Letters

Dear Messenger,

Re: Black Exclusion – A Professional Perspective
(issue 36, November 2003).

I needed to see people from my community who made history, who played a part in shaping the world when I was at school and college and all I got in these studies was about Adolf Hitler, Mussolini and nothing whatsoever about black history, Yemeni history and how we made a positive difference to the world. There was no cultural content whatsoever, and because of this, it didn’t inspire me. If the education system took education one step further and brought me black and ethnic minority historians, authors, scientists, inventors, explorers into school and college then I would see examples that I could look up to. It would have inspired me.

In school we are taught to consume information, and that was all we were taught. We need to learn to think; to be creative in our thinking; inspire us to be entrepreneurs, inspire us to solve problems that can be used in the world, inspire us to make something. Like getting us involved with the press so we can write our articles and see how writing can change lives and bring news – so we learn journalistic, team building, economic and social skills, and much more. If only we had been taught about the integrity of business in school or college, or had even helped to run one, this could have shown us that money we earned made a difference to our school, college and community. If communities and the education system celebrated such a thing then this would have made us feel part of school and college.

You want the answers? Then go to the black and ethnic minority and white students themselves and ask them what challenges they face, in and out of school, and what they think about their lessons and teaching methods. Put monies into crèche facilities and give big time support to parents who want to go back to education so they can give support to their child. Make the curriculum flexible and add cultural content to the curriculum. That means if you are teaching history then teach also black history. If you are teaching mathematics then find what the students are into (ie music or sports) and use these to teach maths and show them great black and ethnic minority mathematicians of yesterday and of today. It can be done. Give them a sense of belonging! Give the students a sense of ownership, pride and courage to be leaders!

It is true; we need to inspire the students from the inside, for them to value their lives. They will not be inspired if they walk into school or college and they don’t see more black teachers, more black college directors, more student support workers from the black and ethnic minorities. To not see this shows how much work still has to be done by the education system. Most of all, marketing material and the walls of the college do not reflect or celebrate black and ethnic minority cultures and history. We have to wait for Black History Month for this? The curriculum is not flexible enough nor caters for the needs of black and ethnic minority students and so they switch off and leave.

Lastly; the policies of the educational system need to recognise a difference in working with large businesses and communities. Flexibility needs to be made in funding and its overall policies so that those who are working to raise retention and achievement haven’t got to face the mess around of so much damn paper work which takes them away from giving time to the students, tutors and the community.

Adam Taha