‘Speak up and speak out even if your voice shakes’: Anti-racism is too important to leave to chance | ECF Staffroom

IOE insights

Alison Wiggins, a PGCE and anti-racist lecturer, emphasises the need for teachers to develop their racial literacy – 'naming it changes the power of it.'

She talks about building positive relationships and the connection she forges with mentees and students. One of her highlights, she explains, is they joy of being able to pass on her experiences of teaching, and the opportunity to see mentees' progress as they grow.

In this episode, she also shares her thoughts on a culturally responsive pedagogy as well as the need for racial literacy: 'we can't tackle something if we can't name it'.

Alison says that we've been socialised to avoid racism as an issue in schools, which creates a greater call to action to do something about the issue, and develop a shared language and understanding of the central aspects of race and racism.

Full show notes, transcript and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2023/nov/speak-and-speak-out-even-if-your-voice-shakes-anti-racism-too-important-leave-chance

ECF Staffroom speaks to Early Career Teachers, mentors and participants at all levels of the UCL Early Career Teacher Development programme.