Countering racism: A resource guide
As a Matter of Fact
Addressing assumptions related to history, land and other issues of prejudice. We gratefully acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission for permission to reprint sections of this important document.
Part 1: The first Australians.
Face the Facts is a similar document by the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and is highly recommended. Also see the lesson plan 'Facts about Indigenous people Jigsaw' below.
Lesson ideas
We have sorted and grouped the following lessons ideas from the Racism, No Way! website ( Conference of Education Systems Chief Executive Officers)
General
Outside the In-Group
Students experience feelings of being kept out of a group. The Year 4 student who painted the stimulus work wrote of the importance of children and adults of different backgrounds and colours playing, learning and working together to make the world a better place to live in.
Playing the Game
Students recognise racial conflict at school and explore its roots and consequences.
Let's look at groups
Students will identify the many groups to which they belong and consider how groups are formed, group dynamics and how group rules influence individual choice. Students will develop strategies that might influence their groups.
Perceptions
Students understand that people have different perceptions of the same phenomenon (i.e. things, people, events).
Inner-city youth define racism
Students question, challenge and evaluate cultural assumptions which contribute to racism. Students analyse the interaction of the wider Australian community with minority groups.
Gangs or Cliques?
Students examine bias in language and images in popular media and then critically examine how prejudiced attitudes conveyed through the popular media contribute to the creation of negative ethnic stereotypes.
Blood Brothers
The purpose of this lesson is to promote understanding about:
- the frequency of occurrence of blood types in particular racial/ethnic groups
- the shared characteristics of blood in the overall population.
I am, you are, we are...
Students recognise that individuals and groups have both common and different attributes and that each individual may be a member of many different groups.
Focus on the media
dealing with topics such as cultural diversity, immigration, refugees and asylum seekers, Indigenous issues, crime and the like, news reports sometimes promote attitudes of discrimination and prejudice. Opinions might be disguised as fact, language and images can create or sustain racial stereotypes and biases, and the selection and organisation of material could vilify certain groups of people within the community. And, sometimes, only one side of the story is told. These strategies encourage students to examine media reports critically.
Cultural Mapping
Students become more aware of the cultural diversity in Australian society. Students become more familiar with some key terms used in discussing multiculturalism. Students explore their own cultural backgrounds as a way to develop a deeper understanding of their own cultural identity. Students build their sense of cultural self-esteem relate this to their classroom, their community and Australian society.
Institutional Racism
Students define institutional racism and consider its effects on various groups in society.
Racism. No way! Cultural Diversity Mini Webquest
Students research Australia's development as a multicultural nation and evaluate the contributions made by individuals and cultural groups.
Myth of the Western Man
Students identify ways in which history and culture influence identity.
Grass roots human rights
Students examine Professor Lowitja O'Donoghue's Ten Point Plan for Human Rights Action and consider what initiatives they, as a group or as individuals, can take.
Discrimination
Students examine the concept of discrimination and explore the difference between appropriate and harmful discrimination. Students discuss relevant Australian legislation and International law. Students choose an example of discrimination and write an exposition suggesting affirmative action.
Australian Indigenous-specific
Facts about Indigenous people Jigsaw
Students examine facts which address common myths and misconceptions and recognise the resulting racism, prejudice and discrimination.
You don't even look Aboriginal
Students respond to artwork and demonstrate an understanding of different viewpoints about what is identity.
Warlugulong
Students explore and appreciate the variety of ways in which the environment can be depicted for a range of purposes.
Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act (1975)
Students will become familiar with the Act which underpins all anti-racism legislation and education in Australia.
Racist behaviour
Sometimes it is hard to recognise racism, especially if you're not the target. Racism may be direct or indirect, individual or institutional.
Baroque'n Roll
Students question discrimination against people from different cultural backgrounds and discuss ways to be inclusive showing concern for the welfare of others.
Programs and strategies
The following section details the various countering/anti-racism education programs and strategies in place in education systems across Australia. State names link to the Racism. No Way! website and programs and strategies are grouped by action area.