Lesson video

Hello, welcome to today's lesson.

My name is Mrs. Hastings, and I'm going to be teaching you today from the unit "How is UK Society Diverse and Changing?" And today's lesson is titled, "Is There Mutual Respect in UK Society?" So we are gonna be thinking hard in today's lesson.

We're gonna be listening to each other, respecting each other, and hopefully learning lots as we go through this learning journey.

So let's get cracking.

In today's lesson, by the end of it, you will be able to explain how mutual respect and tolerance help diverse communities live and work well together.

There are some important ground rules, as what we are touching on can be quite sensitive, so I'm going to go through these with you now.

Firstly, as Laura says, "We need to listen to others.

It is okay to disagree with each other, but we should listen properly before making assumptions or deciding how to respond.

When disagreeing, challenge a statement, not the person." Andeep says, "Respect privacy.

We can discuss examples, but do not use names or descriptions that identify anyone, including ourselves." As Izzy says, "Choose level of participation.

Everyone has the right to choose not to answer a question or join discussion.

We never put anyone on the spot." And lastly, Jacob says, "No judgement.

We can explore beliefs and misunderstandings about a topic without fear of being judged." So these are the key words for today's lesson: respect, treating others with kindness and consideration, valuing their feelings and rights.

Tolerance, the willingness to recognise and coexist with beliefs, opinions and values that are different to ours.

It enables us to live peacefully with people we may disagree with as long as they do not harm us or others through their choices.

And community, a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.

So there are three parts to our learning today.

The first learning cycle is why are mutual respect and tolerance important? Secondly, how does mutual respect support democracy? And third, how does the law protect against discrimination? So let's get started with our first learning cycle, why are mutual respect and tolerance important? Mutual respect in a diverse society means recognising, valuing and treating others fairly, even when they have different backgrounds, beliefs, lifestyles, or opinions from your own.

It is about living peacefully alongside others and understanding that everyone has a right to be who they are.

Tolerance is the willingness to accept beliefs or behaviours that are different from your own, even if you do not personally share or agree with them, as long as those beliefs or behaviours do not cause harm to others.

Both mutual respect and tolerance are essential to building a cohesive and inclusive community.

It's part of the reason why they're part of our British values.

Mutual respect supports equality and helps build positive relationships within society.

And tolerance helps inclusion by allowing people with different beliefs or opinions to live peacefully alongside one another even when they disagree.

So let's check our understanding of that.

Which of the following best describes the difference between mutual respect and tolerance? A, tolerance means liking everyone, while mutual respect means ignoring differences.

B, mutual respect is about accepting others without judgement ; tolerance is about changing your beliefs to fit in.

C, tolerance is accepting different views; mutual respect is recognising and valuing those differences.

And D, mutual respect only applies to people you agree with.

Tolerance is for those you disagree with.

So which of those is it, A, B, C, or D? The correct answer is C.

So which of the following best describes the difference between mutual respect and tolerance? Tolerance is accepting different views; mutual respect is recognising and valuing those differences.

It's a nuance in that.

Aisha ask the questions, "In what ways is the UK diverse?" Can you discuss that question with your learning partner now? So the UK is diverse in different ways, and you may have come up with the following in your answers.

Ethnic and cultural diversity, people in the UK have heritage from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds and may follow different traditional cultures and traditions.

Religious diversity, the UK is home to many religions as well as people who do not follow a religion.

Language, while English is the most widely spoken language, many people in the UK also speak other languages such as Welsh, Punjabi, or Polish.

And they might have a home language or a secondary language.

Age, the population includes a wide range of ages with different generations who have different experiences and perspectives.

Disability and health, many people live with visible or invisible disabilities or long-term health conditions.

Socioeconomic background, people come from a range of financial and educational backgrounds which can affect access to opportunities and life experiences.

So let's check our understanding.

Which pupil is describing socioeconomic diversity? Alex says, "People speak variety of languages and celebrate different cultural traditions, which helps create a rich and inclusive society." Sam says, "The population includes different generations who have different experiences and perspectives." And Jacob says, "People come from a range of financial and educational backgrounds, which affects access to resources, opportunities, and life experiences.

So which pupil is describing socioeconomic diversity? So Jacob is describing socioeconomic diversity.

Well done if you got that right.

So Aisha ask another question.

"What challenges might arise from a lack of mutual respect and tolerance?" Again, discuss that with your learning partner now.

So you may have discussed the following: ageism, such as older people being unfairly excluded from jobs; sex or gender discrimination, like favouring men over women for certain roles based on stereotypes; homophobia, for example, businesses refusing services to same-sex couples; racism such as people being wrongly suspected of crimes because of their ethnicity; religious discrimination, like workplaces not accommodating religious practises.

So let's check our understanding.

Which of the following is the most likely consequence of a lack of mutual respect and tolerance in society? A, fair access to opportunities for all groups.

B, increased cooperation and inclusion.

C, stronger protections for minority communities.

Or D, higher levels of inequality and discrimination.

So which of those is the most likely consequence of a lack of mutual respect and tolerance in society? The correct answer is Ds.

Well done if you've got that right.

So onto our first practise task in today's session.

I'd like you to discuss with your learning partner why mutual respect and tolerance are important in diverse communities like the UK.

In your discussions, consider what do mutual respect and tolerance mean? Why are they important in a diverse community? And can you give some examples of what could happen without them? Pause the video.

So well done for having those discussions.

So in your discussions on why mutual respect and tolerance are important in diverse communities like the UK, you may have considered the following: "Mutual respect means treating others with fairness and kindness and valuing their differences even when they have different beliefs or ways of life from our own.

Tolerance means being willing to accept and live alongside people whose opinions, belief, or behaviours are different from ours as long as they're not causing harm." Your discussions may have also included: "Mutual respect and tolerance are important in diverse communities like the UK because they help people from different backgrounds live together peacefully.

Without mutual respect and tolerance, there could be more inequality, discrimination, and conflict.

For example, if people are not respectful or tolerant of different ethnic groups, it can lead to unfair treatment such as suspecting someone of a crime just because of their ethnicity." So well done for completing that task.

So onto our second learning cycle in today's lesson, how does mutual respect support democracy? So in the UK, certain shared values help support our democratic society.

These are sometimes described as fundamental British values.

And the fundamental British values are: democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance.

The values of mutual respect and tolerance are underpinned by the other fundamental British values.

So those particular British values are held up by the others.

These values help democracy function and create a more inclusive equal society.

So democracy means that everyone should have a say in how the country's run, usually by voting and elections.

Rule of law means that there are laws that exist and apply to everyone.

So no one is above the law, not even the monarch or the prime minister.

Individual liberty, people have the freedom to make choices about their own lives as long as they don't harm others.

So which pupil is best describing, explaining why mutual respect and tolerance are important in a democratic society? Aisha says, "They only matter when people share the same beliefs and backgrounds." Jun is saying, "They support other British values like democracy, rule of law, and individual liberty to create an inclusive society." And Sofia says, "They mean everyone must agree on everything to keep society peaceful." So which of those pupils is giving the best answer? The correct answer is B, Jun.

He is explaining why mutual respect and tolerance are important in a democratic society the best.

So well done if you got that right.

Aisha's got another question: "How do mutual respect and tolerance help democracy work in diverse communities like the UK?" So can you discuss that question with your learning partner now? So examples that you might have come up with with your learning partner could include encouraging participation.

Everyone has the right to be heard, speak up and express different views.

Without respect and tolerance, certain voices may be silenced, which weakens democracy.

It's why perhaps in school you are encouraged to share your ideas and share your views, because we want to hear from a diverse range of people.

It could reduce conflict and division.

Respect and tolerance builds trust and unity, which are important for a stable and fair democracy.

Protecting minority rights, valuing others as equals and accepting that others may follow different customs, faiths, or traditions, that's a really important part of our democracy.

Supporting discussions and debate.

Healthy democracies rely on open debate and discussion of different ideas.

Without this, discussions can become hostile, one-sided or polarised.

That means that they can become kind of different extremes, perhaps of the political spectrum, for example, extreme left or extreme right.

So it's important that we encourage open debate, open discussion, ideally, you know, in well-respected forums rather than online.

Strengthening community bonds, democracy needs people to live and cooperate with each other every day.

Mutual respect strengthens democracy by creating a more resilient society.

So which of the following is not a way mutual respect and tolerance support democracy? A, encouraging everyone to express their views openly.

B, making sure only the majority's opinions are heard.

C, protecting the rights of minority groups.

And D, reducing conflict and building trust between communities.

So which of those is not a way mutual respect and tolerance support democracy? The correct answer is B.

Making sure only the majority's opinions are heard is not a way mutual respect and tolerance support democracy.

The others all are ways.

So well done if you got that right.

So onto our practise task now.

Clive says, "Mutual respect and tolerance isn't that important for democracy.

As long as people can vote, that's all that matters." Sandra says, "I'm not sure I agree." Can you give Sandra some reasons she could use when talking to Clive? Consider how mutual respect supports democratic values like participation and open debate.

Why this is especially important in a diverse country like the UK? And what could happen in a democracy if people don't show mutual respect? Pause the video whilst you complete that task.

So I asked you to give Sandra some reasons she could use when talking to Clive who thinks that mutual respect and tolerance aren't important for supporting democracy.

So you could have said, "Sandra could explain to Clive that mutual respect is important because it helps make sure everyone can take part in democracy, not just vote.

In a diverse country like the UK, people have different views, cultures, and experiences.

Mutual respect encourages people to share their ideas without fear of being ignored, judged, or attacked, as long as those ideas don't harm others.

This helps decisions reflect the views of many different groups.

It also reduces conflict and builds trust between communities.

Without mutual respect, some people may feel excluded or silenced, which weakens democracy.

Respecting others doesn't mean agreeing with everything, but it does mean treating people fairly and safely within the law." So well done for completing that practise task.

And onto our final learning cycle in today's lesson.

How does the law protect against discrimination? So the UK law protects against discrimination, supports people's rights and freedoms and promotes inclusion and fairness.

These legal protections aim to create a society based on mutual respect and tolerance where everyone can be themselves and live without fear of unfair treatment.

So can you identify the missing words in the following sentences? UK law protects against what, supports people's rights and freedoms and promotes inclusion and fairness.

Together these legal protections help build a what based on mutual what and tolerance, where everyone is free to be themselves and live without what of unfair treatment.

So let's check what the missing words are.

UK law protects against discrimination, supports people's rights and freedoms and promotes inclusion and fairness.

Together these legal protections help build a society based on mutual respect and tolerance, where everyone is free to be themselves and live without fear of unfair treatment.

So well done if you correctly identified those missing words.

So let's have a look at some of the laws.

The Human Rights Act 1998 protects people's basic rights and freedoms in the UK.

Key rights in the human rights act include: the right to freedom of thought, belief, and religion; the right to freedom of expression; the right to not be treated unfairly or unequally.

It supports mutual respect by allowing people to express their identities, views, and beliefs without fear as long as they do not harm others.

The Human Rights Act 1998 is based on international agreements: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the European Convention on Human Rights.

And it brings these rights from these agreements into UK law, so it makes it bound by law in the UK.

Only public authorities like the government, police, schools, et cetera, have a legal duty under this act.

Human rights usually protect people from unfair treatment by the state, not from individuals.

So it's not about an individual on an individual, not protecting the human rights of another, but about the organisations, the state.

So let's have a look at a case study that was brought about because of the Human Rights Act in 1998.

And this case study focuses on religious expression in the workplace.

Nadia Eweida, a Christian employee at British Airways, was told she could not wear a visible cross necklace while at work 'cause it went against the company's uniform policy.

She argued that this breached her right to freedom of religion.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled in her favour stating that her freedom to express her religion had been unfairly restricted.

British Airways later changed its policy.

So she won that case, and she was allowed to continue to wear her cross at work.

So let's check our understanding.

Which one of the options below justifies Izzy's statement? The Human Rights Act 1998 protects individual's rights to freedom of thought, belief, and expression.

So which of the options below justifies her statement? A, it allows people to live without any laws restricting their behaviour.

Or B, ensures people can express their ideas and beliefs safely, even if others disagree.

The correct option that justifies Izzy's statement is B.

Well done if you got that right.

Another piece of legislation, another law is the Equality Act 2010.

This protects people from unfair treatment.

It brought together over 116 separate pieces of legislation into one single act, making the law easier to understand and use.

The Equality Act makes it unlawful to treat someone unfairly because of nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

So those are the nine protected characteristics.

The law helps make sure everyone is treated fairly and with respect in schools, workplaces, public services, and the community.

Another piece of legislation that's part of the Equality Act is the public sector equality duty.

It places a legal duty on public bodies like schools, hospitals, councils, and the police to: eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between different groups.

This helps promote tolerance and understanding across communities, especially in diverse areas.

So let's check our understanding.

Which of the following is true about the Equality Act 2010? A, it only protects individuals from discrimination based on race and religion.

B, it combines earlier laws to protect against unfair treatment in key areas.

C, it allows discrimination in workplaces if it benefits the employer.

D, it only applies to schools and not to public services or workplaces.

So which of those is true about the Equality Act 2010, A, B, C, or D? The correct answer is B.

It combines earlier laws to protect against unfair treatment in key areas.

So well done if you got that right.

In the UK, the law recognises five types of hate crime based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and transgender identity.

And those key elements are part of those equality act protected characteristics.

Any crime can be treated as a hate crime if the offender, so the person committing the crime, has either shown hostility towards someone because of these characteristics or been motivated by hostility to someone for one of these reasons.

Hate crimes are covered by laws like the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and the sentencing Act 2020.

So again, more laws that are protecting against discrimination.

If someone is found guilty, courts can give a tougher sentence.

So if they have shown hostility towards somebody because of those reasons that we've just looked at like race, transgender identity, et cetera, then actually that can be a tougher sentence than if it was just for not a reason of discrimination.

So as an example, in 2019, two women were attacked on a London bus because of their sexual orientation.

The attackers were arrested and given a stronger sentence because it was classed as a homophobic hate crime.

Hate crime laws aim to show that abuse and discrimination are not accepted in the UK and that everyone deserves respect and protection.

So let's check our understanding.

Which statement best how UK laws protect people against discrimination? A, they make it illegal to treat someone unfairly because of things like age, race, or religion.

B, they allow discrimination if it is based on personal opinions or their personal beliefs.

C, they only protect people from discrimination at work, not in schools or public places.

And D, they ignore differences between people to treat everyone exactly the same.

So which of those best describes how the UK laws protect people against discrimination, A, B, C, or D? The correct answer is, A, they make it illegal to treat someone unfairly because of things like age, race, religion.

Well done if you got that right.

So onto the final practise task for today's lesson.

So Jun says, "I think that mutual respect is the most important British value for making the UK a fair and peaceful society.

I'd like you to write one paragraph explaining what you think about Jun's statement considering how mutual respect links to other British values like tolerance, democracy, and rule of law; the role of laws like the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998 in protecting rights and promoting fairness; and lastly, whether one value can work effectively without the others, do they need each other? So pause the video whilst you complete that task.

So well done for completing that task.

So Jun said, "Mutual respect is the most important British value for making the UK a fair and peaceful society." I asked you to write one paragraph explaining what you think about Jun's statement, and your answer could include: "I think mutual respect is very important for making the UK a fair and peaceful society because it helps a diverse range of people feel valued and included.

This supports tolerance and allows people to live together more peacefully.

However, mutual respect works alongside other British values like democracy and rule of law.

For example, laws such as the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998 help people protect people's rights and promote fairness.

You might have gone on to say, "Even though discrimination and unfair treatment still happen, like in the case of Nadia Eweida, who fought for the right to express her religion at work, these laws help prevent such unfairness.

Mutual respect also supports democracy by encouraging people to express their views and participate in decisions that affect everyone.

So while mutual respect is key, all British values and the laws work together to help create a fair and peaceful society." Well done for completing that task.

So in summary for today's lesson, "Is Their Mutual Respect in UK Society?" both mutual respect and tolerance are essential for building a strong inclusive community.

Respect creates equality and fairness, while tolerance means accepting others with different beliefs or opinions, as long as they cause no harm.

Mutual respect and tolerance help democracy work by making sure everyone feels safe to take part, speak up and share their views.

In a diverse country like the UK, they help protect rights, reduce conflict, and make decisions fairer for all communities.

UK laws, such as the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998, protect against discrimination, support people's rights and freedoms, and promote inclusion and fairness.

Well done for completing today's lesson.

There was quite a lot of hard work going on in that one.

And I look forward to seeing you again very soon.

Bye.

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