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Children's question time : Hidden Voices

Click here for a webquest on Local democracy and visiting the Town Hall How is Tower Hamlets local government going to change your life? In 2005, Primary Schools met with Kevan Collins, the then newly appointed Director of Children’s Services, within three weeks of him starting in his post. Local primary school councillors interviewed Kevan about his job. Click on their questions and find our what he has to say. (You need a Quicktime Player to watch the clips. If you don't have one, click here to download a free Quicktime Player)
Questions: What inspired you to start this scheme (Every Child Matters)? How do you feel about helping the borough? How can we use these issues in our schools? Do you like the mentor scheme that some schools use? How can we get things that we need from our teachers? How do you plan to encourage more people to recycle? How can we earn more money for our school council?

More questions: How can we help children our age understand that they have just as much rights as adults? What are you going to do about racism and prejudice? What are you going to do about bullying? How are you going to do this? What would you do with school councils to make the school a safer place? Why do people vandalise and what is going to be done about it? Will you ask government to make a law about sharing cars to lower pollution? Do you think that people follow rules?
How do you feel about your job? When did you start this scheme (Every Child Matters)? Does this mean that you like helping children? Who introduced you to the job? When you were younger did you have any rights? When your children grow-up do you want them to do the same work as you? Are you proud of your decisions? How do you plan to make schools better?

On Thursday 20th September 2005, children and teachers from 14 Tower Hamlets primary schools attended a day on school councils run by the Humanities Education Centre and Article 12. As well as interviewing Kevan Collins they all looked at the five areas of the Children’s Act: Safety, Health, Enjoy and Achievement, Participation, Economic Wellbeing. They brainstormed how activities of their school councils and students could contribute to these areas. Click here to download their brainstorms word document.

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