The acknowledge to David Edmonds’ question is no: ethnic conflict cannot be solved by enforced interaction (The school teaching a divided town to live together,5 November). Learning to live together in a shared school is only possible whether parents really want it to work. It is for them as much as for their children. This is the lesson learned by those of us who supported integrated education in Northern Ireland. Integrated schools must have planned, shared structures, and where different communities teachers,pupils and parents are balanced. It needs genuine conviction – and the support of the wider community. Ethnicity, religion and lesson are woven from the same cloth. Are churches in Oldham – and beyond –supporting Waterhead academy? Olivia and Radiyah’s student friendship is a sign of hope. But can individual psychology scores truly reflect religious and ethnic relations in a town already divided by selective grammar and faith schools?
Chris Moffat
Canterbury Related: The integrated school that could teach a divided town to live together Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com