Don’t ignore it : The problem
exists !!!
5th workshop carried out on 17th June 2014 with
the students of the hairdressing class from the
Social Promotion School of Marcinelle-Monceau
(adults)
Introduction
• 13 students participate to this last workshop carried out for
the project : Comenius Regio.
• This project between Belgium and Greece has been
subsidized by the European Community and is called :
« Schools without Borders »
• Here is the logo :
The partners :
• In Belgium: The Education Department of the town of
Charleroi, Social Promotion Schools + the Secondary School of
« La Garenne », together with several associations such as :
CAL (Centre of Secular Action Charleroi), CRIC (Regional
Centre of Integration of Charleroi) and LEP (League of
Schools and Permanent Education)
• In Greece : The Education Department of the town of Trikala ,
several secondary schools, together with different local
associations such as : « E-Trikala Office » (new technologies)
and « Asklipios » (sport, culture and social services)
Objectives :
• Fighting against problems linked with immigration, social
exclusion, racism and violence at school.
• How? By cooperating at regional and bilateral levels and by
organizing different activities : Talking workshops, videoconference with Skype, creation of a common website, survey,
meeting the different organisations in Belgium and in the
partner country.
Methodology
With the help of a video support illustrating various situations
of discrimination, bringing the participants to a global
consideration of the approached subject.
1. Personal examples. (food for thought)
2. Theory on the different types of discrimination. (food for
thought)
3. Video
4. Theory on the protected criteria about discrimination.
Targeted skills :
Questioning, reformulating, identififying presuppositions, giving
examples and counter-examples, nuancing, giving definitions,
making comparisons, identifying consequences, finding the
problem, thinking about a hypothesis, considering an opposite
position, supporting with arguments.
Synthesis
• After having watched a video the students are divided in
groups of 3, 4 people; David (CAL) invites them to think
together about a question that can be written on the board, in
reaction to the video.
• Fabrice (CRIC) informs us about the different types of
discriminations : race, nationality, physical disability, gender
• Elsa (CRIC) at the camcorder.
• Thanks to Mrs Bequet, English teacher for her precious
collaboration.
Students’questions
• Shouldn’t the different governments try to install the same
laws for everybody?
• Are disabled people favoured as far as employment is
concerned compared to other people?
• Can the fact of wearing the veil cause discrimination?
• Why do the media only tell us what they want to tell us and
what we want to hear? Media manipulate to encourage
discrimination.
• What’s the international dimension of the government’s
procedures to avoid discrimination? European laws for the
same rights for everybody!
• Is there a mediatic determination towards foreign people?
• David asks the participants if the questions contain
presuppositions .
• What can we do to make the questions more neutral?
• Some questions have to be reformulated :
• Example : « How can « wearing the veil » represent
discrimination ? »
• Students are asked to vote to choose a question : « How can
« wearing the veil » represent discrimination? »
Discussion can start:
- Many media use the theme of religious problems. The link between
« wearing the veil » and fanatism is used by the media. The problem comes
from the fanatics ! Moderate people (like the Muslims of the class) don’t
cause any problems at all .
- In the past Italians were discriminated.
- What disturbs is putting people in categories, it slows down
communication.
- In hospital, at the emergency ward, many people can’t speak French
properly , tolerance is needed.
- Big problem at the Law Courts in Brussels where the Christmas Tree had
to be taken away!!! Reaction : Why changing our traditions?
- For Muslim people « wearing the veil » is rooted in traditions! Just like our
Xmas Tree!
- The culture of everyone out of every country should be respected.
• « Excision » has nothing to do with religion! It’s a female
genital mutilation , a cultural « tradition » in some African
countries.
• Culture is often religious for Muslims; religion hasn’t changed
but culture well, compared to their parents.
• Fabrice (CRIC) lets us notice that religion and culture have to
be distinguished. Sometimes some religious practices go
against religion !
• One of the participant talks about the « holy » war between
Israël et Palestine despite the fact that murder is forbidden in
the Coran.
• Don’t mix up identity and assigned identity . Prejudices are
attributed to an identity, values are subjective ! There is often
a shift between appearance and reality.
• « Holy » war ? Who is it for? It’s mainly political, religion is a
pretext. Citizens suffer from that ! Why not putting two
Heads of State in front of each other?
• Something similar exists in Belgium between Flemish and
Walloon people. Is this situation encouraged by the media?
• David (CAL) answers : « no, not really ! » Flanders and
Wallonia have never been united . Enormous compromises
exist between both communities. (cf. history)
• Example of positive discrimination : employment allowance
to counterbalance a situation that could strengthen
discrimination.
• Maybe would it be better to suppress all the employment
allowances and to pay more attention to skills !
• Example : Mylène, victim of difficulties to get a job because
insertion allowances are settled for foreign people…
• Fabrice reacts : no allowance is settled for foreign people but
for long -time unemployed people, or for some jobs.
• Politicians should earn less instead of decreasing or
suppressing the unemployment benefits!
David, (CAL) proposes a short role playing :
• A company manager wishes to hire a glazier. His customers
hate Chinese people; however, only Chinese people apply
for the job. Suppose you are the manager, how would you
react?
• I take the Chinese worker and talk to my customers! Better a
Chinese worker working properly than a Belgian worker
working badly!
• Probationary period, moving with the new worker and
showing the customers he works well.
• The problem comes mainly from « the Arabs » in the region of
Charleroi. What can we do???? Most of the time they receive
a bad welcome .
• The same problem occurs with men’s jobs for women.
Thanks a lot for your
collaboration !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pla
yer_detailpage&v=CnZaDXSZNJU