CASE STUDY: UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE
For nearly two decades Nil by Mouth have been working in partnership with the University of Strathclyde across a range of academic disciplines and equality campaigns.
At the very heart of this relationship has been our work delivering lectures, seminars and placements to students undertaking BA or PGDE education courses. These seek to ensure that teachers feel confident approaching the issue of sectarianism as they enter their new professional life. Through this partnership we have been able to offer lectures, CPD sessions and training to teaching students at the formative stages of their career and development about the challenges associated with sectarianism and equip them with the skills and strategies needed to identify and effectively challenge any such attitudes they might encounter. These include a strong understanding of how sectarianism can manifest inside and out of the classroom identifying words, actions and attitudes that can cause antagonism and division within communities.
We also offer placements to students as part of the BA Education course, which sees them spend up to 70 hours with the charity, researching this issue, shadowing staff at workshops and ultimately delivering their own sessions in front of class. We have also seen hundreds of probationary and permanent teachers who were involved in the training subsequently contact NBM to request follow up work in schools through our ‘United Against Division’ and ‘STEM Together’ schools programmes, download resources to help develop their own lessons and sign up for our ‘Neeps & Tatties’ project in the run up to Burns Night.
Our workshops help students grasp the challenges sectarianism brings to a classroom
View from the Classroom: Amy Rodger, Principal Teacher South Lanarkshire Council.
‘Working with Nil by Mouth was a fantastic experience. I first worked with the charity during my time at Strathclyde University whilst I was studying Primary Education. I worked alongside NBM to first plan a CPD workshop for students which would both better inform them about the issue of sectarianism whilst also providing methods as to how we as future teachers could tackle sectarianism in the school and how to educate children about sectarianism; its history, how it looks in our society today, and how we can eradicate it. The workshop was very highly thought of by the attendees and as a result, many more workshops were provided not only to my year group, but others too. I was so inspired by NBM’s vision and services that I carried out a presentation about sectarianism at a Strathclyde University ‘Teachmeet’ where many students, primary teachers, high school teachers, educationalists and Education Scotland representatives attended.
After graduation I was able to apply the learning I gained with NBM when working in a school situated in an area with many sectarian related issues. I worked alongside a neighbouring school, bringing together same-stage classes from both denominational and non-denominational schools for an outdoor learning day. The children gained so much from the experience. Despite both schools being metres apart and children from both schools generally living within the same estate, many had not played together previous to this learning day. After the event, many children from my own class reported that they were now playing with children from the other school after school hours ‘There are now plans to host similar united learning days with both schools. Had I not attended NBM’s workshops, I would not have been as confident in delivering this. Most likely, I would have felt nervous and uneasy tackling this controversial topic. Now, I would feel confident in exploring the issue of sectarianism with any class, in any school.’
View from the Lecture Hall: Linda Brownlow, Former Head of School of Education, University of Strathclyde.
‘Nil by Mouth has worked for several years with our undergraduate and postgraduate teaching students here at the University of Strathclyde, and has delivered training to thousands of students during that time. As well as raising awareness of issues surrounding sectarianism, with consideration of how they might be addressed in schools, these sessions also serve to encourage student teachers to consider their own personal perception and attitude and, indeed, question these. Without exception, students respond extremely positively. They find the sessions interesting, stimulating and supportive, and always comment on the fact that NBM makes them challenge their own thinking about what can be very sensitive and difficult issues. They also regularly state that they now feel much more confident, not only about ways of dealing with situations which might arise, but about taking a more proactive and educational approach to such issues in schools. Indeed, some of our undergraduate students have taken this further and have followed up by spending time with the organisation to learn more. Nil by Mouth has always been willing to host a number of students. Of course, it is not only the students who benefit from these sessions. They subsequently take the messages out into schools when they are on placements, often running local or intra school campaigns as well as sharing their learning with staff in host schools. This way, the key messages are spread even further – with staff and pupils in schools around the country. We have been very pleased to work with Nil by Mouth and hope that this collaboration will continue for many years yet.’
Students help us spread important messages
As this partnership continues to evolve, Nil by Mouth looks forward to expanding our placement opportunities and deepening curriculum engagement. Our shared goal remains the same: to ensure that every new teacher entering the classroom is equipped with the confidence, tools, and understanding needed to foster respect, challenge discrimination, and help build a more inclusive Scotland.