Agenda item

Notice of Motion given by Councillor Nikki Sharpe

That this Council:

 

(a)       supports the Early Day Motion proposed by Alan Meale MP to Keep Mary Seacole on the national curriculum;

 

(b)       is aware of history which records the many heroic and compassionate acts carried out unselfishly by renowned war nursing heroine Mary Seacole for innumerable wounded soldiers injured on the Crimean War's bloody battlefields;

 

(c)        notes her efforts have rightly become part of the nation's schools educational curriculum with further recognition of her contribution shortly to be revealed by the unveiling of a large bronze statue in her memory to be erected in the grounds of St Thomas' Hospital facing the Houses of Parliament;

 

(d)       is therefore greatly alarmed by reports that the Secretary of State for Education has announced plans to overhaul the core history content taught to our nation's schoolchildren which won't include the story of her exploits on behalf of others;

 

(e)       further notes that the teaching of Black historical figures is widely recognised to be beneficial to the success of Black pupils and in closing the GCSE achievement gap and indeed it is to the advantage of pupils from all backgrounds in our increasingly diverse schools and society, and that Mary Seacole, as a Jamaican/Scottish figure, is a positive role model and is well-respected in NHS circles;

 

(f)         is also aware that Mary Seacole is the only Black figure to feature in the national curriculum not connected to civil rights or enslavement and removing someone who was voted by the public the Greatest Black Briton (100greatblackbritons.com) sends out the wrong signals, and believes we should be taught more Black history not less;

 

(g)       believes the children of Sheffield, and indeed the nation, are best served by being reminded of such unselfishness and hopes the Secretary of State will desist in his attempt to undermine her memory; and

 

(h)        calls upon our local Members of Parliament to support the campaign to lobby the Government to retain inclusion of Mary Seacole in the national curriculum.

Minutes:

 

Mary Seacole and the National Curriculum

 

 

 

RESOLVED: On the Motion of Councillor Nikki Sharpe, seconded by Councillor Mary Lea, that this Council:-

 

 

 

 

(a)

supports the Early Day Motion proposed by Alan Meale MP to Keep Mary Seacole on the national curriculum;

 

 

 

 

(b)

is aware of history which records the many heroic and compassionate acts carried out unselfishly by renowned war nursing heroine Mary Seacole for innumerable wounded soldiers injured on the Crimean War's bloody battlefields;

 

 

 

 

(c)

notes her efforts have rightly become part of the nation's schools educational curriculum with further recognition of her contribution shortly to be revealed by the unveiling of a large bronze statue in her memory to be erected in the grounds of St Thomas' Hospital facing the Houses of Parliament;

 

 

 

 

(d)

is therefore greatly alarmed by reports that the Secretary of State for Education has announced plans to overhaul the core history content taught to our nation's schoolchildren which won't include the story of her exploits on behalf of others;

 

 

 

 

(e)

further notes that the teaching of Black historical figures is widely recognised to be beneficial to the success of Black pupils and in closing the GCSE achievement gap and indeed it is to the advantage of pupils from all backgrounds in our increasingly diverse schools and society, and that Mary Seacole, as a Jamaican/Scottish figure, is a positive role model and is well-respected in NHS circles;

 

 

 

 

(f)

is also aware that Mary Seacole is the only Black figure to feature in the national curriculum not connected to civil rights or enslavement and removing someone who was voted by the public the Greatest Black Briton (100greatblackbritons.com) sends out the wrong signals, and believes we should be taught more Black history not less;

 

 

 

 

(g)

believes the children of Sheffield, and indeed the nation, are best served by being reminded of such unselfishness and hopes the Secretary of State will desist in his attempt to undermine her memory; and

 

 

 

 

(h)

calls upon our local Members of Parliament to support the campaign to lobby the Government to retain inclusion of Mary Seacole in the national curriculum.