Glasgow United

Appropriate age: Upper primary / secondary

Produced by:
Alison Logan and Michelle Sweeney Baker
Glasgow City Council Education Services
2002

Available from:
Alison Logan
Glasgow City Council
Tel: 0141 287 4206
email: Alison.Logan@education.glasgow.gov.uk

Length:
6 minutes

Type:
Video & support pack

Content:
The video shows pictures of Glasgow with voice-overs of what people think about Glasgow. Some of the images / quotes could be seen to be fairly provocative - graffiti, aggression. It shows football and an Irish gang culture - UDA, graffiti etc.

The video is focused on Glasgow but many of the questions raised and answers given are valid across Scotland or could be used to stimulate discussion anywhere.

The video is supported by a brief activity pack, which includes suggestions on how to use the video and questions, which can be used as starting points for discussion; it also includes some follow-up activities. Whilst these activities begin by focusing on Glasgow, e.g. developing an image of the city you would like to see, this could equally be used for another city / town.

The activities then provide a variety of suggestions on considering prejudice / discrimination, bigotry and sectarianism and stereotyping.

One of the suggested activities is to list as many sectarian songs, saying etc. possible. Whilst this gives an important reference point for discussion, it also has the potential like the rest of the pack, to go awry if the teacher or youth worker is unprepared or uneducated. The activity pack concludes with activity suggestions on how to tackle sectarianism.

Resource Summary:
Overall, this pack tends to focus towards Catholic / Protestant sectarianism as it is set in Glasgow, although there are passing references to other forms of sectarianism. It also makes reference towards football and Glasgow. However, it provides a good lead into the topic for any group across Scotland. It does not really look at sectarianism in much depth but it does provide a starting point if you have background knowledge to take this issue further.