

• Trainee teachers were asked to define the
  following Race, inclusion and diversity.
• Race was defined in terms of
• Ethnicity (57)
• Ethnic background of a person
• Origins (28)
• where your ancestors come from
• Culture (18)
• cultural heritage or background

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Definitions

• Trainee teachers were asked to define the
  following Race, inclusion and diversity.
• Inclusion was defined in terms of
• Include (46)
• including all whatever the differences are.
• Accessible (45)
• Ensuring that all have access to an education
  regardless of SEN, race ,gender, ethnicity and
  sexuality
• Equality(28)
• Equal opportunity regardless of
  background-together
• Not exclude (20)
• process and practice to ensure that people are
  not unjustly excluded from any aspect of
  education

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Definitions

• Trainee teachers were asked to define the
  following Race, inclusion and diversity.
• Diversity was defined in terms of
• Difference (52)
• the differences between groups, individual or
  cultures that make them unique
• Variety (45)
• the variety of individuals in the school (race,
  ability, SEN etc).
• Ethnicity (32)
• the range of races or ethnicities within a
  specific group

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Activity 1

• In groups study the range of definitions for each
  term Race, inclusion, diversity.
• To what extent do you agree or disagree with the
  definitions cited?
• Devise a group definition for each term. Write
  on the flipchart sheet.
• Be prepared to explain it.

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Relevance and Importance

• Trainee teachers were asked how important they
  feel it is to learn about race, inclusion and
  diversity in relation to other aspects of
  learning to be a teacher?
• Very important (47)
• Important (35)
• Quite important (18)

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Relevance and Importance

• Trainee teachers were asked whether sessions on
  race, inclusion and diversity on a teacher
  training course should be compulsory for all?
• The majority felt that these issues should be
  compulsory
• Race (83)
• Inclusion (93)
• Diversity (85)

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Activity 2

• Explain the benefits of trainee teachers
  addressing these topics for the following groups
• Trainee teachers
• White pupils in schools
• Ethnic minority pupils in schools
• Local school community

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Scenarios

• The following are quotes from trainee teacher
  interviews. Read the quotes and consider the
  questions. (All quotes are from White British
  trainees)

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Scenario 1

• With inclusion I think it is really important but
  Im a bit scared of it based on something tutor
  actually said the other day. He said Be careful
  when you are teaching in your classes that you
  dont inadvertently create stereotypes. For
  example if youve got a classroom full of kids
  and youve got one Black kid in your class and
  you are covering a book which has some other
  cultures and traditions poetry maybe, and you
  start talking about Black slavery you may
  inadvertently make that kid the post boy for
  Black slavery in your class and he doesnt
  necessarily have any connection to that. In his
  mind he doesnt see himself as anything to do
  with Black slavery, he sees himself as British. I
  am scared of that. I dont know how to be
  inclusive.
• In what ways could you address the issues raised
  for this trainee teacher? How would you advise
  and support her?
• How can you ensure that you do not validate,
  create or support stereotypes in your practice?

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Scenario 2

• Inclusion is including all children in a school
  environment and giving them all an opportunity to
  learn though that may not be that they all learn
  the same thing at the same pace, but that they
  all have an opportunity to access learning. And
  that the school acknowledges diversity of all
  sorts of gender, ethnicity and culture.
• How important is inclusion to you as a trainee
  teacher?
• In what ways as a trainee teacher can you ensure
  that you acknowledge all sorts of gender,
  ethnicity and culture?

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Scenario 3

• I think anyones identity is quite important as a
  teacher you are in the spotlight all day long at
  the front of the class and youve got to be quite
  comfortable with your identity and I think thats
  easier if you are White because it is going to be
  less of an issue I think I will be treated in a
  way that is normally considered the norm. Whereas
  I think if I was Asian or Black I would be
  worried that I would be treated in a different
  way.
• What are your thoughts on this trainee teachers
  view that if you are White being comfortable with
  your identity is less of an issue?
• Why do you think this trainee teacher feels that
  people of Black or Asian descent would be worried
  that they would be treated differently?

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Scenario 4

• I travelled in Africa a couple of years ago and
  also experienced the other side of the coin
  because I was the odd one out and everyone was
  pointing at you and looking at you. And small
  children especially like, often they hadnt seen
  a White person before and they would shout and
  yell and it was a bit like a celebrity. But that
  was nice because it was always positive. It was
  always like Wow, a White person! Whereas here
  obviously if you might not experience it being
  different in such a positive way. But it
  certainly made me realise how much it is to be
  the norm in this country because Im White,
  because I dont stand out anyway. By contrast
  there I definitely stood out.
• Why do you think this trainee teacher feels that
  being different might not be experienced
  positively in this country?
• What can you do as a trainee teacher to enable
  Black and Asian pupils to experience being
  different in a positive way?

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Conclusion

• This workshop has been designed to provide
  opportunities for you to discuss issues relating
  to race inclusion and diversity.
• This is intended to be an introductory session.
  You will need to follow up this session with
  further reading.

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Further Reading

• Richardson, R. and Miles, B. (2003) Equality
  Stories Recognition, respect and raising
  achievement. Stoke on Trent Trentham Books.
• Richardson, R. and Wood, A. (1999)Inclusive
  Schools Inclusive Society. Stoke on Trent
  Trentham Books
• www.multiverse.ac.uk
• Bhopal, K., Harris, R. and Rhamie, J. (2009) The
  Teaching of Race, diversity and inclusion on
  PGCE courses at the University of Southampton.
  Report for Multiverse