This afternoon the Year 4 children were treated to an 'exhibition' of break dancing from a very special guest. Helen Taylor from Plymouth's EMAS service returned for the second of our sessions on Asylum Seekers and Refugees. The children were able to learn the very real plight of asylum seekers through the eloquent story of Tobiasz Gorniak, a Polish gypsy who came to Britain at the age of 14. Attacked in his own country for being a 'gypsy' his mother made the hard decision to move her family to the UK, rather than find one of her sons dead from the beatings that were frequent. Toby himself was attacked after a shopping trip for his mother and ended up in hospital. Arriving in Britain wasn't easy - they didn't speak English and on his first day at school he was asked to produce his homework! Support was given by EMAS and through special English lessons Toby is now fluent not only in Polish and English, but Gypsy, German and Czech. Prejudice was evident even here in Plymouth but Toby's talent for break dancing, which he had learnt on the streets of Poland with his friends, meant that he could draw attention to his talent rather than any difference. Luckily for Toby many people wanted to help him and he is now in the run up to opening his own Dancing School. He currently teaches dance to over 600 children across East Cornwall and Plymouth.
Kate H was extremely eloquent in being able to describe the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee, making the clear defintition that a refugee is someone who was an asylum seeker but has been told they can stay. It took five years for Toby's family to be told they could stay here! The quote of the day has to go to Matthew M
It doesn't matter who you are.
How true!
Toby reminded the children that it is OK to have perceptions but you should always keep an open mind. Year 4 have certainly shown a real maturity in their thoughts and discussions around this topic. Let's hope they will challenge prejudice and welcome differences in their lives.
Here is a video highlighting some of our afternoon with Toby!
Part One
and Part 2
See more of Toby on O2 It's Your Community - Street Factory and on the BBC website
5 comments:
I felt really sorry for Toby but lucky him he got his own dance school. My Uncle Dean knows Toby he does break dancing with him. My uncle is in Beat breakers.
i like toby when i saw him break dance i just thought wow i wish i could dance like that
i realy like toby he was the best break dancer ive ever repeat EVER seen wow oh my i want to learn to break dance like that it was so cool year 4 are very lucky to have teachers that ask people to come in but to help us learn and have fun
I really liked it when toby came to our school to talk about his life i felt really sorry for him!!!
It was really cool when he came in because i did not exspect him to be a break dancer i felt really sorry for Toby!!!!!!!!!
Post a Comment