A vibrant plenary programme
Just as last year, Splinter Chabot opened the programme. He immediately created a positive atmosphere, connected with the participants and introduced the day. He also briefly discussed some unpleasant situations from his own secondary school years. He immediately added that he could also imagine that it is not always easy for teachers to deal with such situations.
What followed was a conversation with Amina Saydali, director and board member of School & Veiligheid. She explained the theme of the conference: ‘Taking good care of each other’. This was the same theme that School & Veiligheid used at the beginning of the school year for Anti-Bullying Week. School & Veiligheid chose this theme because they are receiving signals from schools that the aftermath of the coronavirus period is still being felt. Pupils feel less like part of the group, there is more individualisation and more unrest. Looking out for one another is still very much needed.
Next came the two highlights of the morning programme: the keynote speakers, Ismail Aghzanay and Sharon Ubani.
The secret of the teacher – Ismail Aghzanay
Ismail Aghzanay was the first to speak. As a young boy, he was labelled ‘unmanageable’, but years later he became Rotterdam’s Teacher of the Year and subsequently National Teacher of the Year. He also wrote the book The Secret of the Teacher.
After a short, (inter)active energiser that caused plenty of laughter, he began his compelling presentation.
First, he gave a brief introduction to the film Freedom Writers, which he highly recommended: “It briefly shows where we sometimes fall short at our core.” With this, he immediately warned that he would deliberately challenge and provoke the audience from time to time. And that provocation worked well. For example, you may start from your own frame of reference, the one you grew up with. But young people shaped by street culture have a very different frame of reference. Is your frame of reference the norm? Or are you open to where your pupils come from?
He also shared practical tips that could be put to immediate use in the classroom, focused on getting to know your pupils. Or, as Ismail put it: “I simply do not believe that we can help our pupils without knowing them.” That is only possible through genuine involvement. And that, in turn, contributes to social safety.
Room for dreams – Sharon Ubani
We often refer to the school as a mini-society. In that light, the second speaker could not have had a more fitting name. Or, as Sharon herself explained: “Ubani means ‘the progress of a group of people living together in a particular territory’.”
She spoke about her childhood in a predominantly white environment, at a school with very few children of colour. She became an avid reader: “I could pretend that I looked just like the main character. It was impossible to imagine that I could be just as resourceful, layered, interesting, funny or beautiful.”
That hunger for stories and imagination still occupies her today. “In my adult life, I am constantly looking for ways to use imagination to make things radically better.”
She took us into her field of work, which spans both Western Europe and West Africa: the Netherlands, Germany, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, to name just a few countries. She works as a guest lecturer and trainer on inclusive learning. She discovered that some issues differ little, if at all, between seemingly completely different continents: “We discussed it here earlier: what do you do with the fact that children have changed since the pandemic? And what do you do when some pupils do not have enough money at home, for example for a schoolbag?”
She encouraged those present to explore topics such as inclusion and discrimination. In short: an inspiring lecture that she ended with the same appeal Ismail had made earlier: learn more about the other person. And perhaps especially about someone with a different background from your own.
A wide range of workshops
After a delicious lunch, it was time for practical work. Both online and on location, participants could choose from various workshops. There were two workshop rounds in total. Online, the workshops were scheduled for a shorter duration because it can sometimes be more difficult to maintain your attention online.
Your opinion counts
All participants have now received an evaluation form. School & Veiligheid takes all your input seriously. Would you like to share anything else about this edition, or would you like to contribute ideas for the 2025 edition? Then send an email to [email protected]. The next edition will take place on Wednesday, 9 April 2025.