A school in Bristol, England, named after a 17th-century slave trader, is changing its name. The announcement was made after 75% of students and staff at Colston’s Girls’ School voted in favour of something different.
Is it really necessary to change names and remove statues just because the people they commemorate did things that disgust us, even though they were viewed as acceptable in their own day? Or is there a big difference between understanding our history and celebrating the memory of those who do not deserve it?
This pack includes an article about the name change from The Week Junior newspaper, plus an activities sheet designed to get children thinking, writing and talking about what the story means to them.
Activities include:
- Is it really necessary to change names and remove statues just because the people they commemorate did things that disgust us, even though they were viewed as acceptable in their own day? Whether or not we like everything they did, they are still key figures from our past –so is it important not to try to ‘airbrush’ our history, just because there are parts of it we do not approve of? Or is there a big difference between understanding our history and celebrating the memory of those who do not deserve it? What do you think?
- Write a pretend persuasive letter to your MP about either protecting or changing the name of something in your region. Remember to use formal language as well as the conventions of a letter.
- Write an imagined conversation between a statue and a pigeon that lands on it. You can make it as serious or humorous as you like, but write it in the style of a playscript.
- Research and write a fact file about a key historical figure from your region. Try to include negative aspects of that person’s life as well as the positive.
Find the entire series of Topical Tuesday resources to download here.
What is The Week Junior?
The Week Junior magazine looks at current affairs and helps children make sense of the world, provides context and clarity to complex issues, improves general knowledge and encourages discussion and debate.
To find out more about The Week Junior and to download its free resources, please go to schools.theweekjunior.co.uk.