Birmingham Pride

https://www.iambirmingham.co.uk/2019/05/04/national-express-west-midlands-paints-city-rainbows-ahead-birmingham-pride/

Birmingham is getting ready for Pride weekend and many shops and businesses in the city centre are painted in rainbow colours.

Many cities across the UK and the world hold pride events every year to celebrate their diversity and demonstrate to all families that they are welcome. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people, and people who identify in lots of different ways, together with all their friends and supporters are encouraged to walk together through the city centre to show no one has to hide who they are. Everyone is welcome; there will be people of different gender, race, religion, disability, age, no one is left out.

The photos show a bus stop in Birmingham City Centre with a bus painted in rainbow colours  a sign in Sainsburys and a cash point; many banks in the city have painted their cash machines rainbow colours and there are many shops with rainbow colour displays.

The theme of Birmingham pride this year is Love Out Loud. Sponsors of Pride, HSBC say, "It's not about gender, race, culture or religion. Just people. And Love. Coming out and wanting the world to know. Open to all. Arm in arm, holding hands. Because when we celebrate our differences, we're part of something far bigger. You are not an island. Together we love."

This year Birmingham pride supports No Outsiders

What do you see in the picture?
Are they usually painted in rainbow colours?
What are the rainbow colours for?

explain the picture

- What do the terms Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender mean?
- Why do you think a rainbow is used to symbolise LGBT pride?
- Read the HSBC quote; what does 'coming out' mean?
- Why do they say, "It's not about gender, race, culture or religion"?
- Why do they say, "You're not an island"?
- Why do so many cities hold pride events?
- When a city holds a pride event, what are they saying about people who are LGBT?
- Why paint a bus in rainbow colours? Will going on the bus make you gay?
- Many shops have signs like the one shown in Sainsburys. Why display this sign?
- How would a person who is LGBT feel as they walk past that sign?
- Why might a person who is LGBT not always feel supported?
- What does British law say about LGBT people?
- Who else does the Equality Act protect?
- Why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat 

Thanks to Khakan Qureshi for the cash point photo and Aimee for the Sainsburys photo

The Wow Boy

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/orchestra-austism-wow-child-ronan-mattin-boston-classical-concert-a8909391.html?fbclid=IwAR0hMHSohkZyM88LQ3mqpL8Fk7RTnoyd3YFEh7Ah8SaiHDD9pDGg7T-26w4

A nine year old boy went with his Grandfather to see a classical music concert by the Handel and Haydn Orchestra in Boston USA. Ronan Mattin is autistic and does not often use speech but loves music. He rarely expresses himself in words or talks about how he feels.

Ronan listened to the orchestra play Mozart's Masonic Funeral Music and as the piece finished, he exclaimed, "Wow!" The hall was silent and everyone in the audience and on the stage clearly heard Ronan. There was a pause, a ripple of laughter and then the audience applauded.

Ronan's Mum said, "We don't hear words often from him so such a genuine, unprompted response like that was really, really special."

In the days following the concert, the orchestra mailed all their supporters and put a message on their website asking to find the "Wow boy." The president of the orchestra, David Snead said he had, "Never heard anything like it in more than four decades of classical music performing. It was one of the most wonderful moments I've experienced in the concert hall."

When Ronan's family saw the messages they contacted the orchestra and now Ronan has been invited to meet the conductor next time they play in Boston. A recording of the moment Ronan says wow has gone viral. Ronan's Mum says, "We're glad Ronan is providing so much joy to others because that's what he does for us every day."

What do you see in the picture?
what is happening?
where is it taken?

explain the story

- what is autism? (I asked a child with autism how to describe what autism means. Oliver told me, "autism is your brain wired differently so you see the world in a different way. It' just a different view of the world." Oliver says some things are harder for him but but also he better at some things than other children.)
- when people usually attend a classical music concert, what is the expectation for the audience?
- Why do you think Ronan shouted, "Wow" at the end of the music?
- why did everyone else hear him? What was everyone else doing?
- Why were Ronan's family so overjoyed to hear him say, "Wow"?
- how do you think Grandfather first felt when Ronan shouted out?
- Why did the audience laugh?
- The audience then applauded, who were they applauding?
- Was Ronan right to shout, "Wow"?
- Do you think the rest of the audience also loved the music? Why didn't they shout "Wow"?
- How do you think the musicians felt when they heard Ronan?
- "It was one of the most wonderful moments I've experienced in the concert hall" why?
- Why aren't the musicians cross with Ronan?
- why has this story gone viral? What does this show about people around the world and their view of autism and difference?
- what can we learn from Ronan?
- what can we learn from the Handel and Haydn Orchestra?
- why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat

Thanks again to Oliver for his brilliant explanation.

Always be kind

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-48043165?fbclid=IwAR112WH7DnTy18sHDFeUEXAfR2PjqK0tsWSkzRZhSGWtEQBIjgTBRJmMHjI

Jamario Howard was eating a meal with his friends in a restaurant in Alabama, USA when he noticed an elderly woman sitting on her own at a table. Jamario says, "I don't ever want to eat alone, so I decided to talk to her."

Jamario approached the woman, he says she had a look on her face as he approached. He introduced himself and they started chatting. The woman's name was Eleanor Baker; she told Jamario she had lost her husband and the next day would have been their 60th wedding anniversary. Jamario invited 

Eleanor to join his friends on their table.

Jamario says, "She was excited to sit with us and came over straight away. We all felt really comfortable and asked her a bunch of questions."

Jamario posted this photo on twitter and said, "The point is, always be kind and nice to people. You never know what they are going through. This woman changed my outlook on life and how I look at other people. Everyone has a story so do not judge. GO SEE YOUR MUM AND GRANDPARENTS They miss you!"

The picture and story quickly went viral around the world

What do you see in the story

where are they?

How are they similar and different?

explain the story

- why was Eleanor sitting alone?

- why did Jamario approach her?

- as Jamario approached, Eleanor had a look on her face; what do you think she was thinking?

- how do you think she felt when Jamario introduced himself?

- how do you think Eleanor felt when Jamario invited her to his table?

- They chatted and asked questions; what sort of questions do you think they asked?

- Jamario says "you never know what people are going through" what does he mean?

- "Everyone has a story so do not judge" what does he mean?

- why does Jamario say in capital letters on  his tweet, "Go see your Mum and Grandparents!"?

- what can we learn from Jamario?

Why is this story about No Outsiders?

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

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat