Teacher’s notes
Jen Reid

Links to the National Curriculum for Key Stage 3 History

Students will gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts, understanding the connections between national and international history; between cultural, economic, military and political history.

This lesson would easily fit into schemes of learning on the following topics:

● Political power, industry and empire.

● Britain as the first industrial nation – the impact on society.

● The development of the British Empire, party politics and social reform.

● Britain’s Transatlantic Slave Trade: its effects and its eventual abolition

● The History of protest and/or civil rights movements.

● The lesson is also relevant to Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural SMSC development

This lesson follows the enquiry question:

The lesson gives students the ability to be reflective about their own non religious beliefs and perspective on life, their knowledge of, and respect for, different people’s feelings and values.

It will build their understanding of the history of Britain from the earliest times to the present day: Especially how the actions and views of people in Jamaica have shaped this nation.

It offers the opportunity to develop reasoned views about moral and ethical issues. Giving students a chance to understand and appreciate the viewpoints of others on historical issues.

Poem

A SURGE OF POWER

Bristol 2020 was a monumental year People stood together overcoming fear

40 years after the St Paul’s Uprising set the ball rolling Greta Thunberg, Black Lives Matter and Jen Reid came calling

Reigniting a flame that has always existed Revolutionaries marched politicians resisted Now this for Bristol wasn’t an unusual act

Since its conception people in Bristol have stood against tyranny and that’s a fact Battles, uprisings, riots and protests are all steeped in Bristol’s past And no doubt moving forward these will not be Bristol’s last

Edward Colston was toppled rocking Bristol to its core The world checked in Bristol couldn’t hide anymore From a hero to a villain in the blink of an eye People divided not all could understand why

Bristol was apologetic, scared, reactive Histories told suddenly had a new narrative

Then seemingly out of the blue a new statue appeared Displaying no permission required an attitude the city feared

Jen Reid had returned immortalised as a Surge of Power Championed as Bristol institutions and politicians cower

It’s swift removal was the action required is what the ruling classes would say Which is quite ironic when you look at how long Colston’s was allowed to stay

To many people this action didn’t fit any rhyme or reason It was as if it’s existence was viewed as an act of treason

Nevertheless it signified yet another triumphant and defiant moment in Bristol’s and its people’s journey When Jen Reid stood tall and proud, fist clenched for justice and equality instead of bowing down on bended knee

Humanity matters was the call that drove a generation To stand together, unified, demanding no more segregation

Lawrence Hoo

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