Racism Awareness Week
Last week there was a busy programme of events, speakers and workshops as part of Racism Awareness Week. A number of teachers also took time during regular class activities to investigate connections with Racism and the importance of solidarity with people in a minority or excluded as represented in their subject.
On Tuesday Mr. Travers officially opened the streets of Naas CBS at the 2nd Year assembly. All of the corridors in the school were attributed street names for the week through the work of 2nd Year CSPE classes. The street names celebrated people, events, organisations or movies related to Racism. Passing through the streets and reading the information pages with them provided lots of learning opportunities to the school community.
On Tuesday and Wednesday Sport Against Racism Ireland (SARI) worked with 2nd Years through sport to learn important messages of inclusion and not allowing themselves to be too easily influenced in their behaviour or attitudes.
On Tuesday the 5th Year classes were invited to talks and workshops with the Kildare Traveller Action Group who presented three talks to the boys to learn a little about Traveller culture and their experience of discrimination in Ireland.
On Thursday Marton from Show Racism the Red Card addressed the 1st Year assembly and presented workshops with classes 1A and 1E in the library. Marton helped the 1st Years come to a better understanding of some of the key words, statistics and stereotypes associated with Racism. On Thursday also Cybsil from the Movement of Asylum Seekers Ireland (MASI) worked with T.Y. students and some 6th Years to learn a little about the challenge of Asylum in Ireland. This talk also emphasised how living true to the values and ethos of our school would leave little room for discrimination or Racism to exist.
We hope that the activities and displays around the school have helped our students to learn more about Racism and has encouraged them to show solidarity to those on the margins of our society in school and the wider community. A special thank you to Ms. Fennell’s 2nd Year groups and Ms. Cowper’s art classes who created wonderful displays for the assembly hall.
Mr. Stephens
