A new anti-terrorism resource has been launched in memory of one of the victims of the 7/7 London bombings.
Miriam’s Vision offers key stage 3 classroom resources for subjects including history, geography, PSHE and citizenship.
It has been created to mark the tenth anniversary of the London attacks, in which 52 people were killed. And, more specifically, it commemorates Miriam Hyman, a 32-year-old victim of the attacks.
Esther Hyman, Miriam’s sister, says that the idea for the resource came about after the family had hosted a series of seminars in Miriam’s memory. “We realised that we were preaching to the converted,” she said. “If we wanted to make an impact, we’d have to look to education.”
She and her parents spoke to Jane Beaumont, the headteacher of Miriam’s former secondary, Copthall School in the north-west London borough of Barnet. Over the ensuing seven years, Ms Beaumont and her staff worked with the Hyman family to create the Miriam’s Vision resource.
“It’s not political or religious,” Ms Hyman said. “It’s not about blaming or identifying any one group. It’s about giving people transferrable life skills to challenge the kind of rhetoric that might be put across by those who seek to radicalise them, or even by politicians within a democracy.
“If you have a point to make, you can do it without the need to go around blowing up other people’s loved ones. Really, that’s the bottom line.”
A citizenship lesson plan in the resource suggests that pupils discuss the intended building of a third runway at Heathrow airport. Pupils would examine how interested parties present their opposing views, and would debate with one another over the best course of action.
A geography lesson allows pupils to examine methods of conflict resolution, and to discuss how mainstream society and extremists might communicate with one another.
The history lessons encourage pupils to look at the personal and societal consequences of the 7 July bombings, and at the ways in which Miriam’s own family has tried to transform their personal tragedy into something which might ultimately benefit society.
“Miriam sowed the seeds of caring and generosity in her lifetime,” Ms Hyman said. “And she let us the task of nurturing those seeds. She was all about bringing people together. Now we want to reduce barriers and fear between communities.
“Because of the circumstances of Miriam’s death, her arm’s reach was widened. It’s her energy that comes through everything we do.”
