Issue 2
Learning through Lockdown
Contents Editorial team: Laura Katan, Thea Bichard, Niabh RowlandSimms, Lily Pinto, Yasmine Rahemtulla & Edith Johnson Front cover design by Olivia Manchon Back cover design by Emma Callaghan 3 – Foreword Overcoming Fear 5 – Intuitive scribble turned into a face, Rosie Glasse 6 – The void, Georgia Rubinstein 7 – Fear melters, Alakina Mann Confusion 9 – Self portrait, Maggie Stewart 10 – How do I feel today?, Emily Kenneally 11 – School before and after, Be Her Lead Autumn 2020 Cohort 12 – Ooze, Alakina Mann Love 14 – Lockdown flower, Joy Richardson 15 – Doodle, Anonymous 16 – Woman, Olivia Manchon 17, 22 – From the classroom, Tasha Fletcher 18 – Love scoops, Alakina Mann & Love wins, Emma Callaghan
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Contents continued Strength 20 – Portrait, Olivia Manchon 21 – This girl can, Emma Callaghan 23 – Meditation mandala, Rosie Glasse & Brave, Laura Covington 24 – A return, Kirsty Healey 25 – Sumo, Alakina Mann Connection 27 – Untitled, Olivia Manchon 28 – Movement, Alakina Mann 29 – World, Shirley Halse 30 – Untitled, Emma Callaghan 31 – Our children, Rachael McLaughlin 32 – Healthy relationships, Emma Callaghan Reading & Resources 33 – Be Her Lead book club, Priska Reynolds 36 – Links and recommendations 37 – Be Her Lead during lockdown
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Foreword
Collated during one of the most, if not the most, turbulent years of many of our lives, this zine is a collection of thoughts, ideas and emotions by teachers from around the country. Female-identifying teachers who have been experiencing this rollercoaster of rhetoric have shared with us some of the creative products of their online/offline, safe/unsafe journey: many artistic, some poetic, all poignant. Follow these creations through some of the emotions we have certainly felt at one point or another over the last year: confusion, fear, love and hope; we hope it brings you as much warmth as it did us. With our greatest thanks to all the wonderful contributors of this zine.
From the editorial team: Laura Katan, Thea Bichard, Niabh Rowland-Simms, Lily Pinto, Yasmine Rahemtulla & Edith Johnson
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Overcoming Fear
'Intuitive scribble turned into a face' Rosie Glasse
Rosie is an artist and illustrator based in Berlin, with experience working as a teaching assistant in schools and volunteering with refugees, and next year will begin her training as an art therapist in Sheffield. She led a BHL lockdown virtual coffee in November, using art therapy techniques to help teachers relax and express feelings that day.
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'The Void' Georgia Rubinstein Maths Teacher Park View School
"During the first lockdown when we were teaching from home, I created a piece of art I called 'The Void'. To me, it represents the darkness of the world but the shining light coming through. The light was the good things that came out of lockdown for me, like reconnecting with painting and self care. Painting really helped with my mental health during the first lockdown."
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Alakina Mann
Ali is an artist and psychosomatic coach. These illustrations were created to support stressed-out teachers, to accompany one of the first BHL lockdown virtual coffees.
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Confusion
Maggie Stewart Art Teacher, West London Free School
"It’s a self portrait of me in a face mask, half my face covered, raising questions about how you communicate, and how nonverbal communication changes, how eyes become more important etc."
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"I was feeling slightly claustrophobic, as I hadn't been outside in the sun all day. I'm going to use this piece I made with Rosie as a reminder to make sure I get outside at least once a day during lockdown."
Emily Kenneally Founder of Femigami
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‘School Before and After’ A collaborative poem by Be Her Lead’s Autumn 2020 Cohort Before lockdown, my school was thriving, buzzing A whirlwind, chaotic, disjointed Full of hustle and bustle. Before lockdown, my school was loud and fun It was my happy place, caring With tonnes of creative activities Now, my school is tired and stiff Taking things slower Eerily quiet and uncomfortable But calmer. Now, my school is masked up Sanitiser everywhere Covered in antibacterial spray Now my school is unable to hug We’re divided up Now, my school is drained But kinder to the kids, Still thriving.
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Alakina Mann
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Love
Joy Richardson Art Teacher, Capital City Academy
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'Lockdown Flower'
Antonia Ventura Languages Teacher, Bolder Academy “Loved this mindful doodle exercise and am so greatful to Be Her Lead and Rosie for helping me to unwind. My doodles turned into a woman with long blue hair relaxing on a big chair surrounded by leaves! The dream!“
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'Woman'
Olivia Manchon English and Media Studies Teacher, SEN Department Link, Equality and Diversity Champion Carlton le Willows Academy
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"As part of our early morning routine, I share ‘interesting news’ with the children. The children and I have read and seen so many good news stories come out of these sad times of other children, internationally and locally. I have been inspired by the keen interest they show and now share so much more with the children." – Tasha Fletcher Lead Primary Teacher, KS1
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Alakina Mann
Emma Callaghan
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Strength
'Portrait'
Olivia Manchon English and Media Studies Teacher, SEN Department Link, Equality and Diversity Champion Carlton le Willows Academy
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Emma Callaghan Art Teacher, Harris Academy Battersea
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"Sharing pens, pencils, glue sticks and playdough is no longer an option, so our youngest are learning how to manage a pencil case with all those goodies at their fingertips to fiddle with. Well, as any early years teacher can imagine, the first two weeks equalled total chaos! The children have also learnt that music lessons and art can be done online and still be fun and inspiring. We have even attended a Zoom concert!" – Tasha Fletcher Lead Primary Teacher, KS1
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Rosie Glasse
'Meditation Mandala'
Laura Covington Head of Humanities, Harris Academy Battersea
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'The Return' A return sweeter than the beginning is clarified by a substantial shift in my NQT psyche. No longer surviving rather enjoying savouring each eloquent exposition laid on my teacher desk. Scrunched brows of bemusement Smoothed, soothed and scaffolded into relaxation in realisation that education is the key to futures as yet unexplored. Yet sanitised hands that spring into the air with eager excitement, exploding with ideas and theories are hard to face with cold call hands down no shouting out ringing in my ears. Rules, routines and baseline tests seem to miss the bliss that comes with knowing that Yes, I am here for another year. A return sweeter than the beginning.
Kirsty Healey NQT Ark Evelyn Grace Academy English Teacher
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Alakina Mann
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Connection
Olivia Manchon English and Media Studies Teacher, SEN department link, Equality and Diversity Champion Carlton le Willows Academy
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Alakina Mann
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Shirley Halse Academic Tutor and Comedian Shirley is pregnant, and this is a representation of her baby's first view of the world!
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Emma Callaghan Art Teacher, Harris Academy Battersea
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Our Children They are mine. I have watched them grow from tiny little primary graduates Excited, nervous, A new school, new faces, new rules and a new world order. When they were eager to please, proud of their achievements Happy to share Happy to care about something other than their reputation. Now they are older. Four years later and they are taller. Jaded. Tired. Gagged by masks, sanitiser dripping from their hands Scared to get too close to anyone. Friends or foe. And they try not to make it obvious but they are still eager to please. Still proud of their achievements. They still care. Just hide it better. Those who do not know them would say they are Rude. Crude. Sullen. Sour. But they are not. They are Loud. Proud. Kind. Kindred. And scared. And when I leave Which soon I will I will feel the need to remind them of that and the fact that They are mine.
Rachael McLaughlin
English Teacher, Unity Academy Blackpool
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Emma Callaghan
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How 4 books have influenced my teaching perspective as a new, female trainee teacher. By Priska Reynolds At the beginning of lockdown, I felt as though I was losing a lot in my life: freedom, structure, sitting my final university exams, friendships, and opportunity. Zoom was not the fixture in my life back in March that it is today. And I did not know how I was going to get from March to the beginning of my teacher training year with Teach First. I picked up a book again for pleasure in April for the first time in a long time. This is not a blog about what reading gave to me in a time when everything was uncertain and, honestly, terrifying. Instead, I want to tell you how just 4 (sort of 5) books, which I have read since April, have shaped my teacher persona and shown me how I can be a champion for my pupils. Book 1: Roxane Gay’s Bad Feminist (in particular: ‘A Tale of Two Profiles’) ‘A Tale of Two Profiles’ is Gay’s analysis of Trayvon Martin’s murder, and the trial of George Zimmerman where the question was essentially: ‘did Trayvon Martin deserve to die?’. Unfortunately, the system answered ‘yes’ when it let Zimmerman walk free. Gay describes the societal and legal implications of what it means to be black and male – a lethal combination. The brain likes to create shortcuts and generalise, otherwise our lives would be exhausting! We would spend our days relearning basic functional skills. These shortcuts can be useful, but also dangerous – when the brain makes automatic judgements and generalisations about people.Images in the media, the news, characters in movies are telling our brains: black = danger. Our brains think it is true. As Gay comments, ‘when Trayvon Martin was murdered, certain people worked overtime to uncover his failings, even though he was the victim.’ People worked overtime to prove Martin was dangerous, because what else could a black man be, right?Teachers can think negatively of black students, too. Is it a coincidence that black students are excluded more often than many of their counterparts – even for hairstyles?If we listen to our brains’ conclusion of ‘black = bad’, then how could we ever give every child in our classes a high-quality education? I will listen to my brain when it says 2 + 2 = 4, but I won’t be so quick to listen when it tells me that the black pupil at the back is not worth it.
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Book 2: Tara Westover’s Memoir Educated The power of education to create compassion, understanding and to break cycles. In the book, Tara has a difficult relationship with her father, and her home life is, at times, terrifying – to read, let alone to live. However, she defies the expectations set for her and she goes to college and excels. While there, she learns about bipolar disorder and mental health, and comes to the realisation that her father has been living with bipolar disorder. She gains a whole new understanding and empathy for her father’s behaviour. Westover’s life story shows the power of education and access to change lives, relationships and communities. Without that education, she may never have understood her father’s choices and behaviour, and she may never have come to terms with the trauma she experienced consequently. Today, a lot of people are calling on others to read about marginalised voices, and to educate themselves and this memoir speaks to why that cause is so important: education and books allow people to learn and be heard. Education can create a more compassionate, inclusive society that does not fall back on hateful narratives and gut reactions, but rather takes time to listen, care and understand. Book 3: Holly Bourne’s The Places I’ve Cried in Public This book is an exploration of an abusive teenage relationship, and how Amelie comes to terms with her trauma and mixed emotions after Reese. This book is why I was particularly happy to find a company like BHL and their virtual coffee meetings, because the women in those meetings talk so sensitively, and so intelligently about issues girls face which often go unspoken, and how to empower girls to speak up when something does not feel right. Regardless of whether everyone says she is ‘overreacting’ about it.For my entire reading experience of the book, I just thought, ‘I wish Amelie could see that feeling this way in a relationship, muting your own feelings and achievements so the other person feels better – these are not part of a “normal” teenage experience.’ Unfortunately, society has normalised the idea that love must be painful. This idea is sold to young people every day from birth: ‘oh, if he pulls your hair, he likes you’; ‘I’m sure he didn’t mean it like that, he just loves you so much.’
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It should not be normalised. Quite frankly, we should be strongly inspecting everything society has deemed ‘normal’, because ‘normal’ is quite a destructive word, in my experience. Book 4: Zeba Talkhani’s My Past Is a Foreign Country Last, but not least: Zeba Talkhani. In the UK, we have the idea that we are very progressive and have never really been on the wrong side of history (this blog post is, unfortunately, not to unpick that either). Talkhani’s school experience was the following: Teachers, professors and peers needed her to be oppressed and miserable, because that fit their idea of the narrative living in Saudi Arabia. When she did not fit into those boxes, people stopped listening to her and aggressively shut her out. This is another phenomenon of the brain named ‘the backfire effect’. Instead of accepting contradictory narratives (contradictory to our preconceived notions), people hold ever more firmly on to their pre-existing beliefs. We all like to be right. We do not like to change our minds publicly. This book showed me the damage that pre-existing beliefs do to young people who are just trying to be seen for who they really are and trying to offer their viewpoint. The most important thing we can do, as teachers, is not be like the people who left Talkhani out of those spaces. She found her voice, but how many other women like her were discouraged and decided to change their narrative to ‘fit in’? Inclusivity in the world, and in the classroom, means seeing and accepting everyone for who they are, not for what we need/wish them to be.
Priska Reynolds is a trainee teacher currently on the Teach First Programme, starting teaching in September 2020. She is passionate about equipping young people with the skills to be more than what society tells them they can be.
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A collection of resources to help you through the lockdown days and nights... Podcasts to daily exercise to:
Books to inspire and captivate: How We Disappeared – Jing-Jing Lee More Than a Woman – Caitlin Moran What I Talk About When I Talk About Running – Haruki Murakami Three Women – Lisa Taddeo How Do We Know We’re Doing it Right? – Pandora Sykes Girl, Woman, Other – Bernadine Evaristo Untamed – Glennon Doyle Transitional – Munroe Bergdorf Hamnet – Maggie O’Farrell The Salt Path – Raynor Winn The Girl and the Goddess, Nikita Gill Patsy, Nicole Dennis-Benn Purple Hibiscus, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie This Bridge Called My Back – ed. by Anzaldúa and Moraga The Good Immigrant – ed. by Nikesh Shukla Happy Mum, Happy Baby – Giovanna Fletcher Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens Queenie – Candice Carty-Williams
Grounded with Louis Theroux Tes: My Best Teacher Fortunately… with Fi and Jane I Weigh with Jameela Jamil TED Talks Daily The Guilty Feminist Ctrl Alt Delete – Emma Gannon Hurry Slowly Griefcast – Cariad Lloyd Happy Place – Fearne Cotton Revisionist History Woman’s Hour – BBC Radio 4 The Secret Life of Teachers What Would The Aunties Say? The Happiness Lab Rebel Eaters Club GEN-Teach (BHL teacher Damali’s podcast) Be Her Lead Spotify playlist Black Gals Livin’ Nobody Panic The Receipts Podcast Deliciously Ella Grape Culture Table Manners Growing with the Flow
Mental health support: Anxiety UK – charity to support if you have been diagnosed with anxiety [www.anxietyuk.org.uk] CALM Campaign Against Living Miserably [www.thecalmzone.net] Headspace – free to educators during the lockdown [www.headspace.com/educators] Mind [www.mind.org.uk] SANE – emotional support for families of those living with mental illness [www.sane.org.uk/supportforum] Samaritans [www.samaritans.org.uk] Young Minds – information on support for young people suffering with mental health problems [www.youngminds.org.uk] Books That Matter – feminist book subscription service [www.booksthatmatter.co.uk] The Daily Good – wellbeing newsletter [www.thegoodtrade.com/the-daily-good]
What we do We empower women in teaching to build resilience, foster wellbeing, and raise the aspirations of girls in their schools. Our programme trains teachers to lead transformative workshops targeted at teenage girls. We foster an expanding network of teachers, educators and supporters, working together towards our mission.
Why we do it UK students have the lowest happiness levels in Europe, and teenage girls are disproportionately affected. Self-harm, body image and eating disorders are all on the rise. Coronavirus is exacerbating existing inequalities related to gender – including economic inequality, domestic violence and online sexual harassment. Sexism in schools is rife, and our system is not dealing with it effectively. A third of 16–18-year-old girls have experienced unwanted sexual touching at school, and the majority of students don't report incidents to teachers.
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in lockdown Despite school closures, we have continued to run our programme as much as we can. The pandemic has brought home the need to do something about girls' and teachers' wellbeing, as well as prompting us to innovate and work to become more actively antiracist and inclusive. Teachers have delivered Be Her Lead workshops online and used online spaces to stay connected with girls in their groups. We've supported and educated teachers through our virtual coffee series and upcoming conference. This zine, the follow-up to our 'Girls in Lockdown' zine published at the end of the first lockdown in 2020, is a way of connecting and amplifying the voices of those in our community.
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about our zine project Be Her Lead is a non-profit social enterprise that empowers women in teaching to build resilience, foster wellbeing, and raise the aspirations of girls in their schools. In 2020 we published the first issue of our zine, 'Girls in Lockdown', to amplify the voices of teenage girls locked down around the country. This second issue, 'Learning through Lockdown', offers a platform to femaleidentifying teachers and educators, and continues the creative conversation about experiences of the pandemic. If you would like to contribute to the next issue of the Be Her Lead zine, email zine@beherlead.com To find out more about our work in schools, go to www.beherlead.com
Editorial team: Laura Katan, Thea Bichard, Niabh Rowland-Simms, Lily Pinto, Yasmine Rahemtulla & Edith Johnson Cover designs by Olivia Manchon & Emma Callaghan