"Hacking at our very roots"

05-October-2006

Article review on rearticulating White racial identity within the context of teacher education Nado Aveling, Murdoch university, Australia. Race Ethnicity adn Education Journal Vol 9, 3, Sept 2006
Untitled Document

Another fascinating article looking at the white students teachers perspectives of being white and how it can affect them indirectly. The article is using narrative/ story telling, direct instruction and critical reflection on oneself.

It brilliantly identified the steps necessary for effective multicultural education that include awareness of oneself and how community and background affects individuals, confrontation with outside perspectives, involvement of emotions and feelings, and the taking of action to improve the situations. Fisherman and McCarthy (2005) pointed out and is being reiterated in the article is that, if we are not 'self-reflexive about our own white biases' then 'productive talk about race' is not likely to eventuate with out students.

The author goes on to discuss and elaborate the stories of resistance from her own students via the story telling journal. She was looking at the aboriginal and multicultural education (in the context of Australia) as this is a compulsory course within her university's teacher education program. Her findings suggests how varied the perceptions of being White and implication on the multicultural society. Some of her students found how guilty they were for being white and some feels that is the way it is, white is the ruling party in the society. In her final reflection, the author stated how she wants to help the white students to move beyond positions of guilt and resentment to a space where they can become effective while allies.


Aishah Sabki; 05-October-2006 16:02:42 forum (0)

Muslims & Multiculturalism

16-October-2006

[ Religion , Racism , Multiculturalism , Identity ]
Jack Straw's entrance into the right wing debate on multiculturalism and Muslims has little to do with the veil and has the opposite impact is being pushed in terms of opening up the so called debate....
I have been intending to post my view in the recent media coverage of the wearing of the veil but time pasted... I struggle with the logic and Jack Straw (MP) should be far more aware of the situation (he is loosing the Asiam vote due to the war on Iraq/Afganistan and no voice on Lebanon so why kick even harder). The response seemed calculated from the Labour government and I guess to some extent well discussed way before the public comments from Jack Straw. Such comments increase the atmosphere of Islamaphobia and anti-Muslim racism in the country. The follow up in the context of wider issues of citizenship also has the potential of moving the country towards models being pushed in other European countries and away from what is still a more pluralist rather than secular approach here in the UK. In England we now see the situation of the Liverpool woman having a veil ripped off, woman suspended from working in a school for wearing a veil and racist attacks near many Mosques. I thought we had open views in the UK and legislation that is intended to protect from religious prejudice and the Race Relations Act. We should keep with the Multiculturalism and celebrate the diversity that it has enabled through positive anti-discriminatory action.... Northen towns such as Blackburn have no problems in community relations but have significant economic deprivation. This is the challenge not what people are wearing and the comments from many leading people in the Labour party are intrusive and discrimatory in attitude. For many women the veil is a sign of liberty and in the UK many more women have decided to wear the veil since the war on Iraq. For many more its part of there identity and a choice. In Europe typically it is a choice and a sign for many of controlling there own way of doing things. For others it is a central part of being a Muslim.. In other words for many women it is central to what they are and a choice in a free society that has no impact on others.....

Glenn Hardaker; 16-October-2006 03:30:55 forum (0)

Sounds from the Bazaar

16-October-2006

[ Technology , InformalLearning ]
The quirky and interesting 'eye' of Graham Attwell on learning related topics.
I have enjoyed following these interviews and lots and interesting and important comments in the madness. It reminds me of a performance way back by Vivian Stanshall - some similarities lurking.... I appreciate Graham has been exploring storytelling and eLearning and great to see the direction it has gone. Hope it continues ....

Glenn Hardaker; 16-October-2006 22:35:45 forum (0)

European Year of Intercultural Dialogue

16-October-2006

[ Multiculturalism , Language , Identity , Ethnicity ]
The decision to declare 2008 the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue sounds excellent focus. focus is on: * The promotion of cultural diversity in Europe and in the world * A fundamental component of active European citizenship * Ameans to promote flexibility and adaptation to the changes in humanresources brought about by the success of the Lisbon strategy * A solidarity dimension at the service of social cohesion * An element of credibility in policies towards neighbouring countries and external relations in general The Yearis intended to highlight and raise awareness through activities of the cultural industries and beyond. As the DG states the success and impact of the European Year of InterculturalDialogue in 2008 will depend on the active involvement of civil societyand implementation at the grassroots level. And yes this is essential to ensurethat it becomes a long-lasting and durable process extending beyond2008.

Glenn Hardaker; 16-October-2006 23:07:11 forum (0)

Muslim Veil & the Attack on Personal Freedom

23-October-2006

[ Religion , Non-secular , Identity ]
The knee jerk response to the Muslim veil which seems to have snow balled. A license for what seems to be discriminatory practice. Here is some comparison's across Europe and what seems to be draconian practice from the state. The emphasis is how many feel unconfortable with the veil in terms of communicating. So where does the responsibility go - to the wearer or the ones who fail to raise awareness of the diversity of cultural practice??
United Kingdom - controversy around the niqab (or face veil) Jack Straw (MP) called this 'a barrier to integration'. This has been taken and agreed with by many politicians including Tony Blair. Many women in communities feel under seige and it opens the doors to the racists on the streets of the UK. Such comments has been the most significant event that has damaged community cohesion since the race riots of 2001. A recent survey commissioned by the Home Office and conducted by University of Central Lancashire has found black and asian overall more tolerant to cultural diversity than whites in the northen towns researched. The recent comments seemed to illustrate a similar situation at a state level. So there is a move from ASBOS, to banning 'hoodies' to not 'veils'!? Netherlands - a parliamentary movement to ban burkas (full length garments) but was rejected by government last year. Since 2003 many schools have banned headscarves and this is permitted for specific reasons. So where is the free society when it comes to religious tolerance. Belgium - earlier this year 2 teachers were sacked for wearing the hijab (scalf). The reason was for not complying with 'religious neutrality'. In 2005 a factory boss/manager got death threats for allowing a worker to wear a hijab. In Antwerp an old law was invoked about not being allowed to wear masks.. Austria - minister Liese Prokop proposed to ban teachers from wearing hijabs. Later he did not pursue this any further. France Banned 'conspicuous' religious symbols in schools and this has clearly contributed to opinion across Europe. The impact of this is demonstrated to be far greater for Muslims that say Christians or Jews. Germany - 7 or 16 federal states banned the hijabs in schools. Baden-Wittemberg said it would question Muslim immigrants on women's rights and 9/11. Denmark - In 2005 a supreme court ruled a supermarket chain could fire a cashier wearing a veil (scalf). Italy - There have been attempts to revive Musolini-era laws against wearing masks. Minister Letizia Moratti ruled out any ban on hijabs in schools. Switzerland - a court ruling in 1997 banned the hijab for teachers. Turkey - Laws state religious clothing should not be worn outside times of worship. For example a cause of friction is that women wearing headscarf are not allowed to register as university students or enter campuses. The so called secular state of Turkey began under Kemal Ataturk

Glenn Hardaker; 23-October-2006 02:24:38 forum (0)

Education of Bilingual Children: 'Another School is Possible'

26-October-2006

[ Ethnicity , Identity , PedagogyEquity ]

Here is a useful quote from someone who has significant influence on my thoughts in the context of bilingual education - Professor Jim Cummins.

"Nowhere in this anaemic instructiuonal vision is there room for really connecting at a human level with culturally diverse students. When we frame the universe of discourse only in terms of children's deficit in English and in phonological awareness (or deficits in any other area), we expel culture, language, identity, intellect, and imagination from our image of the child. In contrast .... an instructional focus on empowerment, understood as the collaborative creation of power, starts by acknowledging the culture, linguistic, imaginative, and intellectual resources that children bring to the school"


Glenn Hardaker; 26-October-2006 10:49:27 forum (0)