Young people share their views on the legacies of the transatlantic slave trade with high profile panel

Students from across England have come together to explore the legacies of the transatlantic slave trade and the impact on contemporary society following their outstanding entries to ‘The Big Conversation 2007’, a national schools competition.

Twenty-two students were joined in the national panel debate and showcase at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich on 6 December by leading figures from the arts, media and education, including journalist and broadcaster George Alagiah, Sonali Gudka, BBC Newsround presenter and musician and entrepreneur, Akala.

‘The Big Conversation 2007’ competition and debate - open to 11-14 year olds - was developed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and Understanding Slavery to mark the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in Britain. Minister of State for Schools and Learners, Jim Knight, attended the winners’ debate and showcase to hear what students had to say and present schools with their prizes.

Students were required to develop journalistic projects, in the form of a newspaper article, audio interview or short film, exploring the legacies of the transatlantic slave trade in the context of contemporary British society. The entries revealed students’ thoughts and opinions on issues such as diversity, heritage, identity and racism.

Jim Knight MP said: “The quality of entries was extremely impressive and I found the debate thought-provoking. Seeing the different ways in which students approached the topic and listening to their views was insightful. I would like to congratulate them all on their efforts.”

Ruth Fisher, Understanding Slavery Learning Project Manager, said: “We at the NMM – as lead partner for the Understanding Slavery Initiative – were delighted to host the ‘The Big Conversation 2007’ panel debate and showcase. The culmination of the winning schools’ work this year was excellent. The panel debate demonstrated that young people are engaged with this topic and are not afraid to share and explore their views on how they relate it to issues that affect them today.

“Students and teachers alike will continue to benefit from Understanding Slavery’s Citizen resource and accompanying website, which supported the schools entering the competition and offer an on-going resource for teaching and learning about the transatlantic slave trade in Citizenship and the wider curriculum.”

Notes to Editors

‘The Big Conversation 2007’ competition, debate and showcase was developed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and Understanding Slavery to mark the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in Britain

Entrants were asked to respond to one of the following questions:

• How and why should Britons commemorate the transatlantic slave trade?
• How can Britons learn from this history and celebrate a modern society with a diverse heritage?

‘The Big Conversation 2007’ winners are:

• Andrew Marvell Business and Enterprise College (Yorkshire & the Humber) - produced a newspaper-style entry using a range of contributions, including an online debate
• Aylesbury High School (South East) - entered a newsletter with supporting documentary and historical films
• Plumstead Manor School (London) - produced a documentary set in modern and historical times

‘The Big Conversation 2007’ highly commended schools are:

• Haggerston School (London)
• Heathside School (South East)
• Kirk Hallam Community Technology College (East Midlands)
• Priory Community School (South West)
• Temple Moor High School (Yorkshire & The Humber)
• Tolworth Girls School (London)

‘The Big Conversation 2007’ panel debate was chaired by Dame Jocelyn Barrow. George Alagiah, award winning broadcaster and journalist, attended the showcase and spent time with each of the winning schools.


The panellists were:

• Akala, musician and entrepreneur
• Charlie Bell, winner of Schools Question Time
• Sir Keith Ajegbo - academic and educationalist
• Keme Nzerem – Reporter/ presenter, Channel 4 News
• Sonali Gudka – Presenter, Newsround
• Tristram Hunt – Historian

‘The Big Conversation 2007’ judging panel was:

• Daniel Burton, BBC History Magazine History Teacher of the Year 2007
• George Alagiah, award winning broadcaster and journalist
• Horace Ové, leading independent filmmaker
• Liz Smith, Head of Learning and Access, National Portrait Gallery
• Mark Miller, Visual Artist/ Curator of Youth Programmes, Tate Britain
• Wesley Kerr, freelance broadcaster and journalist

To assist with the competition and offer ongoing teaching support, two important long lasting resources were developed – the Citizen Resource, aimed at teachers, and a corresponding website for students. Both resources were launched and promoted in parallel with the competition and teachers and students were encouraged to use these to inform their entries. Both the teaching resource and student website contain a visually rich collection of artefacts and biographies and are available free of charge. The student website can be accessed at: www.understandingslavery.com/citizen

To date over 1,500 teaching resources have been requested and dispatched. Initial feedback from teachers has been overwhelmingly positive - both in terms of the quality of the resources and the relevance of the competition to classroom teaching. To request a Citizen Resource pack please email: enquiries@thebigconversation.com

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Understanding Slavery- www.understandingslavery.com
Understanding Slavery is a national education project, which began in April 2003 with funding from the DCMS and DCSF 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 Stages 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 wanted to ensure that the year achieved the best possible legacy 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

• addressing 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 wanted the bicentenary to be owned by local communities as much as central Government. The Government’s approach was to encourage and empower grassroots organisations, local authorities, faith groups and national organisations to arrange commemorative activities.

An informal advisory group of influential stakeholders was set up by the former Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, 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 - www.nmm.ac.uk

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 modernised 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.

The National Maritime Museum opened a new permanent gallery: ‘Atlantic Worlds’ in November 2007. The gallery explores the history of the transatlantic slave trade within a broader historical context.

Prepared on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and Understanding Slavery by Trimedia Harrison Cowley

For further information please contact ‘The Big Conversation 2007’ press office on
+44 (0) 20 7025 7561
understandingslavery@trimediahc.com