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THE MARTLET LENT ISSUE 24
News Continued from front page... like to see going forward. While Señora Fraile believes “the curriculum does have to change in a lot of subjects” she, and others, caution that there isn’t much the School can do by itself on that front, especially when it comes to GCSEs and A-Levels. That being said, Miss Lee sees some examples at Abingdon which show that there are things that can be done. “I think the English department should be given credit” for their reevaluation of the curriculum, she says. Despite being bound by the structures of the
George Floyd has become a rallying cry for those committed to fighting racial injustice The protests became a crucial call for change going forward. exam boards “they are aware [that] there is room for improvement in how they teach texts”. It is also important for people to realise, the committee believes, that change doesn’t always have to be radical. “It is not as though they will throw Shakespeare out, but perhaps they want to teach previously unexplored aspects” which could shed light on issues of race, gender or sexuality. The History department too, with its emphasis on Black History Month, is proof that a major reworking of the curriculum, however welcome by some, is not a prerequisite for making a difference. For both Miss Lee and Señora Fraile agreed that there should also be an emphasis on self-learning. “Both staff and students … [we] need to open our minds and educate ourselves” - sitting idle is not an option, they say. The members of the new Equalities Committee, however, want to keep their feet firmly on the ground. They recognise that problems as complex, and taboo, as racism cannot simply be dealt with by introducing some grand
bership of the committee itself needs to diversify further. Ianto was surprised by the fact that originally “quite a few members of the boarding party didn’t think much would get done in the committee”. Miss Lee believes the contrary and emphasised that she would like to “hear more voices from the boarding community” and, more broadly, “make an appeal for membership” so that more members, especially lower down in the School feel they can contribute to the committee and its work. It is important to remember, though, that Abingdon is not separate from the rest of Britain. Efforts to change the School, however important and worthwhile, will never be truly effective if British society as a whole doesn’t also take those steps. For Señora Fraile, one of the main challenges is that “in the UK … the issues that need to be discussed are not discussed at the worry of offending [someone else]”. She commented on the contrast between the more blunt approach of Spain compared to the stiff upper lip of Britain when addressing these cultural taboos. Miss Lee similarly noted how in South Africa, perhaps as a result of the turbulent history of recent decades, “we are much
more able to have conversations about race and racism”. And yet, “it is so important…not to lose sight of the small wins in favour of the big picture”. At the end of day, “any steps in the right direction… are good ones”. Listening to the members of the new Equalities Committee it is hard not to sense the optimism in the room. While they are all understanding of the limitations a small school group faces in pushing forward large-scale change, they nevertheless appreciate that they can, and hopefully will, make a real difference. As Karum notes, “with Abingdon’s influence on other schools” in our local community, it will be possible to positively affect “thousands of kids” and ensure that slowly, but surely, we can all become more aware of the difficulties minorities face on a daily basis. Change and progress might be a gradual process, but that doesn’t seem to faze the Equalities Committee in the slightest. For more information on the Abingdon School Equalities Committee, or if you're interested in joining, contact Mike MacLennan via email: mike.maclennan@abingdon.org.uk.
Listening to the members of the new Equalities Committee, it is hard not to sense the optimism in the room
initiative. “There is no point in throwing money at something we don’t understand” replies Karum when asked about the possibility of the committee receiving funding at some point in the near future. Instead, the committee would first like to get a discussion going at Abingdon School and also wants to hear back from students about their experiences. On top of that, many were adamant that the mem-
Locally, the statue of colonial oppressor Cecil Rhodes has been a lengthy cause of conflict.