On the 8th December HipHopEd UK curated the London Association of Teachers of English (LATE) conference at the BFI on London's Southbank.
Facilitated by Darren Chetty (@rapclassroom) the event saw presentations on a range of topics around the conference title of Amplifying English.
Darren introduced the work of HipHopEd before handing over to HipHopEd UK veterans (since 2011 anyway) Kate Ryan, Sam Berkson, myself and special guest presenter Paula Varjack who we had asked to return to HipHopEd to present an abridged version of an amazing performance lecture on the ethics of appropriating (sampling) other artists' work.
Kate shared some of the wor of her students that centred around critical thinking, creative expression and decolonisation of the curriculum while Sam Berskon spoke about using Roots Manuva as a way in to teaching the poetry of Thomas Hardy in an alternative provision for excluded students in Hackney. I presented on the idea of the cypher and how this ritual of Hip-hop can be adapted to engage students and create autonomy in the classroom.
Following the presentations there were workshops linked to the presentation themes run by LATE teachers. The workshops were engaging and generated much enthusiastic discussion.
It was great to see practitioners who have not engaged with HipHopED UK before doing this work in their classrooms already and it was a great opportunity to link with like-minded teachers.
The event ended with an informal lunch where the chat and feedback reflected an engaging, informative and inspiring set of discussions. With a full mailing list sign up sheet and a few social media contacts we all went our separate ways; many to probably plan for the week ahead, even thought it was only Saturday - such is the life of an English teacher too often.
It is refreshing and uplifting to see that this work is beginning to find traction with a new generation of teachers as well as with more experienced pedagogues who recognise the potential for creating activities, curricula and an ethos for learning that roots itself in the experiential validity of our complex and diverse young people,particularly those from marginalised backgrounds who are so often neglected and ignored by our educational policy makers and by too many school leaders and teachers who are tasked to cater for them,
HipHopEd UK has was set up to champion the cause of those young people for whom the educational system is not designed; for those who see school as an extension of an unjust and prejudiced state, and for those who deserve the promise of a free education for all delivered upon.
Want to know more about HipHopEd UK?
Find us on Twitter using the hashtag: #hiphoped
Sign up to our mailing list at: hiphopeduk@gmail.com
Check out our blog at:
https://ukhiphopedblog.wordpress.com
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