Santa

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/12/03/black-santa-solidarity/

The Kennedy family live in Arkansas, USA. They put up their Christmas decorations this year, as they do every year, in front of their house. The decorations include a large inflatable Christmas tree and inflatable Santa next to twinkling lights. But this year after a week the family received a letter saying they should take the Santa down. The letter claimed to be from Santa and said, "I am a white man to you and have been for the last 600 years." At the end of the letter the writer suggested the family move to a different neighbourhood.

The family wondered if they had made the right choice and if they should move. They shared the letter on social media  but they were immediately deluged with messages of support from their neighbours. What do you think the neighbours did next? Slowly, one by one, Black Santas started appearing all over the neighbourhood. 

   

One of the first people to put up a Black Santa was 70 year old Chip Welch. Chip said the letter was, "not reflective of the kind of country I want to live in. We were all pretty concerned about it and we decided it would be poetic for everyone to get Black Santa's."

Will and Paula Jones live across the street and have put up a Black Santa. Paula said when she heard about the letter, "My first thought was, 'Where can I get one?"

Neighbour Ben Keller had a two year old son who is black. Ben says their son is "absolutely thrilled to see some Santa's that reflect back to him."

People have also sent donations to the Kennedy family, who have donated everything to charity. They have received over $1000.

what do you see in the picture?

what do you notice about the Santa?

explain the story 

- why would someone write that letter, what was their aim?

- how do you think the Kennedy family felt when they first read the letter?

- Chip Welch says the letter is "not reflective of the kind of country I want to live in" what does that mean?

- why do you think Paula immediately thought, "Where can I get one"?

- why do you think so many neighbours put up black Santas and shared photos?

- what does this story show about lots of people in America today and their attitude to diversity and difference?

- how do you think the Kennedy family felt when they saw their neighbours' reactions?

- Ben Keller says his Black son is "thrilled to see some Santas that reflect back at him" what does this mean?

- what does representation mean and why is it important today?

- what can we learn from the Kennedy family?

- what can we learn from their neighbours?

- why is this about No Outsiders?

No outsiders: Everyone different, everyone welcome by Andrew Moffat

www.no-outsiders.com

rainbow laces

 

 The photo shows Jordan Henderson, Captain of Liverpool football team. Last Sunday James wore a rainbow armband while leading his team in a match against Wolves at Anfield.

Jordan said, “Football is a game for everyone. No matter what”

After the match, Liverpool fan Keith Spooner contacted Jordan on twitter to say, “At 17 I came out, I struggled through my teenage years but the one thing that always made me feel at home was Liverpool. Seeing this means the world to me, it truly does!”

Jordan responded with, “If wearing a rainbow laces arm band helps even just one person, then it’s progress. Everyone is welcome at Liverpool Football Club.”

- What are the armbands and laces for?

•        -  What does LGBT mean?

•        -  Do you have to be gay to wear the laces and armbands?

•        -  Why are people who are not gay wearing them?

•        -  What does ‘come out’ mean? Why did Keith Spooner say he struggled through his teenage years?

•        -  Why does it mean “the world” to Keith to see the captain wear a rainbow armband today?

•         -  What can we learn from these footballers?

•         - Why is this about No Outsiders?

 

 

racist responses

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55168557

The photo shows Derby County player Colin Kazim-Richards raising his first as players on his team take the knee at a match against Millwall on Saturday. Players wanted to show respect to the Black Lives Matters campaign before the match.

When players took the knee, some of the Millwall fans in the crowd started to boo. 

The incident made national news and thousand of people expressed anger at the lack of respect shown by some football fans. 

Derby boss Wayne Rooney said is was, "disappointing and upsetting to hear booing from supporters." He said he was pleased with how his team dealt with the incident, "They've had to put that to the back of their minds for the 90 minutes but I'm sure it's something they were thinking about."

The Environment secretary George Eustace responded to the booing by saying people's views should be respected; "if people choose to reflect their view in a particular way that should always be respected."

However, Derby centre forward Colin Kazim Richards said the incident was "an absolute disgrace."

"This is why I stand and stand proud and I have to say every single person involved with @dcfofficial did too made me proud to wear this shirt today"

The FA  said, "We applaud the players for taking a stand and defying the hate shown today."

what do you see in the photo?

where is it taken?

what is happening?

explain the story

- what is taking the knee about? why are people choosing to do it?

- why is Colin Kazim Richards remaining standing with his fist in the air?

- what do you notice about the three players in the photo taking the knee?

- black and white players choosing to show support for Black Lives Matter together - what does this show about football players today and respect for diversity? 

- why did some fans in the crowd boo? (because some people still don't understand about diversity and difference; they weren't lucky enough to go to a school like ours where we talk about being different and show respect for each other. Some people think we should all be the same - same skin, same religion, same kind of person. It's the opposite to us - we know it's great to be different and we like it that way. We are not frightened about diversity and equality)

- how do you think the players felt when they heard the boos?

- what do you think of the different reactions; "disappointed"; "saddened"; "a disgrace;" was it "disappointing"? Is that word strong enough? Which reaction do you think is most applicable here?

- one person said we should respect the views of the people booing. What the arguments for and against that view? 

- The boss of the team said he was pleased with how his team dealt with it - putting it to the back of their minds and playing on. What do you think about that advice? Are the players being asked to ignore racism and carry on? Should we ignore racist behaviour when we see it?

- What can we do about this today? How do we stop this happening in the future? (we stop this by making sure everyone knows in our school we respect diversity and we welcome difference. If we hear a racist comment, or a homophobic comment or any comment that is discriminatory, we challenge it)

- what do we say at our school about racism?

- why is this about no outsiders?

www.no-outsiders.com

No Outsiders: everyone different everyone welcome by Andrew Moffat

baseball

 

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/kim-ng-named-first-female-gm-in-baseball-history/

Kim Ng (Pronounced Eng) has become the first woman to be hired as a manager in a professional league baseball club in America. She is also the first Asian – American to manage a team.

Watch this short news clip about Kim’s appointment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ8fcDvFAj0

Kim has worked for 30 years in different baseball clubs; she has been Assisant General Manager with the New York Yankees and Assistant General Manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Commissioner for baseball Robert Manfred Jnr said, “Kim’s appointment makes history in all of professional sports and sets a significant example for the millions of women and girls who love baseball and softball.”

Kim said, “When I got in to this business it seemed unlikely that a women would lead a major team, but I’m dogged in pursuit of my goals.”

Many people have praised Kim; one person said, “All it takes is one and then it opens the door for somebody.”

-        Why has this story made news?

-        Why do you think Kym is first women to manage a major league baseball team?

-        Kim started as an intern. What’s an intern?

-        “When I got in to this business it seemed unlikely that a women would lead a major team,” why?

-        “I’m dogged in pursuit of my goals” what does this mean?

-        Kim “sets a significant example for the millions of women and girls who love baseball and softball.” Why?

-        “All it takes is one and then it opens the door for somebody.”

-        What does this show about ideas and the world today (ideas can change, the world is changing)

-        What can we learn from Kim?

-        Why is this about No Outsiders?

community

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/11/13/wurstbar-jersey-barber-covid/

Wustbar is a bar in New Jersey, USA, owned by Aaron Khan. Last week a member of staff was diagnosed with coronavirus so to be safe, Aaron decided to ask all of his staff to isolate and get tested. He shared a message on Instagram saying they were closing the bar. Aaron was booked for a haircut that afternoon at the barber shop two doors down from his bar and he rang the owner, Andre Fersa, to tell him what had happened and cancel his appointment.

Andre had an idea. He offered to work at Aaron’s bar over the weekend to keep it open and he brought a friend with him to help. They refused to accept payment for their work and gave all their tips ($300) to the workers at the bar who were isolating. Andre said he could relate to Aaron’s situation because at the start of lockdown earlier in the year he had to close his barber shop for three months. He got by on savings, but it was difficult. Aaron says he will never forget Andre’s kindness.

The Wutstbar staff posted on social media after the weekend, “We love this community and couldn’t ask for better neighbours.”

-        Why did Aaron close his bar when only one of his staff had coronavirus?

-        Why do you think Andre offered to help out?

-        Why didn’t Andre and his friend accept payment for their work?

-        Why did they give all their tips to the usual bar staff who weren’t working?

-        What is a community?

-        What does this show us about how coronavirus is affecting communities?

-        What can we learn from Andre Fersa?

-        If Andre needs help in the future, who do you think might step in to help? Why?

-        What is the impact of a good deed or an act of kindness?

Why is this about community cohesion?

speech

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-54867714

The photo shows 13 year old Brayden Harrington from Canada. Brayden has a stutter yet here he is talking on the BBC about his journey. He says he was helped by President elect Joe Biden, who also has a stutter. Joe Biden is about become American president.

Watch the video in the link above; Brayden talks about talking with others who stutter, and they say they would never believe that someone who stutters would make it this far as president.

In January Joe Biden will be giving his inauguration speech in front of millions of people. Brayden gives the president advice on his speech; “If he gets a block or if he has a little moment then he just needs to do what he does best and go through it, and we’re all just rooting for you.”

-        What is a stutter?

-        Why is Brayden smiling when he says, “Without Joe Biden I wouldn’t be talking to you today.”?

-        Why did Joe say to Brayden, “We are members of the same club”?

-        Why are Brayden and his friends shocked that someone who stutters would make it to American president?

-        What is the inauguration speech?

-        Why might Joe Biden feel nervous about giving the inauguration speech?

-        What do you think of Brayden’s advice? What does he mean by ‘a block’?

-        How do you think Brayden will feel as he watches Joe begin his speech in January?

-        “We’re all rooting for you” what does this mean? How will Joe feel knowing Brayden and his friends are rooting for him as he begins his speech?

-        What can we learn from Brayden and from Joe Biden?

-        Why is this about no outsiders?

nobody is normal

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-bDDeWzSQY

Childline have released a video aimed at supporting mental health and wellbeing during lockdown. Watch the film in the youtube link above. The NSPCC says since lockdown, cases of children reaching our for support with loneliness and self esteem have soared and there has been a significant increase in children contacting the charity with worries about body image, gender and sexuality.

“Nobody is normal” has been launched to show children that lacking confidence, feeling not good enough or that you don’t fit in, is a shared experience. Childline says, “Don’t suffer in silence.”

The film shows a boy struggling to appear ‘normal’, covering up his true identity. Childline wants children to know that no matter how isoloated they feel, they are not alone. Childline is there for them.

Children can call childline anonymously at any time on 0800 11 11or visit www.childline.co.uk

-        What is childline, how do you contact them?

-        What does ‘normal’ mean?

-        Why release a film called, “nobody is normal”?

-        In the film, what keeps happening to the boy; how does it make him feel?

-        Why does he wear a “boy costume”?

-        Why doesn’t the boy just tell people about his difference?

-        If you knew the boy, what would you say to him?

-        What happens to change the boy’s mind and reveal his difference?

-        When the boy reveals his difference, what does everyone else do?

-        What does “Don’t suffer in silence” mean?

-        What can we learn from this film?

Why is this film about No Outsiders?