The Scottish Executive is pushing forward in the challenge to end the scourge of sectarianism in Scotland by releasing more teaching materials for schools.
A training DVD, Challenging Sectarianism: anti-sectarian education in practice, has been released as well as a revamped website which offers new sources of material to support work with youngsters on issues surrounding sectarianism. The anti-sectarian website also includes a section on Islam and Islamaphobia.
Featured in the DVD is a drama teacher working with St Michael's Primary and St Joseph's College, both in Dumfries. A youth work section in the DVD features youngsters from the Tullochan Trust in Alexandria.
The new resources have been welcomed by Deputy Education Minister Robert Brown.
Speaking at Castlemilk's St Margaret Mary's Secondary School - winner of the One Scotland Anti-Sectarianism Award at this year's Scottish Education Awards –Brown said: "For too long Scotland has lived with the scourge of sectarianism. But the time has come to stamp it out.
"By working with young people and helping them understand and celebrate religious diversity, we can build a generation for whom sectarianism will be part of their history - not their daily lives."
St Margaret Mary's headteacher Pat Scanlon said:
"I have no doubt that schools have an important role to play in developing and cultivating positive, enlightened attitudes and every day in St Margaret Mary's we encourage our young people to be open to the needs of all people.
"Our school ethos is founded on respect for others and I'm delighted that this project has been such a powerful contributor to the national campaign to promote tolerance and respect, and that, in the words on our promotional material, we have made a significant contribution in helping to 'Kick Bigotry Out'."
The release of the new materials follows the publication earlier in the year of the Scottish Executive’s new Action Plan on Tackling Sectarianism – almost one year after a major summit on the issue was led by First Minister Jack McConnell in February 2005.
Rangers, Celtic and the Scottish Football Association will all be invited to take part in a follow-up summit to be reconvened towards the end of the year.
The Executive's web-based anti-sectarian education resource - Sectarianism: Don't Give It, Don't Take It - was launched in March 2005 to provide teachers and youth workers with a range of materials for raising the issues surrounding sectarianism with young people. It also contains some materials for young people to use themselves.
St Margaret Mary's won the One Scotland Anti-Sectarianism Award for their Kick Bigotry Out project, which saw pupils tackle bigotry by selling specially manufactured footballs to raise money for charities.