The NUT opposes racism in all its forms. This leaflet directs teachers to practical teaching resources on challenging racism and Islamophobia.
The NUT has worked with a number of organisations to develop practical educational resources for teachers on how to challenge racism, anti-immigrant racism and Islamophobia. The resources contain a wide variety of activities for discussion and lesson planning.
Black teachers in London have recently launched an NUT network to help members achieve change and make an impact. View a short video of the launch here, including speaker David Lammy MP.
The NUT supports Show Racism the Red Card, the campaign that uses top footballers to educate against racism.
Show Racism the Red Card has filmed professional football players addressing issues surrounding racism. The films help teachers and other training professionals to deliver training in their schools and workplaces. Each of the films is accompanied by an education pack containing lesson plans and activities for all ages.
The NUT is proud to support A Charter for Racial Justice in Education produced by the Trade Union Congress. The Charter aims to encourage greater dialogue between schools, colleges and universities with local communities.
The NUT believes that the support of local communities means that schools, teachers and young people can create a safer, more peaceful environment to live and study.
This document is intended to be used with a wide range of audiences interested in promoting social progress, equality and justice.
Following the highly publicised and tragic murder in Woolwich in May, there has been a rise in Islamophobic attacks and in particular of online harassments of individuals. Some of this harassment is carried out by young people. There have been attacks on some mosques and teachers have reported conversations in classrooms, corridors and playgrounds which have caused them concern.
It is important that teachers know where to find advice and information about:
how to discuss issues around Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of racism; and
what strategies can be used to prevent and counter prejudice and to challenge and reduce stereotypes about race and religion.
Information and resources to use in classroom are available including:
This Charter on promoting the achievement of black Caribbean boys is rooted in the belief about the nature and purpose of education. This document is intended to be used with a wide range of audiences interested in promoting the achievement of black Caribbean boys.
The ongoing instability in the Middle East, the war in Iraq, the continuing effects of September 11th, the election of BNP councillors and increasing numbers of racist attacks have led to fear and concern amongst all minority ethnic communities.
All forms of racism are unacceptable
Anti-Semitism is on the rise. In Britain, attacks on Jewish people or property have increased by 260 per cent over a two year period. There have been attacks on synagogues, Jewish schools and community centres and the desecration of Jewish graves with swastikas.
In France, 455 racist and anti-Semitic incidents occurred in one term prompting the French Government to take strong action to deal with racism in schools. Teachers were also reporting that teaching about the Holocaust in some classrooms had become impossible because of the hostility towards the subject by students of Arab origin.
Anti-Semitism has connections and similarities with other forms of racism. There are some important similarities and overlaps between anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. There is a strong religious element, for example, in both kinds of hostility and negative stereotypes are used to justify exclusion and discrimination. It is therefore important that action at school level against anti-Semitism is integrated with action against other forms of racism and discrimination. The struggle against racism should be holistic and indivisible: an attack on one minority group is an attack on all.