Overview
Since late 2018, the Teaching Council has been collaborating on an initiative under the same banner as the Human Rights Commission’s national campaign Give Nothing to Racism to create conversations around racism in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Teaching Council, as the professional body for all teachers, can support teachers to have safe and productive conversations around racism that result in changes to behaviour and practice as set out in Our Code, Our Standards | Ngā Tikanga Matatika, Ngā Paerewa, the profession’s guiding documents.
Unteach Racism aims to support teachers, in a staged approach, to identify, confront and dismantle racism in education.
This work has been designed specifically for teachers, leveraging your unique skills and opportunities to shape the hearts and minds of children and young people. It is not expected that you will teach students or complete all app modules and resources by a particular time.
It might feel scary or uncomfortable at times, but it is more important than ever to forge ahead. Self-reflection and frank, open conversations grounded in Our Code | Ngā Tikanga Matatika is the first step.
Unteach Racism aims to support teachers, in a staged approach, to identify, confront and dismantle racism in education.
This work has been designed specifically for teachers, leveraging your unique skills and opportunities to shape the hearts and minds of children and young people. It is not expected that you will teach students or complete all app modules and resources by a particular time.
It might feel scary or uncomfortable at times, but it is more important than ever to forge ahead. Self-reflection and frank, open conversations grounded in Our Code | Ngā Tikanga Matatika is the first step.
What does it mean to ‘unteach racism’?
Unteach recognises racism is learned and therefore can be unlearned.
We need our powerful teachers to head out each morning and think not just about what they’ll teach but what they’ll actively unteach, in order to lift the limits that society places on our children and young people.
Hear more from Lesley Hoskin, Teaching Council Chief Executive.
We need our powerful teachers to head out each morning and think not just about what they’ll teach but what they’ll actively unteach, in order to lift the limits that society places on our children and young people.
Hear more from Lesley Hoskin, Teaching Council Chief Executive.
Our Code, Our Standards | Ngā Tikanga Matatika, Ngā Paerewa
Regardless of role or setting, Our Code | Ngā Tikanga Matatika sets out the shared expectations of the profession that teachers aspire to and have agreed to uphold. It serves as a reminder of teachers’ obligations and responsibilities to others and the need to demonstrate high standards of professional behaviour in everything they do. Our Standards | Ngā Paerewa describe the essential professional knowledge in practice and professional relationships required for effective teaching and promotes high-quality teaching and leadership for all learners across all education settings.
Unteach Racism aligns to the behaviours and practices, as set out in Our Code, Our Standards | Ngā Tikanga Matatika, Ngā Paerewa and provides teachers with tools to demonstrate their commitment to, and meaningfully engage with, both documents.
Underpinning Our Code, Our Standards | Ngā Tikanga Matatika, Ngā Paerewa are Our Values | Ngā Uara - they define, inspire and guide teachers. Unteach Racism also provides teachers with ways to demonstrate the values.
Unteach Racism aligns to the behaviours and practices, as set out in Our Code, Our Standards | Ngā Tikanga Matatika, Ngā Paerewa and provides teachers with tools to demonstrate their commitment to, and meaningfully engage with, both documents.
Underpinning Our Code, Our Standards | Ngā Tikanga Matatika, Ngā Paerewa are Our Values | Ngā Uara - they define, inspire and guide teachers. Unteach Racism also provides teachers with ways to demonstrate the values.
The Teaching Council and the Human Rights Commission have partnered together under Give Nothing to Racism to develop an education response to racism.
Watch our video to hear more about the Teaching Council's partnership with the Human Rights Commission.
Joining together with other agencies
We have partnered with the NZ Human Rights Commission to develop Unteach Racism and we have been supported in this kaupapa by an expert thought leader group, along with a range of agencies who share the aspiration to dismantle racism in Aotearoa New Zealand. We are not the experts but have engaged with experts to ensure that the project is informed by best practice.
Partner agencies/expert thought leaders:
Other agencies contributing to this mahi and that we have a relationship with: