Different Families

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/teen-takes-little-sister-to-father-daughter-dance_us_589e3171e4b0ab2d2b1538cb

Mohammad Hasher woke up to find his sister, Noor, sitting on the couch in a party dress looking upset. She explained there was a Father-Daughter dance at school that night. Noor and Mohammad's Dad was absent so she couldn't go, but she wanted to wear her dress anyway.

Mohammad took his sister to a salon to get her hair done and went out to buy new shoes and a dress. He took his sister the dance that night and during the evening the big brother was voted for and won "Best Dad" award. 

Mohammad said, "It filled my heart with happiness seeing her dance with so much joy and have fun with all her friends." He later tweeted, "Sorry you don't have a Dad but I will always be there for you"

What do you see in the picture?

What do you think is happening?

explain the story?

- Why was Noor upset?

- A Father-Daughter dance sounds nice but who does that exclude?

- What would be a better title for the dance so that people weren't excluded?

- This story shows us there are lots of different families. Some people might say Mohammad should not have taken Noor to the dance. What do you think?

- Mohammad won "Best Dad" award - what does that show about attitudes towards different families among the people at the dance.

- What can we learn from the people at that dance?

- Should the school change their Father-Daughter dances in the future?

- Why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders at our school: Teaching the Equality Act in Primary Schools by Andrew Moffat

equalitiesprimary

Critical thinking - Faith and dialogue

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38982013

Members of the Church of England are discussing whether to allow marriages in church between two men or two women. Some Christians believe that marriage should only be between a man and woman, Other Christians believe marriage can be between a man and woman, or a man and another man or a woman and another woman. 

A report has been written to say the church does not allow gay or lesbian marriage but many Christians want that to change so that gay and lesbian people can get married in their churches, and a new report now has to be written taking in to account different opinions.

The Archbishop of Canterbury said, "There are no problems here, there are simply people. We will - as the Bishops - think again and go on thinking. We will seek to do better"

What;s happening in the picture

explain the story

- what does the woman in the picture mean by 'proud to be gay'?
- what faith does the woman follow?
- what does she want other Christians to do to make her proud of her faith?
- why is the church having this discussion? Why don't they just say, "We have to stay the same"?
- why does the Archbishop of Canterbury say "There are simply people"?
- Why does he say "We will go on thinking"?
- What can we learn from the Church of England and this story? (that people have different opinions and it's OK to have dialogue, have new ideas, and maybe change your mind)
- Why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in Primary Schools by Andrew Moffat

equalitiesprimary

Community Support For Mosque

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/victoria-mosque-fire_us_588f6ca1e4b08a14f7e7289f

When a mosque in Texas serving a congregation of 140 people burned down last week, leaders at the centre set up a fundraising page on the internet to raise $850,000 for a re-build. The fundraisers were shocked to reach their target after only three days and to find within a week that over 20,000 people had donated more than one million dollars.

Meanwhile local community members from different religions have been offering prayers and organising support. At a public rally outside the Mosque, local people offered their own prayers and a board member thanked the community for their support. Speaking in front of a banner reading, "United We Stand", he said, "Places of worship are meant be places of peace whether it be a mosque, a church, synagogue, temple. People come together to share their love for each other and their love for their lord."

People also left messages of support outside the mosque.

What do you see in the picture?

What do you think has happened?

explain the story

- We don't know why the mosque burned down and it could have been an accident. Why is the local community giving so much support?

- Are the donations only from Muslims? (no, over 20,000 people have donated)

- What does the banner "United we stand" mean?

- Why does the local community want a mosque if they are not all Muslim?

- What does this show about people in the local community?

- What can we learn from this community?

- Why is this about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in Primary Schools by Andrew Moffat 

equalitiesprimary

Purple Heart Story

http://theweek.com/speedreads/676679/veterans-stand-military-interpreters-blocked-from-entering

Jeffrey is a US Army veteran and says when he served in Iraq, the Iraqi interpreters who worked alongside the army helped him get home alive. Last week he drove two hours to Dulles Airport in Washington to protest against Donald Trump's banning of travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries. 

At the airport Jeffrey met Alaa for the first time, Alaa was waiting for hours while a member of his family was detained. Alaa has lived and worked in the US since 2008. Jeffrey gave Alaa his Purple Heart. The Purple heart is the medal given to members of the US armed forces who are wounded or killed while serving.

Jeffrey said, "Knowing their culture and how they view America, for me it was a way of sending a message to them: What they believe America was: it is. It's the greatest place in the world." Jeffrey says to Alaa, "You were in that airport with bad experiences. But I want you to leave with the true American sentiment." When he was given the medal, Alaa said, "This is what all America is all about" 

In a later interview Alaa said, "I't probably the most precious gift I have ever received in my life. It's going to be a story I keep telling"

watch an interview here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38817701

What's happening in the picture

explain the story

- Why did Jeffery go to Washington airport?

- What did he find when he went to the airport?

- What does the Purple Heart for? What do you think the Purple Heart means to Jeffrey?

- Why did Jeffrey give the Purple Heart to a stranger?

- How does Jeffrey feel about America? 

- How does Jeffrey want Alaa and the rest of the world to see America?

- Why does Alaa say he will keep telling this story?

- What can we learn from Jeffrey?

- Why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality At in Primary Schools by Andrew Moffat

equalitiesprimary