MAV Blog 4th Entry – 24/10/16
Monday 24/10 saw our final week of preparation for all the S6 Intern groups before going into S2 and S3 PSE classes over the next fortnight to deliver the information we have been taught through the interactive activities we have planned.
Our group quickly solidified plans for our first lesson: we decided that we would focus on alcohol in relation to violence. The consensus in the group was that this issue would be the most relatable for all pupils.
With the topic chosen, we created our first lesson’s planned structure. After making our introductions and watching one of the supplied DVDs with the class, we will divide our class into groups of 5-6 and lead a discussion using some bullet points on the interactive board in the classroom for stimulus. This will be focussed around the types of people who are most likely to be affected by alcohol intake; as well as responses to alcohol on the system.
For our second lesson, the week after the first, we want to lead new activities to ensure the lessons wouldn’t become repetitive. We plan to have a 5-minute recap on the first lesson. We will then split the class off into the same groups as the week previous and ask them to complete a mind map activity. With this, we want the younger pupils to be considering the concepts surrounding the consequences of violence on those affected by it. Deciding these issues and making them age-appropriate, however, was a challenge. Almost everyone in our group has studied social sciences at Higher and Advanced Higher levels, so ‘removing ourselves’ from this mindset into that of an S2 or S3 pupil was an interesting challenge.
Next week, I will be attending a MAV Information Evening alongside Mrs Morgan, who has spearheaded the MAV project, and a number of other Boclair MAV Interns. This will be a great opportunity to speak to other professionals – teachers, police, medical professionals &c. – whom are all interested in becoming involved in the MAV programme and wish to see what the experience is like from our perspective.
Coming up is a busy fortnight, amidst delivering the S2/ S3 lessons and attending the Information Evening- the culmination of the MAV Intern programme is nigh! I for one can’t wait to see what lies ahead.
– Jacob, S6
MAV Blog 3rd Entry – 03/10/16
The MAV Intern programme is training all pupils in S6 to create lesson plans for S2 and S3 PSE which we will implement in order to spread MAV’s message. This week’s MAV session was the first where we were able to think about our own lessons: after a presentation from two more of MAV’s campaigners- who provided great insight from front-line experience of the damage caused by bladed weapons – we split off into peer groups and began to consider lesson plans.
Myself, Jack D, Calum C, Aimee M, Rosie S, Grant M and Louise H formed a group and began to choose what topics we’d like to cover. Our brief was fairly simple: over the next few weeks, we were to create lesson plans for two PSE lessons. The start of the first lesson is to involve a 20-minute video from the ones we have been shown, and thereafter the S6 group has free reign of the lesson!
The idea of S6 pupils commanding lessons rather than MAV experts may, at first, seem odd. After all, we don’t have a fraction of the knowledge, experience or qualifications of one of the experts from MAV. However, the logic is very simple: a message coming from an older peer to whom the junior pupils ‘look up to’ carries far more weight than an outside expert coming in and speaking them. When the information is coming from someone with whom they have a connection, it is much more relatable. This means that the message we are sending to the younger pupils is more likely to be taken in and believed.
As we progress through the MAV Intern programme, we are all looking forward to taking the younger pupils’ PSE lessons, and being able to deliver the important message which MAV has given us, in a meaningful way to the younger pupils. Although something of a daunting prospect (2 full lessons is a long time when you’re not used to teaching!), this is a great opportunity and I’m sure it will produce great results.
-Jacob, S6
MAV Blog – 2nd Entry
After a week away from the MAV Intern project for other work, we were joined on Monday 5th September by two more speakers from Medics Against Violence to further explore some of the complex issues surrounding violence and knife crime.
In the course of the video, we were also acquainted with the story or Mark Scott; a particularly harrowing example of a young boy who was ‘blindsided’. He was attacked from the rear walking home from a football game by a man carrying a blade, who had been drinking in the pub they walked past. Mark was stabbed in the back and later died in hospital. The video interview with Mark’s mother (who started in his memory a charity with similar aims to MAV) showed how far-reaching this one mindless act of violence was; ruining several lives as well as ending Mark’s. He was only 16 when he was stabbed.
After the video clip ended, we took the remainder of the time to discuss with the MAV speakers the impact of the video and also to discuss issues or concerns it raised, with a view forwards to the lessons we would run for the S2 and S3 pupils in PSE classes. This conversation time was extremely valuable as it left no topic off-limits, so real issues could be talked about and valuable answers given.
This was another very positive MAV meeting and it really opened our eyes to the very real dangers that surround us. We have to stick together and keep each other safe which is why I think this opportunity is such a great one. All the 6th years taking part in MAV can’t wait to get started with taking the S2/3 PSE lessons and continue the great work that MAV do.
– Jacob, S6
MAV Blog- 1st Entry
The MAV Intern programme is unique to Boclair Academy. Medics Against Violence is a Scottish charity made up of medical professionals and grassroots workers who work with young people to dissuade them from taking part in violence. MAV workers have been coming to Boclair for several years. However, in 2015, they created the MAV Intern programme which meant that rather than MAV campaigners simply coming in and presenting to the youngest pupils of the school, they would train S6 pupils who could then take the message to the younger pupils through PSE lessons by having interactive presentations. The intention was that younger pupils are more likely to believe what they are told by older peers whom they idolise, rather than teachers or other adult professionals.
After being introduced to the campaigners from MAV, we were shown a short film about the violence in Glasgow. This was fairly graphic and showed in gory detail the damage that knife violence can do both to the victim, and the perpetrator.
Thereafter, we were able to split off into smaller groups and have a closer discussion with a MAV campaigner. During this part of the lesson, I met Dez. Dez is a grassroots campaigner for MAV who started working with the charity as an Events Organiser after two separate stints in prison. Dez’s stories about how he got involved in two violent situations, both of which resulted in convictions. Then, how he now had a family of his own and realised that prison was not the right place to be, made him turn his life around. His true, heartfelt stories made us all realise that the work MAV carries out really makes a difference. It also hammered home the fantastic opportunity we have to work with MAV and, with the utmost belief, we could then take this message to the younger pupils of the school.
I’m very much looking forward to seeing how the programme develops over the next few weeks!
– Jacob, S6
