Unlearn Something

Hello everyone, welcome back to the Unlearn Something podcast!

This week we are talking about ESN (Educationally Sub Normal) schools in the UK and what impact they might have on school communities today.

ESN schools were introduced in the UK in the early 20th century and continued for decades. According to an article published by the BBC in 2021,  in 1967, 28% of pupils placed in ESN schools were from Black immigrant families, almost double the 15% in mainstream schools.

In this episode, we discuss and share some useful resources to learn more about ESN schools in the UK, the impact it had on pupils and families and the potential for the legacy of this to continue in our school communities today.

There is an exhibition at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton, London about children who were sent to live in the UK from the Caribbean. The exhibition includes some first hand interviews with people who attended ESN schools and showcases some primary sources. It is showing at the BCA until September 9 2023.

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Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

Show Notes (further reading)

BCA exhibition - Over a Barrel: Windrush Children, Tragedy and Triumph https://www.bcaexhibits.org/exhibits/over-a-barrel

Miss D -
BBC documentary 'Subnormal' https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000w81h/subnormal-a-british-scandal

Miss S -
Book about ESN schools in the UK 'How the West Indian Child is Made Educationally Sub-Normal in the British School System' by Bernard Coard
https://www.newbeaconbooks.com/black-british-fiction/a4wyiz9c6te8qqmndaeqldp9nte7rd

Small Axe: Education - Written and Dir by Sir Steve McQueen https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qfb1 

Leigh Day Solicitors is working with clients affected by being misclassified as educationally subnormal and severly affected by their expereinces to achieve compensation for what happended to them. For more inforamtion contact [email protected]

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Hello!

Welcome back to the Unlearn Something pod with Miss S and Miss D. This week, we are coming to terms with the end of the summer holidays and thinking about what terminology we will need to be familiar with during the back to school INSET training.

Ready or not, there are a lot of things we will need to process during these INSET sessions, shout out to the school leaders who have been working on them over the summer! This episode reminds us of some acronyms that we should know to strengthen our understanding of our responsibilities as teachers and to develop our understanding of the individual needs of the young people with which we work. We hope you enjoy this episode!

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If you have any comments or feedback to give us please email us on [email protected], and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read out your email on the show.

Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

Show Notes (further reading)

Miss D
Race and Racial Equity glossary - https://www.racialequitytools.org/glossary

SEND glossary - https://www.racialequitytools.org/glossary

Miss S
Unlearn Something Podcast Jargon-busting guide to common school SEND abbreviations and acronyms.: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17jqb0IPTz8uU6C46plSQQFV7KOtPrOA1/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=110277839945576432706&rtpof=true&sd=true

Bingo cards: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NlhOfF_Tw_xUSw98j7jiw1CRJ2jIvjwL/view?usp=share_link

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If you have any comments or feedback to give us please email us on [email protected], and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read out your email on the show.

Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

You can sponsor the Unlearn Something Podcast by buying us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unlearnpod

Welcome to Episode 7! 

In this episode of the Unlearn Something Podcast, we discuss action that our school leadership could implement for this academic year. Please give us some feedback and  share your views on this topic. 

If you have any comments or feedback, please email us at [email protected], and we will get back to you and , with your permission, read your email on the show.

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Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

Show Notes:

Miss S
Watch Abbott Elementary
Starring: Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James
Network: ABC
Synopsis: A group of dedicated, passionate teachers — and a slightly tone-deaf principal — are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life. Though these incredible public servants may be outnumbered and underfunded, they love what they do — even if they don’t love the school district’s less-than-stellar attitude toward educating children https://www.channel4.com/programmes/abbott-elementary

Miss D

Here are three of the playlists that I currently use in class, I am hoping to find more!
Amapiano Instrumental -
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6aZQbQ0nuqHZ4V3qArdBhS
Ethiopian Jazz - https://open.spotify.com/album/5VKvVk4gaPAJyXjof8NnzX?si=E8T3uuxAQPK-HcjwMPkvrA
Chopin Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/search/chopin

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If you have any comments or feedback to give us please email us on [email protected], and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read out your email on the show.

Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

You can sponsor the Unlearn Something Podcast by buying us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unlearnpod

Hello, and welcome to Episode 6! 

In this episode of the Unlearn Something Podcast, Miss D and Miss S discuss Glue-Gun-Gate, a recent Teacher Misconduct Panel outcome. And an upcoming CPD opportunity for primary school teachers: Lit in Colour, a collaboration with the Runnymede Trust and Penguin Books. 

We discuss how education staff can be more supportive of each other by naming toxic work practices. Please give us some feedback and share your stories on this topic.  

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If you have any comments or feedback, please email us at [email protected], and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read your email on the show.

Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

Show Notes (further reading)

Miss S - Link to 'Glue Gun Gate' Teacher misconduct panel outcome: Ms. Sarah Mead https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-misconduct-panel-outcome-ms-sarah-mead

Also, sharing GL171 Using model Risk Assessments in Design and Technology. This guide from CLEAPPS explains ways to ensure good practice with practical examples of how to manage, use, adapt and record risk assessments: https://dt.cleapss.org.uk/resource/gl171-using-model-risk-assessments-in-d-t.aspx

Miss D - Check out Kim Scott and her book Radical Candor: https://www.radicalcandor.com/

Radical Candor Author and Co-Founder Kim Scott breaks down the Radical Candor Framework in 6 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoISfhACm4s

Lit in Colour - Supporting inclusive reading in schools: https://www.penguin.co.uk/lit-in-colour/teachers

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If you have any comments or feedback to give us please email us on [email protected], and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read out your email on the show.

Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

You can sponsor the Unlearn Something Podcast by buying us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unlearnpod

Hello and welcome to our 5th episode!

It is an exciting one because we welcomed our first guest, the wonderful Deborah Latouche. We talk about the creative subjects that we teach in schools and what kind of experience our young people get in the UK. We also discuss some of the barriers to teaching these subjects and how to we may overcome some of these barriers.

It was a really fun episode to record and something that we will probably come back to over time. Like, share and rate us 5 stars!

If you have any comments or feedback to give us please email us on [email protected], and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read out your email on the show.

Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

Show Notes (further reading)

Deborah -  More information about the nationwide provider of Saturday clubs and provision run by industry experts for young people. See https://saturday-club.org/

Miss S - link to the Design and Technology Association site where teachers and leaders can access lesson plans, units and CPD for DT projects linked to the National Curriculum. See https://www.designtechnology.org.uk/

Miss D - Check out the incredibly crafted and beautiful creations of the glorious Deborah Latouche and the brand Sabirah. See https://www.sabirah.co.uk/

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If you have any comments or feedback to give us please email us on [email protected], and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read out your email on the show.

Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

You can sponsor the Unlearn Something Podcast by buying us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unlearnpod

Hello, welcome back to the Unlearn Something podcast. This week, we are talking about setting boundaries in the workplace - school in particular - and we remind ourselves of some ways that we can maintain a better work-life balance as teachers. This is difficult at every stage of your career so this is a great topic to consider whilst we are away from work and making the most of the summer break. 

Please email us on [email protected] if you want to share a strategy that works for you! As the wonderful @thenapministry on Instagram says: 

Grind culture wants us to keep going no matter what. I sit my ass down and daydream. The answer is no. 

Source: thenapministry

Music credit: bensound.com/spotlight

Send us Fan Mail

If you have any comments or feedback to give us please email us on [email protected], and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read out your email on the show.

Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

You can sponsor the Unlearn Something Podcast by buying us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unlearnpod

In  this week’s  episode, we talk about Karens in the classroom. We discuss whiteness, white supremacy and what role this plays in schools in the UK. With 7 out of 10 teachers in the UK, being white women, this is a VERY important issue for us as teachers and as teachers who are part of the global majority.

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Show Notes (further reading) 
Here are accounts that can help with terminology to talk about race, racism and anti oppression work 
Instagram 
@voicesof_theopressed 
@ykreborn 
@multiculturalclassroom 
@blairimani 
@antiracisteducation 

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If you have any comments or feedback to give us please email us on [email protected], and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read out your email on the show.

Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

You can sponsor the Unlearn Something Podcast by buying us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unlearnpod

In this week’s episode, we share our experience of volunteering at the Race 2 Dinner screening of ‘Deconstructing Karen’. It was fantastic to be in community with so many other people working towards addressing oppression and dismantling harmful structures. Saira, Regina and the team were brilliant!

Music Credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

Show Notes (Further Reading) 
Cofounder Instagram @sairarao
Cofounder Instagram @rljak12
Resident White Woman: Lisa Bond Instagram @theunintwntionalpastorswife
Watch the film on Apple TV
Buy the book: https://uk.bookshop.org/
Find out more at http:/deconstructingkaren.com

Send us Fan Mail

If you have any comments or feedback to give us please email us on [email protected], and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read out your email on the show.

Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

You can sponsor the Unlearn Something Podcast by buying us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unlearnpod

In Episode 1 of the Unlearnsomething Podcast, we talk about what was happening in our classrooms this week and why  young people are being discriminated against for their natural hair: here in this UK, in this big -big 2023. 

Show notes  (further reading) 
Halo Code  UK - https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/55249674 (KS1/2) 
Crown Act US - https://www.thecrownact.com/ (teacher) 
Instagram recommendation - @whyisthatracist (teacher) 
Black Educators Helpline - https://betruthtopower.com/ and see site for phone number to contact a fellow teacher if you need support. 

Send us Fan Mail

If you have any comments or feedback to give us please email us on [email protected], and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read out your email on the show.

Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

You can sponsor the Unlearn Something Podcast by buying us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unlearnpod

Hello! We are two teachers talking about our unlearning in our classrooms, hoping to share people, practice and resources to support unlearning in yours. Tune in every week for a new episode!

Music Credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

Send us Fan Mail

If you have any comments or feedback to give us please email us on [email protected], and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read out your email on the show.

Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance

You can sponsor the Unlearn Something Podcast by buying us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unlearnpod