Citizenship and Sedition

Posted By: Robin Parker
Date Posted: 22/06/2007

I went with a certain amount of trepidation to my first Citizenship ceremony as Deputy Mayor. I had been given a script, of course, but I didn’t have any real feel of what it would be like. The registrar gave the introductory speech and then I was asked to make mine. I had to say how proud I was to share this day with them. I didn’t know what that meant until I was standing there in front of people who were making an incredible commitment. They then swore an oath of allegiance and I gave out their certificates. Those who wished took photographs that I was happy to share with them. Each prospective citizen had the option to bring two guests. One family of three new citizens had invited Allen Brett, Darren Pedley and Simon Danczuk. I can only hazard a guess at which way they might vote.

The ceremony ended with all standing to the playing of the National Anthem. I started to sweat inwardly, realising that at any minute it could have been interrupted by the Imperial March from Star Wars. Fortunately, nobody phoned me and I must remember to turn it off next time. 

No, that wasn’t the potential sedition. The real sedition was staged in the evening when Anni and I, in the simple role of School Governor and partner, went to Manchester’s Library Theatre to see the Manchester Arts Education Initiative’s ‘The Age of Revolution’. This was a festival of nine days drama with two schools each day performing The Weaver’s Story or Marie Antoinette. Each day features one school from Rochdale Borough. Acknowledgements in the programme included The REAL Trust (Rochdale Education and Learning), Middleton City Learning Centre and Touchstones Museum.

We went specifically to see Year 6 of St Mary’s RC Primary, Langley, perform The Weaver’s Story. It was about the history of the early industrial revolution and the traumatic effect it had on the working class. Knowing the teachers involved and the school’s history of working with the arts, I knew we were in for a good quality production. But I didn’t expect to be kicked around the theatre.

The kids went into the roles and lived them. From the oppression of the land and mill owners to the direct action of the Luddites, the actors were those people. When it culminated in the peaceful march for reform at St Peter’s Fields and its horrific outcome, we were all sucked into it. I know I wasn’t the only one with tears welling up. And to think we argue about the level of Council Tax.

And that wasn’t the end of the evening. Listening to Marie Antoinette, a French period production, without looking you wouldn’t have known that the Mancunian kids from Claremont School, Moss Side, were almost all of Afro origin. That’s citizenship.

It wasn’t just the performing arts featured. The foyer of the theatre was full of a year’s work of excellent visual artwork from all the schools participating, illustrating the themes of The Weaver’s Story and Marie Antoinette.

I bang the drum for the arts Ad Infinitum and no one will stop me. To quote from the programme:

'The arts matter – they also empower, and if anything is key to young people achieving their potential, it is surely empowerment….Taking part in the arts can transform the way children and young people explore the world around them, changing the way they see themselves and what they aspire to in the future, and contributing to their learning and personal and social development.'

At St Mary’s we have the proof, because the arts are used as a teaching medium within the core curriculum and the increase in the SATS results is phenomenal. I would commend all other schools, however good they are, to do likewise. If you just improve a handful of kids, it’s worth it.

The Mayor is due to go on the 25th to see Boarshaw School’s production. I hope Peter and Helen have as great an experience as we did.