On the Margins: Gypsies and Travellers

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On the MarginsGypsies and Travellers

• Inclusion Week 2005
• Keynote Lecture
• By Chris Derrington

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Attitudes and prejudice

• One in three people openly admits personal
  prejudice against Gypsies and Travellers (MORI
  2003)
• Prejudice and overt discrimination are the daily
  experience of Gypsy and Traveller people (CRE
  2005)

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A Reminder from the TTA (2000)

• As with society at large, trainees may hold
  mistaken or stereotypical perceptions about
  groups from particular backgrounds
• Stereotyped perceptions can result in depressed
  expectations, low pupil self-esteem and
  underachievement
• They should understand that their professional
  role requires them to have high expectations for
  all pupils

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10 THINGS PEOPLE SAY

• I dont mind the real Romany ones so much but
  half of them arent even proper Gypsies
• We seem to be getting swamped by them these
  days!
• Why cant they just live in houses like normal
  people?
• Why should they get away with flouting planning
  laws? If I wanted to build an extension
• They dont have our values and morals!
• They are so dirty!
• Why do they have to leave rubbish everywhere
  they go?
• Why dont they pay rent and taxes?
• Their children are unruly
• Why do they get away with not sending their kids
  to school?

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I dont mind the real Romany ones
so much but half of them arent even proper
Gypsies

• Travellers are not a single homogeneous
• group.
• Romany Gypsies (make up the vast majority.
  Exotic/romantic perceptions are unrealistic )
• Irish, Scottish and Welsh Travellers
• Fairground Showmen
• Circus Showmen
• New Travellers
• Roma refugees

6
We seem to be getting swamped by
them these days!

• In 1968 the Caravan Sites Act proposed a national
  network of authorised sites and placed a duty on
  local authorities to provide these
• Many local authorities failed to meet their duty
• The removal of the statutory duty on local
  authorities to provide adequate site provision
  (in 1994)
• 67 of sites closed forcing more and more
  families on to the road

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Tabloid propaganda

• SUN CAMPAIGN TO STOP FLOOD OF GIPSIES
• SUN WAR ON GIPSY FREE-FOR-ALL
• STAMP ON THE CAMPS!
• TELL US YOUR GIPSY STORIES"
• March 9th 2005

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Who are people actually talking about when they
say they

• Based on evidence given to the parliamentary
  select commission in June 2004
• Less than 10 of the total
• Gypsy/Traveller population?

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Why cant they just live in houses like normal
people?

• Most do (through choice or reluctant necessity)
• Being housed does not mean you are no longer a
  Gypsy/Traveller

10
Why should they get away with flouting
planning laws? If I wanted to build an extension

• When the statutory duty on local authorities to
  provide sites was repealed, the (then) government
  advised travellers to buy their own land
• 90 of planning applications by Travellers are
  rejected. 80 of planning applications by
  non-Travellers are approved.

11
They dont have our values and morals!

• Family loyalty
• Strict codes in relation to sex outside marriage
• Traditional gender roles
• Symbols of wealth
• Religion

12
They are so dirty!

• Most trailers (and houses of Gypsies) are kept
  immaculately clean
• Strict codes of ritual cleanliness and hygiene
  practices rooted in Hindu rites and customs

13
Why do they have to leave rubbish everywhere
they go?

• Some Travellers leave rubbish so do some house
  dwellers
• Is it right to hold a whole community responsible
  for the offences of an anti-social minority with
  whom they have no connection other than their
  ethnicity?

14
Why dont they pay rent and taxes?

• Those who live on authorised sites have to pay
  rent
• Those who live in houses pay mortgages or rent
  and council tax just like anyone else.
• Those without a post code have limited access to
  even basic services

15
Their children are
unruly

• Spatial boundaries
• Communication styles
• Child/adult relationships
• Cultural expectations

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Why do they get away with not sending their kids
to school?

• Until 1981, schools could legally deny access to
  Traveller children.
• Cultural dissonance and racism impact on
  attendance
• Highest levels of exclusion (often self
  exclusion) although behaviour deemed to be good
  by Ofsted
• Parents own experiences of school often negative

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Implications for inclusive teaching

• Addressing teacher expectations
• Raising attainment
• Providing a culturally affirming curriculum
• Addressing racism
• Improving home-school relationships
• Accessing advice and support