Ranelagh pupils check out Stratford’s archives to discover Newham’s past and future

A journey into Newham’s historical past and the way migrants have helped to create the multi-cultural borough that it is today was unveiled to pupils from Ranelagh Primary School when they delved into the archives at Stratford Library.

The visit was just one of many that Ranelagh’s pupils have been on as part of this year’s South West Newham Education Action Zone Citizenship Week.

Groups from both the school’s Year 2 and 5 classes were taken on a tour of the archives to learn about the changing face of Newham through the many pictures, objects and maps kept in the library.

Local Studies Officer, Jenni Munro-Collins, led the two workshops. Working with the Year 2 classes, Jenni showed pupils pictures taken of people from the 1800s that were living in the area and aksed them to guess their profession and the country they came from.

“I started off by asking them about where their parents, grandparents and family came from. Then we looked at the history of the Borough, back to 1840, and the different ethnic cultures that set up in Newham. We also looked at how the Victoria Dock had changed using old family photo’s from the archives, they could see who lived and worked in their streets and houses then, and the different religious groups around. Then we asked the children to explain what changes they were able to see.”   “The kids were very enthusiastic,” explained Jenni.

With the Year 5 classes, Jenni also looked at a number of maps dating back to 1777 to show the pupils the Barking Road and Canning Town at the time, compared to how it looks today. They were also able to relate it to where they live now.

“We looked at the different people living and working in 1777 when it was marshland and a working dock with sailors. We also produced a census from 100 years ago so we could show some of them who had previously lived in their house. They were so interested in the subject that they didn’t want to go at the end,” added Jenni.

Ranelagh’s Citizenship Week Coordinator, Sehnaj Patel, said the trip to Stratford Library has been a cultural and heritage journey for the pupils and had allowed them to see how much Newham has changed and the parts people have played in changing the face of Newham.

“It not only showed that we are all special, but how we have all contributed to Newham’s change and so ties in very well with this year’s Citizenship Week theme, ‘Children like me…’, said Senja. Well over six thousand children from the partnership of 15 SWNEAZ primary schools have taken part in a selection of activities to celebrate Citizenship Week 2009, which culminates on the eve of World Book Week, 4 March 2009 with an Awards Day for winners, their parents and programme sponsors at East Ham Town Hall, with prizes awarded by the Children’s Poet Laureate, Michael Rosen.

The event, which is organised by Lyn Senior of Newham Education Business Partnership (NEBP) on behalf of the schools, is now in its eighth successful year.

Each year the schools work to a new theme. This year’s theme has focused on “Children like me….” on the school, the local community, the UK and around the world to give pupils a better understanding of their local and wider community, as well as raising the profile of what is it to be a good citizen. Details of the activities can be found at the South West Newham EAZ website and by selecting Citizenship Week 2009.

Two activities worth noting this year are: ‘Question Time’ which saw pupils putting questions to a panel of key players promoting Peace in our Neighbourhoods, including the Young Mayor and his Youth Council reps, plus a ‘Tate & Lyle Competition’ which saw ALL the pupils writing persuasive poems, with the older children reflecting on ‘What it is to be British’.

New this year for pupils have been visits to Hackney Museum, which investigates matters of immigration, and the Law Courts in Stratford where pupils were treated to a mock trial.