DISCUSSION GUIDE Ideas for exploring
STORIES FROM THE EDGE with students
Next stop, The Eiffel Tower By Miriam Halahmy STORIES FROM THE EDGE is available in paperback and eBook, visit http://edgeauthors.blogspot.co.uk or scan the code for details. For event bookings and general enquiries, please email:
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STORIES FROM THE EDGE
DISCUSSION GUIDE
1
NEXT STOP, THE EIFFEL TOWER by MIRIAM HALAHMY CLASSROOM NOTES AND DISCUSSION POINTS
My story asks: How do we promote peace and tolerance in a diverse world? These notes focus on peace and dialogue, immigration, diversity and terrorism. “You cannot fight for peace, you have to peace for peace.” Yasmin quotes this well-known piece of graffiti. Q
What does it mean for you and for the world we live in?
“All Muslims support terrorism.” This was a comment from a student to Yasmin. How did she react? How would you react to this comment? Substitute another group: All blacks are … All whites are … All Catholics are … Q
Does this make you feel angry? How would anger and shouting help? What would be the most helpful reaction to such statements?
French school staff and students are not allowed to wear any religious symbols in schools. It is against the law. Q
Is this true in the UK? What do you think about this law? How would it affect you and your friends?
Simone, a Jewish student, states that it is not safe for Jewish men to wear a kippah in the street in France. Q
Some people have been attacked in the UK in the street when wearing religious clothing and symbols. What do you think about that?
Madi is caught up in a terrifying terrorist attack in Paris. Although there is a very tiny chance that might happen to you in the UK, the Government guidelines are: RUN – HIDE – TELL. Q
Did Madi do the right thing? What could you do to keep yourself safe in such an attack?
A FREE download from http://edgeauthors.blogspot.co.uk
www.miriamhalahmy.com
STORIES FROM THE EDGE
DISCUSSION GUIDE
2
Back in school the students are angry after the terrorist attack. People all over the world are angry and worried about terrorism and demand all sorts of solutions such as: •
Close the borders
•
Keep out all asylum seekers
•
Keep out asylum seekers from the Middle East and Africa
•
Increase security checks at buildings, train stations, underground stations, airports, etc.
•
Increase the number of armed police on the streets
DISCUSS What do you think about these solutions? What are our responsibilities towards the biggest refugee crisis since WW2 which is taking place in our time? Should we help people or keep them out? Where do we draw the line? What kind of society do we want to live in?
Many people talk about promoting peace but how can an individual make a difference? I have written a 9 point plan on what you can do for peace, from reading an inspiring book to making a video. On this link there is a video of me reading a poem with students from the Paris lycée where I ran peace workshops around the time of the first Paris attacks. http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/sep/21/world-peace-day-2015
Shalom/Salaam/Peace to all humanity. We are all citizens of the world. Miriam Halahmy, London, May 2016.
© Miriam Halahmy, 2016
A FREE download from http://edgeauthors.blogspot.co.uk
www.miriamhalahmy.com
