Module 2: Hate Speechwebmaster2021-10-27T09:45:16+00:00
Hate Speech
Course Description
According to the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), hate speech spreads, incites, promotes or justifies hatred, violence and discrimination against a person or group of persons. Hate speech takes various forms and is an extreme form of intolerance which if unchecked may lead to hate crime. Sadly, students are exposed to such speech, either outside or inside schools. Thus, it is of utmost importance for educators to engage in discussions with their students to provide a counter-discourse to different forms of hate speech. Throughout this session, the participants will have the opportunity to talk about instances of hate speech they have come across (not necessarily personally), and together we can find ways in which we can address hate speech in our classrooms and school.
Estimated Lesson Duration: 40 minutes
Download this Lesson
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the session participants will be able to:
● Identify hate speech;
● Demonstrate the link between hate speech and violence;
● Discuss hate speech scenarios and come up with a plan of action to address the issues in question.
The way in which we express ourselves, especially the words we use, impact and influence those around us. As educators, we are very much aware of how words form and inform perceptions, and how hurtful they can be. We have been called the ‘cancer of society’ and while this is not true, it hurt, it offended, at it surely influenced a section of society to percieve teachers negatively and with suspicion. However, this is not only about teachers. We use words, sometimes indiscriminately, sometimes without the intent to offend and to hurt, but these words still have an adverse effect on those who hear them and on those for whom the words are intended. If a student in class calls another student ‘pufta’, even if they are fooling around and not fighting, the context in which the word is generally used conveys particular messages.
Watch the video Words That Harm as this further illustrates and encourages you to engage with the theme.
For privacy reasons YouTube needs your permission to be loaded.
Think:
Does legislation against hate speech go against the right of free speech?
Does one have the right to say whatever one wants?
Should one have the right to say whatever one wants?
Is it ok to express oneself in a way that instills fear in others?
In the resources, you have the FB profile of Xynthia, a fictitious character. By looking at her profile, identify reasons why this character could be a target of hate speech.
Next time you are online, try and find instances of hate speech. Where did they find it? What kind of hate speech did you find? Who were the targets of hate speech? Why do you consider it hate speech?
Hate speech can be present in schools; it could come from the students, but sadly, it can also come from the teachers and SMT. When coming across hate speech we can do two things: walk away as if we did not hear anything or else address it there and then. Many times we do not encounter it directly in class or at school, but our students are exposed to hate speech, maybe at home or elsewhere, and definitely online.
There are various steps that need to be taken.
1. Explore your feelings: (10 minutes)
Scenario: Christian student offers bacos to Muslim student, who takes one. As soon as she puts it in her mouth she realises it’s with bacon, spits it in her hand and goes to throw it in the bin. She apologises to the teacher who tells her, “You don’t mind cutting off people’s heads, but then you refuse to eat pork!”
As a spectator, how do you feel? Do you feel sad, helpless, angry, excited? Whatever that feeling is, measure it on a scale of one to ten, where ten is overwhelming and one is not intense at all. By assigning a number, you are creating an awareness, judging what’s going on, and more accurately determining what feelings you are having.
2. Practice:
Very often things happen fast and we barely have time to think before we address the students who have engaged in hate speech. Ask yourself these questions: What am I prepared to say? What am I prepared to do? How do I connect it to the pedagogy? If I am teaching history, for example, how is this connected? How do I make this a moment not just for now?
While you are practicing, think of the scenarios where you need to obtain outside help. An educator can’t shrink away from an immediate threat to a student, but he or she doesn’t have to act alone in restoring a sense of justice and order to a school community. Who else would be a resource, either inside your school or from the greater community?
