utility bill

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-50871948?fbclid=IwAR0p1XYhpegJK3E1qHpI6HbwGZ2a635hzhNTJEUVUKBtFlQ3AvrtmoE2Q64

When paying his latest gas and water bill, 73 year old Michael Esmond noticed the bill said supplies would be cut off if not paid by December 26th. Michael realised this might mean some families who were struggling to afford their bills might spend the holiday without electricity or gas. So he decided to pay bills for them.

Michael contacted the city of Gulf Breeze Florida, where he lives, and asked how many families were overdue with payments. He then paid all the overdue bills, so that 36 families in his city would not have supplies cut off.

Michael back in the 1980's when he was struggling to pay bills, his gas was cut off over winter, meaning his family had no heat.

Unbeknown to Michael, the city sent out cards to all the families whose bills had been paid. The cards read, "It is our honour and privilege to inform you that your past due utility bill has been paid by Gulf Breeze Pools and Spas" (Michael's company)

"You can rest easier this holiday knowing that you have one less bill to pay."

Michael says he was inundated with messages of thanks once the cards went out. Many people have said they will pay the money forward or donate money to charity.

What do you see in the picture?
who do you think the person is?
what are they holding?
can anyone guess the story?

explain the story

- why do people need gas and electric?
- why might some people struggle to pay for gas and electric?
- why would a supply be cut off? What happens then?
- why do you think Michael had this idea?
- Did Michael know who he was paying bills for?
- the people could have been black or white, follow different religions, be in families where there are two Mums or two Dads, have disabilities, come from different countries. Why didn't Michael check first who he was paying bills for?
- what does this show about how Michael feels about difference and diversity in his city? (he doesn't care if you are different to him, he just wants you to have gas and electric and be warm)
- how do you think people felt when they heard Michael had paid their bill?
- people are saying they will 'pay it forward' what does this mean?
- Do you think news of Michael's choices and actions might have any impact on people living in his city?
- when people talk about community cohesion, what does that mean?
- why is this about No Outsiders?

www.no-outsiders.com

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

Dancing on ice

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/viewers-moved-tears-first-same-17516491

Two men competed in "Dancing On Ice" as a couple for the first time in the show this week. It is the first time a same-sex pair have competed in a show like this on TV. There has never been a competing same-sex couple on the ballroom dancing show Strictly, which has been running for 17 years.  One of the pair, Ian H Watkins, said after the show, "We've shown two men can perform together." "The world is ready for this."

Matt Evers, the professional skater said, "Thank you to everyone at home that is accepting of this because this is normal. It is absolutely normal."

- what do you see in the picture
-where is it?
- what do you notice about he two people in the photo?

explain the story

- This story made news across the UK; why?
- think about people you have seen dancing together on TV; have you ever seen a male and female couple dance together? Can you think of a time before this week that you saw a same-sex couple dance together? Why do you think that is?
- "The world is ready for this." what does Ian mean?
- "This is normal, it is absolutely normal" why is Matt saying that?
- What are Ian and Matt showing the world?
- If a young person who is gay or lesbian watches this, how will they feel?
- Matt said, "Thank you to everyone at home who is accepting of this," which suggests he fears some may not be accepting. But in the first vote, Matt and Ian got through, so many people did vote for them. Only sixteen people across the UK complained about Ian and Matt dancing together. What does this show about Britain today?
- what can we learn from Ian and Matt
- why is this story about No Outsiders?

www.no-outsiders.com

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the equality act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Flowers

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3453325/The-romantic-flower-garden-world-Husband-plants-thousands-pink-blooms-people-come-spend-time-blind-wife-didn-t-feel-lonely.html

Toshiyuki Kuroki and Yasuko were married for 30 years when Yasuko began to lose her sight. She became depressed and stopped going out of the house, afraid to meet people. Toshiyuki wanted to think of a way to make his wife happy again so he worked for 10 years on a beautiful garden surrounding his house, so that people would come and visit, enjoy the garden and meet Yasuko.

Toshiyuki planted thousands of bright pink flowers around his house and thousands of visitors come to his house every year to enjoy the garden, the beautiful colour and scent, and to say hello to Yasuko. It is not only the flowers that have become famous; people want to meet Toshiyuki and Yasuko and listen to their love story. Yasuko talks to all the visitors, although she can't see them, to tell them about her story. Meeting new people every day has made Yasuko happy again and she loves the smell of the flowers surrounding her house.

what do you see in the picture?
where is the picture taken?
who do you think the people are?
what do you notice about the people?

explain the story

- Who felt like an outsider at the start of this story? Why?
- why do you think Toshiyuki decided planting flowers might help?
- it took ten years for the garden to fully grow, why didn't Toshiyuki give up?
- why do you think so many people come to visit today?
- Yasuko used to be frightened of meeting people. She is still blind, yet she talks to new people every day; what has changed?
- How has Toshiyuki stopped his wife feeling like an outsider?
- what can we learn from Yasuko?
- what can we learn from Toshiyuko?
- Why is this story about our school? (this is about recognising when someone feels like an outsider and doing something about it. Toshiyuki could not enable his wife to see again but he could find a way to make sure she felt included again. That is our aim; we need to make sure whatever challenges people face in our school, we will work together to overcome those challenges. No one is left behind here.)

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

Film diversity

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-50970519?fbclid=IwAR081L6S25hcWcM_1BxTGbh76kY4cRkj6SWywbLQwGEMNClaaA1C-i1Knd0

There are reports that Marvel will include a character who is transgender in a future film. There will also be a character who is gay and another who is deaf. In the film "The Eternals" there will be the first Asian-American superhero.

Kevin  Feige, the boss of Marvel Studios says, "We want the movies to reflect the audience and we want every member of our global audience to see themselves reflected on the screen."

When speaking about the new Thor film released in 2021, the actor Tessa Thompson who plays Valkyrie was asked what her character would do in her new role as King of the new Asgard. Tessa replied, "As a new King, she needs to find her Queen".

Speaking about the gay character in  'The Eternals', Kevin said, "He's married, he's got a family, that's just part of who he is."

What do you see in the picture?
where is the photo taken from?

explain the story

- what do you notice about the characters in the picture? (all different)
- "we want every member of our global audience to see themselves reflected on screen" what does this mean?
- who goes to see films? (everyone- different race, religion, sexual orientation, disability)
- why do Marvel Studios want people to see themselves 'reflected on screen'?
- what does this tell us about Marvel Studios and their attitude to being different?
- why do you think until now there has never been an Asian-American superhero?
- why it this changing?
- "as a new King she needs to find a Queen" why is this an interesting quote?
- Marvel say there will be superheroes who are deaf, or who are gay; what does this show us bout how the world in 2020 is changing?
- when speaking about the character who is gay, Kevin says, "that's just part of who he is" what does he mean? (that being gay does not define a person, it's just one part of who they are. They could be gay and deaf and Asian-American and left handed!)
- what can we learn from Marvel Studios?
- 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 

Embankment station

https://secretldn.com/mind-the-gap-embankment-station/?fbclid=IwAR30gdsWyENmcHmKsPjt2_fXbwe5D_L9DTUHJjvx6Na8v-BtLy_tsjx69eI

Visitors to London Underground stations hear a friendly warning every time a train arrives; "Mind the gap!" which reminds people to step over the gap between the train and the platform. One morning at Embankment station an elderly woman approached a guard to ask why the voice making the announcement over the loudspeaker had changed. The guard told her that all the announcements across the London Underground had been updated so the old voice had been replaced.

The woman was a GP, Dr Margaret McCollum. She told the guard that the old voice was her husband; an actor called Oswald Lawrence who never became famous but had recorded "Mind the gap!" for all the London underground stations in the 1970s. Oswald died in 2007 and Margaret missed him very much; she felt alone but every day on her way to work at Embankment station she could hear Oswald's voice. Sometimes she would wait on the platform a little longer just to hear his voice every time a train in.

The staff at Embankment station listened to her story and said they would try and find the old recordings, but they knew it would be impossible as the whole system had been erased. Margaret knew that she would not hear Oswald again.

The following year, Margaret was sitting on the station on her way to work when a train arrived and the announcement came over the loudspeaker; "Mind the gap!". Margaret couldn't believe what she heard; it was Oswald speaking!

Many people at Embankment station felt empathy with Margaret; they too had lost loved ones and knew how it felt to feel alone. They wanted to help, so an operation had begun to restore Oswald's announcement. And that is why today if you travel on the underground you will hear a digitalised voice warning you about the gap at every other station, but at Embankment station you will hear only one human voice, a booming male voice saying, "Mind the gap!" and it's Oswald.

What do you see in the picture?
where is it?
What do people hear while standing at the station?

explain the story

- How do you think Margaret felt when she heard Oswald's voice every morning?
- He was only saying three words; she couldn't hold a conversation, so why do you think she would sometimes wait on the station to hear him again and again?
-  How did Margaret feel the first time the announcement was a different voice?
- The guard was probably very busy, why do you think he stopped and listened to her story?
- Oswald's recording had been erased, why do you think staff spent so long trying to restore it? Why didn't they just say, "sorry, it's a different voice now."
- what does empathy mean?
- how do you think Margaret felt when she heard Oswald again?
- this story has gone viral; why do you think that is? What does that show about people around the world today?
- Why is this story about no outsiders? (Margaret felt like an outsider, but the staff worked together to make sure she felt welcome and loved)
- what can we learn from the staff at Embankment station?

Merry Christmas everyone!

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 

Rosa Parks

https://www.mlive.com/news/2019/12/public-transit-system-honors-rosa-parks-with-open-seat-on-every-bus.html?fbclid=IwAR1D4iGAGkRJZM7NBuZkI_Clo4FnQUCYzVrZ-h6C1DY8n_UGUmee9C_DTbg

On 1st December 1955 in Milwaukee USA, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus. Rosa was sitting in seats reserved for black people, but the seats for white people were full and the driver told her to stand so that a white person could sit down; she was arrested but her act led to supreme court legislation that outlawed segregation on public transport in America.

For three days this week in Milwaukee all buses are reserving a seat in honour of Rosa Parks. Each seat has a picture of Rosa and a rose. Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele says, "Rosa Parks was a trailblazer who was guided by the north stars of equality, justice and compassion to make our country better and stronger."

"All of us have a responsibility to honour the work of our civil rights leaders, and to do our part to continue, grow and advance our efforts to achieve racial equality and make Milwaukee the healthiest county in Wisconsin."

"This is a unique opportunity for our bus drivers, employees, leaders and other community leaders to come together to reflect on the past and look ahead to the future."

what do you see in the picture?
where is it?

explain the story

- what is segregation?
- who was Rosa Parks, why is she famous?
- why was Rosa Parks arrested? Does this mean Rosa was a criminal?
- why are people celebrating someone who broke the law?
- why are buses reserving a seat?
- do you think if the bus is full someone will move the poster and sit down?
- why do you think Chris Abele says achieving racial equality will make his town healthy?
- "reflect on the past and look ahead to the future" what does that mean?
- what does this story show us about laws and ideas? (they can change)
- what can we learn from Rosa Parks?
- 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

nappy change

https://www.storyhulk.com/2019/10/15/fathers-have-started-campaigning-for-baby-changing/?fbclid=IwAR1vSSeW9yiQEgx7i0m-sGebyAH93XqQhHO9jr5cDHvDn9yasGBvLP4u9tQ

A Dad has started a campaign #squatforchange to have public spaces available for men to change their baby's nappy. Often nappy-changing facilities are located in female or disabled toilets,  leaving men to make do in male toilets, squatting on the floor. Dad, Donte Palmer published a photo of himself squatting to change his son's nappy and the photo went viral with other Dads joining the campaign.

The campaign is starting to  work. Pampers has agreed to install 5000 baby changing tables in men's toilets across America and Canada by 2021.

Donte says, "This campaign is changing the narrative of what a father is. the dynamics of showing what a marriage looks like, like showing that marriage equality is important. My wife and I do everything equally - diaper changing is not just my wife's job, it's my job as well."

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

explain the story

- why is the man squatting?
- is that the best way to change a nappy? what does he need?
- why doesn't Mum just take the baby and change the nappy on a table in the female toilets? (lots of possible reasons: perhaps he wants to change the nappy; perhaps it's his turn; perhaps he is out without Mum; perhaps he lives in a family with two Dads or perhaps he is a single Dad.)
- why do you think most male public toilets do not have a baby changing table?
- what does this suggest about ideas around which gender should change a nappy?
- "The narrative of what a father is" what does this mean?
- Dante says, "Diaper changing is not just my wife's job, it's my job as well" why does he say that?
- why are ideas about gender roles changing today? (what does gender mean, what does 'gender roles' mean)
- Pampers are a huge company who make nappies and they are now going to fund baby changing tables in male toilets; what does this show about their attitude to gender roles today?
- what can we learn from Dante?
- Why is this about No Outsiders?

No Oustsiders 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