Values

Our western world is getting more and more liberal. You are free of course within certain limits to show what you stand for. When it comes to certain political values it might be wise not to be too provocative. Extremist values and propaganda for excluding groups e.g. particular races or religions must never be accepted. Even the least suspicion that these kinds of values are represented at school must be dealt with immediately

Case

There is a new student in your natural science group. From the first day you could feel there was something 'threatening' in the air. The new student, Rick shows, by tattoos on his arms and neck, that his values are of extremist orientation. Nazi swastikas are scribbled on all his belongings: note pads, book etc

Next week you have planned to talk about foetal analysis, cloning and abortions. You had planned to have discussions in smaller groups and later summarize with the whole class what the groups had come up with.

You are now worried that you will not be able to handle the group discussions and the class any more.

Reflections

• Have you talked to your director and colleagues about your worries? Would you like the director to talk to Rick about the school's policy against racist propaganda?
• Have you thought about restructuring the class discussions? Would it help to make the groups smaller or bigger, or just discuss each topic with the whole class?
• Have you thought about material to bring to class or pin to the walls that would be anti-racist? Does the school have anti-discrimination guidelines or does your country have laws against acts of racism that could be hung up in the classroom?
• Have you talked to Rick about what is bothering you? If you think racist speech and imagery should not be tolerated, would you tell him directly?

View and download/print the role play card