Black history curriculum to be taught all over Hackney schools

A special curriculum teaching young people about the diverse side of British History highlighting  past and present contributions the Black Community has made to Hackney and the UK is being taught in Hackney schools.

The Hackney Diverse Curriculum – The Black Contribution launched on October 19 is a nine-week lesson program teaching Black History to pupils from early year to KS3 and 4 curated by Hackney teachers and funded by the council.

Antoinette Bramble, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education said: “Hackney’s Diverse Curriculum – the Black Contribution’ will enlighten young people with an education not just about the history of Black people, but about a history that belongs to us all. As well as providing balance to how we teach our history in our schools, we hope it will inspire a more tolerant and inclusive-minded community.”

This initiative is part of the council’s agenda to tackle racism in the borough as promised in The Hackney’s Black Lives Matter motion that passed earlier this year in light of the rise of the Global Black Lives Matter movement. 
Bramble said: “As we witness the affect the murder of George Floyd, the mistreatment of our Windrush Generation and the unprecedented loss of life Covid-19 has had on Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, it’s important we provide context, encourage debate and enlighten our youth through proactive education.”

In this free nine-week lesson plan, pupils will learn about the Windrush Generation in relation to the British Empire, activism, diversity in science and the untold stories of Black British History.

During this program, the pupils will also learn about two permanent art sculptures honouring Hackney’s Windrush generation designed by artists Thomas J Price and Veronica Ryan to be unveiled in 2021. 

Another effort of the council to make Hackney a more inclusive and representative community. 

Bramble added: “After consulting with all Labour councils, we have unanimously agreed to review the appropriateness of local monuments and statues on public land and council property.

The Hackney Diverse Curriculum is now at the disposal of all Hackney schools and available for use to any other schools outside the borough. 

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