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‘The Big Conversation 2007’ competition, debate and showcase
inspires young people to explore the legacies of the transatlantic
slave trade
22 May 2007
‘How and why should Britons commemorate the transatlantic slave trade?’ and ‘How can Britons learn from this history and celebrate a modern society with a diverse heritage?’ are the questions young people can explore as part of a new national competition.
‘The Big Conversation 2007’, competition, debate and showcase to encourage KS3 students to explore the legacies of the transatlantic slave trade will be launched in June 2007. Developed by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and Understanding Slavery, it will give schools the opportunity to research and debate this important element of British history in the context of modern day issues.
Students will work together to develop projects in response to their selected question in a relevant contemporary format, with entries taking the form of a newspaper article, audio interview/narrative or short film. The process will enable students to develop their research, analysis and debating skills, improve their ability to explore ideas independently and in groups and foster dialogue with those in their school and community.
The competition has been designed to meet requirements of the Citizenship and History curriculum’s, including the addition of the transatlantic slave trade in the KS3 History programme of study and the legacies of the history in a new Citizenship strand ‘Identity and Diversity – Living Together in the UK’.
Students from the winning schools will have the opportunity to sit on a panel in ‘The Big Conversation 2007’ debate to discuss their views and issues pertinent to the subject. The debate will take place on 6 December and will be attended by representatives from the media and political experts. The winning schools will also be offered a one-day workshop with a documentary or film maker and £500 towards a museum visit.
To support teachers in devising schemes of work for competition entries the Citizen Resource – a printed pack for teachers and a corresponding website for students – will also be launched in June 2007. The resources are organised under four themes – Activism, Heritage, Identity and Routes and contain lesson plans and activities, image cards of artefacts and archive material as well as biographies of historical individuals affected by the legacies of the slave trade.
The competition is open to secondary schools across England and organisations working with young people aged 11 – 14. Schools and organisations can register their interest in receiving the Citizen Resource and entering the competition by emailing: enquiries@thebigconversation2007.com.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Understanding Slavery - http://www.understandingslavery.com/
Understanding Slavery is a five-year national education project, which began in April 2003 with funding from the DCMS and DfES as part of the Strategic Commissioning National/Regional Museum Partnerships Programme.
The project has been developed by the National Maritime Museum, National Museums Liverpool, British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, Bristol City Museums, Galleries and Archives, and Hull Museums and Art Gallery.
Understanding Slavery seeks to encourage teachers, educators and students to examine the transatlantic slave trade and its legacies through the museums’ collections and schemes of work within the National Curriculum, particularly History and Citizenship at Key Stage 3 and 4.
The Government’s role
The bicentenary marks an important opportunity to reflect on the struggles of the past, the progress we have made and the challenges that remain. The Government wants to ensure that the best possible legacy is achieved by marking the bicentenary in the following ways across the country:
Reflecting on the past
· raising awareness of the bicentenary
· commemoration of those who suffered as a result of the slave trade
· recognition of the efforts of those who struggled for abolition, including the enslaved and those who were formerly enslaved, states-people and ordinary citizens and of those who enforced the Act
Looking to the future
· poverty and inequality on the African continent and in the Caribbean
· tackling inequality, discrimination and racism today, in particular for people of African and Caribbean heritage living in the UK
· tackling modern forms of slavery
The Government wants the bicentenary to be owned by local communities as much as central Government. The Government’s approach will encourage and empower grassroots organisations, local authorities, faith groups and national organisations to arrange commemorative activities.
The Deputy Prime Minister chairs an informal advisory group of influential stakeholders to help encourage action across the cultural, faith and community sectors to ensure that the bicentenary makes a national impact and is relevant to local communities across the country.
The National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum is the lead partner for Understanding Slavery. The largest museum of its kind in the world, it is housed in impressively modernized historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. It incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and 17th-century Queen’s House. The Museum works to illustrate for everyone the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people. The Museum welcomes over 1.5 million British and international visitors a year and is also a major centre for education and research. For more information visit www.nmm.ac.uk.
Prepared on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and Understanding Slavery by Trimedia Harrison Cowley.
For further information please call
Vicky Page
+44 (0) 20 7025 7500
vicky.page@trimediahc.com
Nicola Richards
+44 (0) 20 7025 7500
nicola.richards@trimediahc.com
22 May 2007
‘How and why should Britons commemorate the transatlantic slave trade?’ and ‘How can Britons learn from this history and celebrate a modern society with a diverse heritage?’ are the questions young people can explore as part of a new national competition.
‘The Big Conversation 2007’, competition, debate and showcase to encourage KS3 students to explore the legacies of the transatlantic slave trade will be launched in June 2007. Developed by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and Understanding Slavery, it will give schools the opportunity to research and debate this important element of British history in the context of modern day issues.
Students will work together to develop projects in response to their selected question in a relevant contemporary format, with entries taking the form of a newspaper article, audio interview/narrative or short film. The process will enable students to develop their research, analysis and debating skills, improve their ability to explore ideas independently and in groups and foster dialogue with those in their school and community.
The competition has been designed to meet requirements of the Citizenship and History curriculum’s, including the addition of the transatlantic slave trade in the KS3 History programme of study and the legacies of the history in a new Citizenship strand ‘Identity and Diversity – Living Together in the UK’.
Students from the winning schools will have the opportunity to sit on a panel in ‘The Big Conversation 2007’ debate to discuss their views and issues pertinent to the subject. The debate will take place on 6 December and will be attended by representatives from the media and political experts. The winning schools will also be offered a one-day workshop with a documentary or film maker and £500 towards a museum visit.
To support teachers in devising schemes of work for competition entries the Citizen Resource – a printed pack for teachers and a corresponding website for students – will also be launched in June 2007. The resources are organised under four themes – Activism, Heritage, Identity and Routes and contain lesson plans and activities, image cards of artefacts and archive material as well as biographies of historical individuals affected by the legacies of the slave trade.
The competition is open to secondary schools across England and organisations working with young people aged 11 – 14. Schools and organisations can register their interest in receiving the Citizen Resource and entering the competition by emailing: enquiries@thebigconversation2007.com.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Understanding Slavery - http://www.understandingslavery.com/
Understanding Slavery is a five-year national education project, which began in April 2003 with funding from the DCMS and DfES as part of the Strategic Commissioning National/Regional Museum Partnerships Programme.
The project has been developed by the National Maritime Museum, National Museums Liverpool, British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, Bristol City Museums, Galleries and Archives, and Hull Museums and Art Gallery.
Understanding Slavery seeks to encourage teachers, educators and students to examine the transatlantic slave trade and its legacies through the museums’ collections and schemes of work within the National Curriculum, particularly History and Citizenship at Key Stage 3 and 4.
The Government’s role
The bicentenary marks an important opportunity to reflect on the struggles of the past, the progress we have made and the challenges that remain. The Government wants to ensure that the best possible legacy is achieved by marking the bicentenary in the following ways across the country:
Reflecting on the past
· raising awareness of the bicentenary
· commemoration of those who suffered as a result of the slave trade
· recognition of the efforts of those who struggled for abolition, including the enslaved and those who were formerly enslaved, states-people and ordinary citizens and of those who enforced the Act
Looking to the future
· poverty and inequality on the African continent and in the Caribbean
· tackling inequality, discrimination and racism today, in particular for people of African and Caribbean heritage living in the UK
· tackling modern forms of slavery
The Government wants the bicentenary to be owned by local communities as much as central Government. The Government’s approach will encourage and empower grassroots organisations, local authorities, faith groups and national organisations to arrange commemorative activities.
The Deputy Prime Minister chairs an informal advisory group of influential stakeholders to help encourage action across the cultural, faith and community sectors to ensure that the bicentenary makes a national impact and is relevant to local communities across the country.
The National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum is the lead partner for Understanding Slavery. The largest museum of its kind in the world, it is housed in impressively modernized historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. It incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and 17th-century Queen’s House. The Museum works to illustrate for everyone the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people. The Museum welcomes over 1.5 million British and international visitors a year and is also a major centre for education and research. For more information visit www.nmm.ac.uk.
Prepared on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and Understanding Slavery by Trimedia Harrison Cowley.
For further information please call
Vicky Page
+44 (0) 20 7025 7500
vicky.page@trimediahc.com
Nicola Richards
+44 (0) 20 7025 7500
nicola.richards@trimediahc.com