7.1.1 Demonstrated effective use of the English language in communicating with parents and caregivers7.1.3 Demonstrated the importance of involving parents and caregivers in the educative process7.1.3 Use the strategy of a written letter to seek involvement
Date: 1st September, 2008
Dear Parents/Caregivers,
As a part of the Physical Development, Health and Physical Education Syllabus, ____________ will be exploring a text compiled by Pete Sanders and Steve Myers, titled What Do You Know about Racism.
The book is composed of various comic strips that convey acts of racism, the effects of racism, how to identify it, and ways to deal with it. The book is formatted in a way that scaffolds students’ understanding about racism. The text and images are both appropriately designed to engage and inform. The comic is positioned within a school setting, therefore allowing students to connect and respond using their own prior knowledge. Through studying this book and the issues that surround it, ____________will be able to achieve a sound knowledge about racism in societies and ways to combat it.
It is important for ____________ to partake in this unit as it satisfies various requirements from the PDHPE program. The unit promotes the importance of diversity, social justice and supportive environments, and as a result ____________ will learn to function positively within the community and also achieve positive health outcomes.
____________ will be able to make more considered choices that are less influenced by immediate circumstances, therefore understanding and valuing themselves as well as others. When students understand and value others, they are more inclined to work cooperatively and enjoy stable and satisfying interpersonal relationships with others.
The unit and text is also of relevance to the PDHPE program as it aids to promote students to be more tolerant and caring members of the community who value difference and treat others as unique individuals. It is required that students develop understandings and skills in negotiation, conflict resolution, tolerance, roles, responsibilities and community expectations associated with friendships and relationships.Ultimately, the unit aims to educate students about racism, and how these negative attitudes can be eliminated in order to achieve cooperative and effective communication between individuals, which in turn results in the development and maintenance of positive relationships.
Along with this unit, other resources will also be used.
They include:
What do we think about Racism written by Jen Green
How do I feel about dealing with Racism written by Jen Green
It is beneficial that parents actively support their child’s learning outside the school environment as it reinforces their understanding and also puts it in a context that is meaningful and valuable for them. Therefore, if you wish to also further your knowledge and understanding about racism, here are some useful resources:
1) A book compiled by Samidha Garg and Jan Hardy, titled Racism
2) The internet website titled Racism No Way which can be accessed at http://www.racismnoway.com.au/
3) The ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation) website that can be accessed at http://www.antar.org.au/racism
Should you have any adjustments or ideas that you would like implemented into the PDHPE program, do not hesitate to contact us as all different perspectives are valued within our community.
Yours sincerely,
......................................
Class Teacher