2021 focus
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All educational materials for Tolerance Day are being delivered under the patronage of UNESCO UK
Watch our Video Assembly for Tolerance Day 2020 here The challenge of intolerance - thinking about people as ‘them’ and ‘us’- lies at the heart of sustainability and work to address climate change. Free markets are about efficient allocation of resources, but they don’t currently include the cost of actions that damage the environment or society and people
In January we talked about the Earth Day Network’s campaign for climate literacy and we’re supporting the Network this year in promoting Earth Day on 22nd April. Climate change can be explored through topics from maths, geography, history, art, science, English and more. We’ll be putting together some specific lesson plans that we hope that you’ll find useful for that, and later this year we’ll be providing free support in teaching children how to think about the climate in different ways, how to find their voices and help make the world a better, fairer place. |
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BETTER TOGETHER:
BURYING THE HATCHET AND LETTING GO OF BEING ‘RIGHT’
Reaching a peaceful resolution to conflict is an admirable goal, but there are different approaches as well as different types of peace. These range from the negative peace of stopping violence, to the positive peace of the structural and behavioural changes that address the social, economic and environmental injustices that cause harm.
There are challenges at a global level, when dealing with issues like climate change, poverty and inequality. There are regional and domestic challenges, that can range from political polarisation to the question of how to move beyond a genocide. Even at the most basic, personal level, our children need to learn how to deal with each other after fighting.
An essential component of tolerance is empathy, and understanding that whether you agree with them or not, others have the same rights as you want for yourself.
The need for fairness is a universal truth for children and building on that as the basis for how they approach each other, and the world in which we live, can only improve their relationships and their approach to the social contract.
A focus on what we have in common, from responding to emergencies, doing no harm and building a peaceful future together, can transform the way our societies work. Mutual understanding and dialogue underpin a better world.
There are challenges at a global level, when dealing with issues like climate change, poverty and inequality. There are regional and domestic challenges, that can range from political polarisation to the question of how to move beyond a genocide. Even at the most basic, personal level, our children need to learn how to deal with each other after fighting.
An essential component of tolerance is empathy, and understanding that whether you agree with them or not, others have the same rights as you want for yourself.
The need for fairness is a universal truth for children and building on that as the basis for how they approach each other, and the world in which we live, can only improve their relationships and their approach to the social contract.
A focus on what we have in common, from responding to emergencies, doing no harm and building a peaceful future together, can transform the way our societies work. Mutual understanding and dialogue underpin a better world.
THE BACKGROUND TO TOLERANCE DAY
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Our materials aim to provide young people with the tools to understand different perspectives. The goal is inculcating a curiosity to learn about beliefs and practices which are unfamiliar, to decode media bias and how to engage in dialogue with people who may hold different views.
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Human behaviour may change but not human nature. With classrooms a reflection of the society in which we live, in 2019 Tolerance Day focussed on history, on connecting the generations, and on ensuring that there is a focus on understanding the evolution of our thinking.
The lessons that we've learned about the dangers of ignorance and 'otherisation' are critical parts of our history. As the quote goes 'those who forget history are doomed to repeat it'. Negative behaviours and beliefs are taught and learned, which only reinforces the importance of education.
The lessons that we've learned about the dangers of ignorance and 'otherisation' are critical parts of our history. As the quote goes 'those who forget history are doomed to repeat it'. Negative behaviours and beliefs are taught and learned, which only reinforces the importance of education.
why teaching tolerance matters
As UNESCO puts it, “Education for tolerance should aim at countering influences that lead to fear and exclusion of others, and should help young people develop capacities for independent judgement, critical thinking and ethical reasoning. The diversity of our world's many religions, languages, cultures and ethnicities is not a pretext for conflict, but is a treasure that enriches us all."
WHY WE NEED TOLERANCE
Tolerance isn’t necessary if we are in agreement. We are allowed to disagree, but it is the manner and attitude with which we express our views which is important.
Tolerance is a term often used interchangeably with ‘celebrating diversity’, and whilst both terms complement each other, ‘tolerance’ is the only concept that gets to the heart of the really difficult work in educating young people on how to address people, practices and perspectives that they do not understand or do not agree with.
Click here for further background on the problematisation of tolerance.
Tolerance is a term often used interchangeably with ‘celebrating diversity’, and whilst both terms complement each other, ‘tolerance’ is the only concept that gets to the heart of the really difficult work in educating young people on how to address people, practices and perspectives that they do not understand or do not agree with.
Click here for further background on the problematisation of tolerance.
What is the point of Tolerance Day?
The point of the ToDay campaign in marking the UN's International Day for Tolerance is to celebrate diversity and tolerance in practice, and to ensure that we remember to make space for each other’s opinions. If opinions or ideas are objectionable or indefensible in our eyes, it is our duty to speak up and refute them. We must however try to understand the perspectives of others, develop a dialogue and build a mutual understanding, culminating in peaceful co-existence.
Tolerance is respecting the right others have to an opinion or practice, not the opinion or practice itself.
You can download a document exploring what we mean by tolerance here.
Tolerance of intolerance is not tolerance. The two terms are antonyms like light and dark, good and evil. If we allow intolerance, then we are no longer a tolerant society.
Find out more about the
Seven Stages of Tolerance, a framework for embedding tolerance.
The point of the ToDay campaign in marking the UN's International Day for Tolerance is to celebrate diversity and tolerance in practice, and to ensure that we remember to make space for each other’s opinions. If opinions or ideas are objectionable or indefensible in our eyes, it is our duty to speak up and refute them. We must however try to understand the perspectives of others, develop a dialogue and build a mutual understanding, culminating in peaceful co-existence.
Tolerance is respecting the right others have to an opinion or practice, not the opinion or practice itself.
You can download a document exploring what we mean by tolerance here.
Tolerance of intolerance is not tolerance. The two terms are antonyms like light and dark, good and evil. If we allow intolerance, then we are no longer a tolerant society.
Find out more about the
Seven Stages of Tolerance, a framework for embedding tolerance.
No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. Nelson Mandela
I do not like the word tolerance, but could not think of a better one. Gandhi
I do not like the word tolerance, but could not think of a better one. Gandhi
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