Safeguarding against radicalisation in primary school

Agenda

• Why did we create this dossier?

• What can you do as a teacher or parent?

• More information and extra resources

Plein de la Bourse, Brussels, March 2016

Not in a country far away …

What is radicalisationThe UK Home Office, MI5’s parent agency, defines radicalization as “The process by which people come to support terrorism and violent extremism and, in some cases, then join terrorist groups.” The

MI5 report closes by saying that no single measure will reduce radicalization in the

UK and that the only way to combat it is by targeting the at risk vulnerable groups and trying to assimilate them into society. This may include helping young people find jobs, better integrating immigrant populations into the local culture, and effectively reintegrating ex-prisoners into society.

The world has changed

• We can’t shield our children anymore from information• Social media is the biggest news

source • Continuous interactions

• The feeling of being left out gives rise to radicalisation

What can you do as a teacher or parent?

1. Listen

2. Talk

3. Discourage hate speech

4. Digital and (Social) Media literacy skills

1. Listen

Create an open climate• Always react in a warm and

positive manner• Provide space for emotions

and opinions

• Give affirmation and compliments• Intervene when an

inappropriate comment is given

Listening skills

• Don’t interrupt• “Parrot” what has been

said• Body language• Ask questions

Listening momentsKnow what is going on with your pupils by:

• Class discussions with mutual respect for everyone

• Proactive individual conversations

Digital listening• Mingle with the pupils online

• Read what they say on social media and blogs

• Gather insight on what’s going on

The culture of respect: Media Sheriff and a Social Contract

• Keep your eyes open on social media and when listening to news.

• Are we all living up to the social contract what does the word respect means to you

• Media Literacy Project: reflection and insight by making creative projects

2. Talk

Inform and comfort• First of all, put scared children

at ease• Invalidate false information

and gossip• Offer correct information at

the children’s level

Avoiding the conversation or

shielding the children doesn’t work at all!

Put it in perspective

• Question everything• Nuance when needed• Challenge the children's

arguments• Focus on the positive

Why?

Younger children: you can’t shield them• Make clear the violence is not

aimed at them• State what is true and what is

exaggerated or false • Emphasize the positive, such

as the bravery of emergency services

Diversity in class• No fault by association• Show the positive sides of

humanity• Involve an expert• Deal with it pedagogically

Involve an expert• When the discussions become

too difficult by yourself• Experts in talking with children

on difficult topics: • Child Line• 1-2-1

Don’t avoid the concersation!How would you handle the conversation?

After an attack, your pupils post the following messages on social media what would you do?

1. I’m scared 2. My uncle was on that metro line. Terrorists are terrible

people.3. My dad says that the victims deserved it.4. Hopefully this won’t happen again.

3. Discourage Hate Speech

• Prevention: built an environment based on mutual respect online and at school• Create awareness about

hate speech

https://www.nohatespeechmovement.org

5. Media Literacy Skills• Media literacy skills result in a

defence against false information• Learn to be critical about

facts, opinions and fiction• Ask questions, questions,

questions• Pay attention to different

perspectives• Turning the media off is okay!

The Media Diary reflection exercise• Reporting of daily media use

• Pay attention to emotions

• Reflection in the classroom

• Exercise: fill in the media diary for your media use of today or yesterday

• Learn to talk about ordinary and big news stories by making News Projects

• During the entire school year

• Critically analyse the news: different visions on the same story.

Pay attention to the News

Fake News ProjectTips:

1. Let the children experiment with photo and video editing. You can use easy, free apps to edit images or add music.

2. Launch the Fake News Week throughout the entire school, having children distinguish fake and real news stories.

3. Use all types of media: photos, texts, videos,…

Act now!• Build a culture based on respect and against exclusion

• Pay attention to • The social lifeworld of children• Media literacy• More than a reactive response when things go wrong

Find us at Booth 1234 for more information and free resources

http://www.facebook.com/scooluk

@scooluk

http://sCoolEDU.org