What can we do if discrimination occures to a child?
What parents can do
What educators can do
Exercise
What parents can do ​​
Start talking about incidents to your children
Start talking about incidents to your childrenDon't be afraid to have uncomfortable discussions. Discuss their feelings. Make them clear that you will do everything possible to support
Prepare your child/teen
Find reactions together and practice a "Stop", when they are harassed or witness another student being harassed.
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Encourage your children
Ensure them that they have many talents and are great, give positive feedback. Also, it may help to find positive role models.
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Address teachers and school officials
Report incidents and try to find solutions. If the situation is difficult, find a (multilingual) ally supporting you.
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Organize together and get involved in schools
If cases occur more often talk to other parents and try to organise and approach school together. It is easier to do something together.
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Report discrimination
get counseling in severe cases, or when you don't knowhow to handle it search for official assistance and help.
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What educators can do ​​
Understand your privilege.
(As a teacher, as a white person, as a male person, as a person with a permanent residency status, …)
Actively listen to parents and try to avoid making assumptions.
Speak up and confront discrimination when you see or hear it but don‘t blame directly
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Get and stay informed.
read about racism and anti-discrimination strategies, organize an anti-racist workshop in your school.
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Create a diverse classroom
try to implement awareness topics in your curricula
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Give children the message:
Here, you are right – as you are.
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Here, you are right – as you are.
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Exercise:
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Sit together and write down together what could be done in schools to prevent discrimination and make schools more inclusive and diverse.
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Finally we give you some examples what parents in our workshops proposed schools could make better!
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Give recognization
Many parents in our workshops told us, that it felt so different just be heard and to listen to their difficulties because it rarely happened before.
This counts for everyone: Give recognization! Create formats that allow this.
Unlearn stereotypes
A counselor thought that she does not want to force refugee parents to learn the new language. Then she realized in the workshop that they are eager but there are no courses!
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So get in exchange and unlearn your stereotypes!
Get new knowledge
One parent wished that schools would integrate more of their backgrounds and knowledges so other children learn how rich family histories are.
integrate resources of parents in schools.
Teach Diversity
One mother in Italy had a good suggestion: To include good- night songs from all countries in a primary classroom. So children can see that they have different languages, but same customs.
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So cherish diversity in the classroom and at home!
