Several weeks ago we had an anti racism Several weeks ago we had an anti racism workshop. We learnt about workshop. We learnt about Islamophobia .This is a hate of Muslims, Islamophobia .This is a hate of Muslims, followers of the Islam religion. We were followers of the Islam religion. We were shown several short films about how shown several short films about how people have been mistreated because of people have been mistreated because of their religion. their religion.

We have been taught about how people have We have been taught about how people have insulted and even attacked people of the insulted and even attacked people of the Islam religion. We were told about people Islam religion. We were told about people who have been stopped in the street and who have been stopped in the street and been called terrorist and other unkind names. been called terrorist and other unkind names. One girl was stopped by some boys who One girl was stopped by some boys who called her headscarf a tea cloth. called her headscarf a tea cloth.

We have learnt how some people can be We have learnt how some people can be racist; and how this can affect peoples lives. racist; and how this can affect peoples lives. We also learnt how to cope with racism if we We also learnt how to cope with racism if we see it. see it.

We enjoyed several activities, one of We enjoyed several activities, one of which involved writing a word that came which involved writing a word that came to mind when the word Muslim was said. to mind when the word Muslim was said.

We also had a football training session – it We also had a football training session – it was great to hear real life experiences was great to hear real life experiences from people we respect. from people we respect.

In previous sessions we also watched a In previous sessions we also watched a DVD and played games where we finished DVD and played games where we finished sentences and talked about whether we sentences and talked about whether we thought certain words were racist or not. thought certain words were racist or not.

We also had a workshop last year and We also had a workshop last year and not only our class had one, Year 5 not only our class had one, Year 5 and 6 classes had the experience of and 6 classes had the experience of anti racism lesson. anti racism lesson.

We think that this is a great way to We think that this is a great way to teach children about how wrong teach children about how wrong racism is. racism is.

We are proud that we don’t experience We are proud that we don’t experience racism at Ashmount – we want to racism at Ashmount – we want to keep it that way! keep it that way!