Bruno the Brake Car

 

https://www.theguardian.com/global/2022/sep/07/thomas-the-tank-engine-to-introduce-first-autistic-character

Thomas the tank engine has a new character- Bruno the Brake Car, voiced by 9 year old actor Elliot Garcia. The character Bruno is autistic and this is the first time the series has featured an autistic character. Elliott, the actor, is also autistic.

The company behind Thomas the Tank Engine is Mattel and they say they, "carefully curated Bruno's character to ensure an accurate fictional representation of autism."

Bruno rolls in reverse which gives him a "unique perspective" on life and he also loves timetables, routines, schedules and things being in order, "when everything goes to plan." The train sometimes wears ear defenders if trains get too noisy and he has worked out signals using a lantern to let the other trains know if he is getting overwhelmed or needs support.

There will be a range of Bruno merchandise available by the end of the year.

Mattel accept that although Bruno is autistic, he does not reflect the lives of all autistic people. The National Autistic Society worked with Mattel to create Bruno and they say his inclusion in the show is an "amazing moment for autistic people."  

"It is important that everyone sees autistic characters on our screens because there are 160,000 school-age autistic children in the UK and they want to see their stories told. But it's also important that non-autistic children get insight and understanding in to what it can be like to be autistic."

- what is autism? (I asked Oliver, 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.)

- why do you think   Bruno the Brake Car travels in reverse and loves routines and schedules?

- why does Bruno sometimes wear ear defenders?

- why is the lantern useful? How do you think the other trains respond when Bruni asks for support, what kind of support do you think he needs?

- "A unique perspective on life" what does that mean?

- Why introduce a character with autism?

- why have the character voiced by an actor with autism?

- "Although Bruno is autistic, he does not reflect the lives of all autistic people." What does this mean?

- why is this "an amazing moment for autistic people"?

- "It's important that non-autistic children get insight and understanding in to what it can be like to be autistic." - why?

- what can we learn from Bruno the brake car?

- why is this about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders: Everyone different, everyone welcome by Andrew Moffat

www.no-outsiders.com 

One Love armband

 

https://news.sky.com/story/harry-kanes-message-as-he-joins-other-football-captains-to-wear-anti-discrimination-armband-in-qatar-12702508

      Harry Kane, England’s football captain, will wear a “One love” armband during this year's football season and also at the World Cup in Qatar.
Football captains from nine other countries will also wear the armband: Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland, Wales, Norway.
The armband is a symbol of anti-discrimination.
The One Love initiative was started in Netherlands and aims to, “Use the power of football to promote inclusion and send a message against discrimination.”
In Qatar same sex relationships and the “promotion” of same sex relationships are banned.
At the time of writing, FIFA  has not given permission for the captains to wear the armbands. Rules state that permission should be granted before arm bands are worn.
Harry Kane says, “As captains we may all be competing against each other on the pitch, but we stand together against all forms of discrimination.”

-          What do you think the One love arm band is for?
-          Why do you think so many captains are wearing this armband this year for the World Cup? Where is the World Cup being held?
-          “Use the power of football to promote inclusion and send a message against discrimination.”
-          What does that mean? Why “One Love”? Why not, “Everyone Equal”? What is the campaign specifically about?
-          The “promotion of same sex relationships is banned." What do you think “promotion” means in this context? Do you think wearing an arm band promoting same sex relationships?
-          Are Harry Kane and the other 9 captains right to wear the armbands? One argument may be that they should respect the laws of the country they are visiting and not wear the armbands. What do you think?
-          Why do you think FIFA are taking such a long time to give permission for the armbands (and they may not give permission) What do you think they should do? 
-          If they don’t give permission, what options do the captains have? What might the consequences be?
-          What can we learn from Harry Kane and the nine other captains?
-          Why is this about No Outsiders?

     No Outsiders: Everyone different, everyone welcome by Andrew Moffat

     www.no-outsiders.com

ballet shoes

 

https://scoop.upworthy.com/watch-this-ballerinas-reaction-when-she-finally-gets-pointe-shoes-that-match-her-skin-tone?fbclid=IwAR1S2YSGtlbB7c3HPtFioxeLtlFaZh105P8Bd7AQDLtEpr4IonZK7L0SpJk

Kira Robinson is a ballet student at the University of Oklahoma. A short film has gone viral of Kira opening a box of ballet shoes. Can you guess why Kira is so happy with her new shoes?

Look at this picture of someone's collection of ballet shoes, what do you notice about them?

Ballet shoes are traditionally pink and white. The aim of a ballet shoe (or pointe) is to match the skin tone of the dancer to create a clean line.

Kira is breaking down stereotypes about who can be a ballet dancer, But finding ballet shoes that match Kira's skin has been a problem. Brown ballet shoes are hard to find, so before today, Kira has been buying white ballet shoes and pancaking (painting) them brown. Pancaking is a ballet term for when dancers paint their shoes to match the colour of their tights so that they blend in. 

In the clip that went viral (1.4 million views), Kira opens the box and gets emotional. She says, "This is so exciting because it means I finally don't have to pancake my shoes anymore, I can just have them brown already."

"I can't tell you how excited I am. They look stunning. Look at this, it's like my skin tone, it's brown."

"I can't tell you how revolutionary this is that I don't have to pancake them with foundation to make my skin colour. I'm so excited!"

In 2012 a company called Shades of Dance launched a tights collection in a different range of colours. They said at the time, "Our goal is to allow every dancer to see a true image of themselves when they look in the mirror."

Marie Astrid Mence is a ballet dancer with brown skin and she has also found brown shoes to wear. She says she grew accustomed to feeling excluded from the world of ballet. She says the lack of brown shoes and brown dancers alike reinforced the message that she was not welcome; "I couldn't see any, like, black ballet dancers, female or male, and now being the one to wear bronze pointe shoes, it's extraordinary. It's fantastic and I hope I will inspire young ballet dancers and make them want to start ballet."

- why do you think ballet shoes are traditionally white/ pink?

- what message does this give about who is welcome in ballet?

- "Kira is breaking down stereotypes about who can be a ballet dancer," what does this mean?

- "I couldn't see any, like, black ballet dancers, female or male," why does this matter? 

- Why did Kira pancake her shoes brown? Why not just leave them white?

- "I can't tell you how excited I am. They look stunning. It's like my skin tone, It's brown." why is Kira so excited about this?

-"I can't tell you how revolutionary this is" why is it revolutionary? 

- why do you think the clip went viral? what does this show about millions of people around the world and their attitude towards skin tones?

-"Our goal is to allow every dancer to see a true image of themselves when they look in the mirror." what does this mean?

- what can we learn from Kira and Marie?

- why is this about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders: everyone welcome, everyone different by Andrew Moffat

www.no-outsiders.com

Equality Act

 

 

https://stacker.com/stories/34991/how-world-changed-during-queen-elizabeths-reign

https://www.historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/unequal-britain-equalities-in-britain-since-1945

The world in 1952, when Queen Elizabeth started her reign, is unrecognisable from the world today. In the 70 years since 1952, the Queen has watched the world around her change 

What changes has she seen?

television; air travel; space travel; the internet; mobile phones; Covid... you could ague the Queen's role in all that time is the only thing that has remained the same. 

Has anything else stayed the same since 1952? What else do we do today that has stayed the same since 1952? 

(Even going to the cinema has changed - in the 1950s after showing the film, cinemas played the National Anthem and everyone stood up)

Equality in the UK has changed immeasurably since 1952 when there were no women's rights, disability rights, LGBT rights, no one had heard of Black Lives Matter. 

Do you know when the first equality laws were passed?

The Race Relations Act 1965 was the first legislation in the UK to address racial discrimination. The first legislation to protect people with disabilities was not until 1995 (the Disability Discrimination Act). In the 1950s LGBT people had no protection under the law and in the early years of the Queen's reign, gay men were imprisoned. Only in 1967 were laws passed to decriminalise homosexuality.

What is the name of the law we have today that protects equality and when was it passed? 

(The Equality Act 2010) 

What is the Equality Act for, what are the protected characteristics, who do they protect? 

-race

-religion

- age

- sex

- sexual orientation

- gender reassignment

- disability

- pregnancy and maternity

- marriage and civil partnership

What do each of these words mean? Which of these protected characteristics is most important? (none: they all have equal importance)

Are people allowed to miss out any of the protected characteristics? (no, we can't pick and choose the groups we like or agree with; everyone in the Equality Act 2010 is of equal importance)

How does the Equality Act 2010 affect us in our school? 

Does anyone here identify with any of these groups? How are we different in our school? (it's important that children self identify here rather than have others point them out. Say you only want children here to tell you about themselves, not about other people) 

How do we make sure everyone knows they belong here? 

Why is this about No Outsiders?

How do we make sure these rights stay with us in the future?

Can you think of another monarch in whose reign society changed so much? How do you think Queen Elizabeth felt as she looked back on the changes in her reign?

Take a moment of reflection 

www.no-outsiders.com

Queen Elizabeth II 1926 - 2022

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/outpouring-of-love-and-grief-from-public-at-the-gates-of-buckingham-palace/ar-AA11CaTb?cvid=f21bc7131fc344f293c0d1fa6c843b62#image=1

Huge crowds of people gathered outside Buckingham Palace as they heard the news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. 

Queen Elizabeth died peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Thursday afternoon, surrounded by her family. The news was announced later that day and immediately people from across the UK came together to support each other. Thousands of people went to Buckingham palace to pay tribute to the Queen. By 8:00 in the evening, crowds stretched for over a mile from Buckingham Palace. (why do you think so many people went to Buckingham Palace? Did they know the Queen?)

King Charles III (who is King Charles III? When was King Charles II?) said in a statement, 

"The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty the Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family. We morn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms and the commonwealth, and by countless people around the world. During this period of mourning and change, mu family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held."

Queen Elizabeth was known for being a "constant" in the lives of British people. (what does that mean?) She was seen as being a constant figure - never changing as Britain changed  around her. This gave people a sense of stability and comfort. (how does that give people stability - what does stability mean?) 

Queen Elizabeth II was the longest reigning monarch in history, reigning for 70 years (who / when was Queen Elizabeth I?) She has been Queen for 15 Prime ministers. This photo shows her with (ask the children if they know) Winston Churchill (When was Winston Churchill Prime Minister? Ask the children who the other people are in the photo). 

Journalist Jonathan Freedland says, "Everything has changed since the day in 1952 when she inherited the throne (ask the children what has changed) That country.... and this one would not recognise each other. The one thing they have - had- in common was her."

If your great grandma was born in 1945, her Queen was the same as yours - you and your great grandma had the same queen even though everything else about the life of your great grandma and you is completely different. For everyone in this school hall, and for most people living today, the Queen has been the Queen for our entire lives. (Is there any other living person you can think of who everyone has known for 70 years?)

Today people across the UK and the world will be remembering and paying tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Many people will feel a great loss, but some will also wish to celebrate her long life and give thanks for the service she gave. Look at the people in the photo outside Buckingham Palace - what do you notice about them? Are they all the same? Same skin, gender, do you think they all practice the same religion, have the same families? What does this show about people today and their response to the death of the Queen?

Let us all have a moment of silence while we think about what the Queen meant to us. Perhaps children might like to share memories of the Queen or of our Jubilee celebrations this year. Our thoughts today are with her family.

With thanks to Jonathan Freedland https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/sep/08/the-queens-death-will-shake-this-country-deeply-she-was-a-steady-centre-amid-constant-flux

Start of school year

 

On 31st July 2015 164 members of the international skydiving team broke the world record for skydiving formation, over Illinois USA. This was their 13th attempt to build a shape resembling a giant flower. The previous record was 138.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2015/jul/31/world-record-skydiving-formation-in-pictures

-What is happening in this picture?
- The skydiving team are an "International" team, what does that mean?
- How did the team make this happen? (working together)
- Do you think anyone on the team said, "I'm not holding his hand because we are a different religion," or, "I'm not holding your hand because we are from a different country". Did anyone say, "We have skin that is a different colour so we can't hold hands"? 

- What was the consequence when everyone worked together?

- This was their 13th attempt. Why didn't they give up after 10 attempts; they must have been thinking, 'this isn't possible'? 

- How do you think the team felt when they were working together and skydiving?

- You can see one skydiver is apart from the group and has not made the formation. What do you think the others are shouting to that skydiver? Do you think someone let the skydiver in?

- What are we going to do in school this year to make sure we can work together like this?

- How do we want our school to be?

- Why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders: Everyone different, everyone welcome by Andrew Moffat

www.no-outsiders.com 

sign language

 

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/mum-bristol-asda-films-boys-7345655?fbclid=IwAR1c1Q65dnoWoClgNhbXEdR0nQ4z5et-BjURD5z-PCGVu5LOSC9JuUgL0fU

Ernie is 10 years old and lives in Bristol. Ernie uses sign language as one way to communicate with his mum and dad and twin brother. When shopping in Asda over summer, Ernie stopped at a video screen at the entrance to the store, showing a man using sign language to welcome visitors.

In the video the man signs, 'welcome to the store, we hope you enjoy your visit and if you need help, just ask one of our colleagues.'

Ernie loved the video and stood next to it copying the signing. Mum says, "It was at my son's eye level so caught his attention and he was copying it - you can se on the video how happy it made him; he was beaming. It was really sweet and Ernie loved it! I guess the main reason for having screens like that in the store is to make things accessible and inclusive... and it worked!"

"It's a big screen, and Ernie is a visual learner. He's visually impaired as well, so for him it was perfect. He can struggle to see things on a smaller screen but this was perfect."

"His face just lit up and that realisation that there was somebody signing like he does made his day. There were lots of people walking by that loved his reaction."

Ernie watched and copied the message 10 times and you can see the video clip in the link above.

Asda introduced the screens in 298 stores across the UK for British Sign Language Week in March, but they were so popular that they have remained in place. 

The man signing in the video is Ishtiaq Hussain who lives in Stourbridge. Ishtiaq saw the Ernie's response on social media and was delighted; "I love how it has put a smile on Ernie's face, you can see how happy he is, bless his heart! This just shows how small changes can make a big difference."

- what is sign language, who is it for?

- why do you think British sign language week exists?

- Why does Black History Month or LGBT history month exist?

- Do you think we need these months or weeks to highlight difference? Do you think there is a danger people might only talk about sign language in British Sign Language Week and not talk about it the week after? Might schools only talk about black history during Black History Month and not in the rest of the year? (Historian David Olusoga argues that we should talk about these things all year round, but in the highlighted week or month, we "turn up the volume")

- British sign language week is over, so why did Asda keep their store entrance signing videos?

- Why have the video in the first place? Surely most people visiting the store won't use sign language, so is it worth making the video for a small number of people?

- what is representation, how does it affect people, why is this story about representation?

- How do you think Ernie felt when he was signed a welcome to the store, why is he beaming?

- "I guess the main reason for having screens like that in the store is to make things accessible and inclusive" what does that mean? Can you think of other examples of things being accessible and inclusive?

- Are we accessible and inclusive in our school? How do you know?

- what can we learn from Asda?

- why is this about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders: All different, all welcome by Andrew Moffat

www.no-outsiders.com