News 20/5/08

College student helps promote anti-sectarian message

HNC Early Education & Child Care student at John Wheatley College, Patricia Moran, has been helping her local nursery to break down any sectarian barriers in the children who use their services.

For her learning placement, Patricia chose to work with Easthall Nursery School, where the staff were concerned to improve the children’s attitudes to football and bridge the Rangers / Celtic divide as this could affect their learning and attitudes to one another.

Strongly supported by the nursery staff and particularly Anne O’Grady, nursery head, Patricia devised a programme of events.  Funding from the John Wheatley College Student Union enabled her to take a group of children on a visit to Hampden where  Thomas McConnell, the Sports and Entertainments Officer, introduced the children to the fact that both Rangers and Celtic players unite to play for the national team.

The highlight of the project was a visit to Easthall Nursery by Broxi Bear and Hoopy the Hound who chatted and danced with the children and had a kickabout in the playground.

The children certainly enjoyed the programme and have had great benefit from it. The project has been so successful that the nursery intend to incorporate it into their forward plan as it’s never too early to start instilling anti-bigotry in children.

Well done to Patricia and everyone who supported her!