Football players help adult learners match their literacy goals

Published on Friday 13 November 2009 21:23

AN ADULT literacy class at which football stars give lectures based on the methods of a Brazilian revolutionary writer has become the largest in Scotland.

Jackie McNamara, ex-Hibs captain; Gary Mackay, former Hearts' captain; Lawrie Reilly, one of Hibs' Famous Five; and James McColl, a member of the 1948 British Olympic team coached by Matt Busby, have all taken part in "Glory and Dismay" sessions at Hearts Football Club, with up to 20 learners a class.

The Tynecastle Stadium classes, whose students include a number of homeless people and ex-offenders wearing football jerseys, are based on the teachings of the late Paulo Freire.

Freire was imprisoned during the 1964 military coup because his teaching methods were seen as empowering the illiterate poor. Literacy was a prerequisite for voting in presidential elections in Brazil and Freire's teaching circles, which had spread throughout the country, were regarded as radicalising the poor.

John Player, community learning and development worker, said: "Freire's teaching was based on 'decodification', a method building on people's strengths. He encouraged people to speak about their culture, looked at the deeper structure, believed in it, then taught them to read and write about it.

"The idea is that a tutor listens and 'codes' conversations about their lives, then creates word lists of frequently used words – perhaps a word like 'referee' – which becomes vocabulary for the session. No other literacy class in Scotland has ever got more students.

"Our students express their identity through football, which has actually allowed them to build knowledge in the abstract. They have an innate desire to learn and being in a class like this takes away the fear."

The class also uses innovative methods of challenging stereotypes. Attitudes to gay people were questioned by playing a match against Hot Scots FC – Scotland's only all-gay football club. Hot Scots FC won 10-0.

Student Andy Power, 21, of Wardieburn in Edinburgh, said: "I was struggling to read but this class is so different because everyone's so passionate about football and we get a laugh by learning. I get respect because I support both Rangers and Celtic, the Old Firm rivals."

Mr MacKay, a trustee of the Heart of Midlothian Education and Community Trust, said: "It's a big step for these people to admit to finding difficulties with education and they are to be applauded for opening themselves up like that.

"The first time I went along, I'll admit it, I was nervous going into a new situation so it makes you appreciate what these people are going through to re-educate themselves. Some don't spend a lot of time with other people so they're getting social skills, too.

"I've told them that yes, it's great when you're a professional earning a decent living.

"But I've stressed how you have to build up to that. In my apprenticeship days, we would be sent out to the old terracing to do the weeding along with the groundsmen, or had to clean the boots and pack the hampers of shirts for a game away."

'When I started I was too scared to speak up'

TUESDAY Burgess, 26, stood up in front of the Glory and Dismay class held at the Willie Bauld suite at Hearts' Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh and read out a newspaper item praising her team, Hibs.

Ignoring the shouts from rival supporters in the class she continued reading with hardly a moment's hesitation.

"A year ago when I started the class I was too scared to speak up.

"But it's the fact everyone's the same and it's all about football that's given me confidence. Everyone's got difficulties so we don't slag each other if we don't know something on the word list," said Tuesday, from Muirhouse.

"People who know me say they can't believe the change in me in – I'm more confident which makes me want to do more, learn more.

"I've learned how to use a laptop and I might even go to college now."