Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1475004
15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 JULY 2022 NEWS ties at school prepares students for life," Lisa explains. In defence of the crucifix But both educators strongly deny that MEET is an attempt at imposing a secular world view in what is ultimately a Catho- lic school. One of the rumours, they strongly refute is that cru- cifixes have been removed from classes in the college. "The cross has not only nev- er been removed but is actively celebrated as a symbol of Chris- tian identity. Inclusion does not mean dismantling one's own cultural identity and we are proud of the school's identity as a Catholic school. In the same way we would never expect Muslim students to remove the hijab. In this sense our approach is very different from that of French secularism. Our aim is not to cancel identities but to nurture them," Andrew says. But what would happen if a student starts expressing funda- mentalist views in this cultural exchange? Andrew says that he would welcome the challenge. "A lot of good often comes from what pedagogists describe as a crisis. The fact that the fundamentalist engages with others is already a starting point. For fundamen- talism of whatever kind thrives in echo chambers not encoun- ters." But religion is not the only main focus of MEET. Lisa says she was looking forward to the intake of female students in the secondary school commencing this September because gender is also an important aspect of identity. So is the social class and ethnic background of both teachers and students, she adds. From 'basla' to 'Gahan' One of the ice breakers for the lessons is a discussion about onions, which emphasises the multi-layered identity of each one of us. "On one level we discuss prej- udice conveyed by the Maltese term basla (onion) while at an- other level we discuss the dif- ferent layers when one slices an onion," they tell me. The onion is a metaphor for a society in which individuals cannot be reduced to one single and fixed identity. Another ice breaker is a dis- cussion about Ġaħan, the fic- tional character found in the lore of different Mediterranean cultures, who on one level is presented as an embodiment of stupidity spurring a discussion on stereotypes, but who on an- other level represents the unity in diversity across different cul- tures. The subject reintroduces Gahan as someone who chal- lenges common sense interpre- tations of the world. From St Albert to the world MEET also encourages a dis- cussion informed by current events. One of the topics dis- cussed this year was the war in Ukraine, the teachers tell me. "This was discussed from dif- ferent angles including that of students whose identities have been shaped by other conflicts like that in Palestine." A benefit of cultural encoun- ters is that of encouraging stu- dents to move away from echo chambers, where they only meet others of a similar identity. One of Andrew's greatest sat- isfactions is that students par- ticipating in MEET are learning to engage with others who are different from them. He fondly recalls how three Muslim stu- dents who initially exempted themselves from religion classes changed their mind after partic- ipating in MEET. "The students told me that af- ter participating in MEET they changed their view that Chris- tians wanted to convert them or did not respect them. Now they even attend religion classes out of interest without fearing that we want to change them," he says. And despite the disappoint- ment they feel at the rector's de- cision to pull the plug on MEET and to sack Mario Mallia, the two educators remain optimis- tic the project will continue flourishing not just in Saint Al- bert but in other schools in Mal- ta and beyond. Despite being in its infancy, the programme has already re- ceived recognition at UN level. The UN Under-Secre- tary-General and High Rep- resentative of the Alliance of Civilisations Miguel Ángel Mo- ratinos contacted the Maltese educators with a view of using this model for schools in Mo- rocco and Israel. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt "We have created a space where children who are Catholics, atheists, Muslims or Hindu can talk about their identities and also learn about, and engage, with the identities of others." Lisa Farrugia and Andrew Camilleri are the educators behind MEET. "We were not even told what the complaint was about," they tell me. What they know is that it was made by someone who is not even a student or teacher in the school. "We simply expect trust and respect for our professional integrity, two things which were not shown in the board's actions." MARIO MALLIA Interviewed MT2, pages 8-9