Food for thought
Four children or young people are selected as volunteers and given a four-foot long ruler with a spoon
attached to the end of it. A marshmallow or a piece of fruit is placed on the spoon and the volunteers
are asked to get the food into their own mouths (which is really quite difficult to do) by turning the
ruler-spoon round towards their mouths. They are not to bend down to get to the food. The children
must turn the ruler-spoon and bring it to their mouths.
The audience or other learners can be asked how to solve this problem. With some luck, somebody
will suggest that the pupils ought to use their ruler-spoon to feed each other.
Conclusion
We can learn to solve problems together when we see things from a different perspective.
Learn to see things from someone else's point of view
Some people think their point of view is always right or is always best and become very intolerant of
other people's views. For example, with religion, some people think their religion is better than another
person's religion. Instead of living together peacefully and happily some people will fight or hate each
other. When people of the same religion start disagreeing or hating each other, this is called
sectarianism. When people of different faith groups (eg Christians and Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus)
start disagreeing or hating each other, this is called religious hatred or bigotry.
Before we judge people, we ought to think about things from their point of view.
Have a look at this picture – what do you see?
It should be possible to see a man playing a musical instrument and also the face of a young girl.
The theme of stereotyping and prejudice could be explored further by discussing how we could
change this by thinking differently.
In the area of sectarianism and religious prejudice, learners could be asked to think of ways we
stereotype or think about different religious and belief groups.
How can we achieve a better understanding of each other?