2
Challenges some of the preconceptions about early child development, enables those working with young children to talk about discrimination.
It includes this poem -
Through the eyes of a child
The Travelling life was wonderful
Nothing to do but play
Until we moved onto a site
And you're starting school today
Don't put him next to me
My Mam'll have a fit
They never have a wash
And they might have a nit
Watch him try and write
He can't even spell his name
God, he is so stupid
Isn't it a shame
He's sitting drawing pictures
Of a horse and caravan
He says he's going to own one
When he becomes a man
He knows the price of metals
Scrap and woolens too
He can prune a tree and tarmac
Sells carpets, flowers too
The bell rings for a break
It's time to take a walk
The Gypsy stands alone
nobody wants to talk
A group of boys come over
Shouting names at him
Two or three catch hold of him
While the others kick his shin
When they let him go
Our Gypsy he hits out
Then the dinner lady
runs over with a shout
Don't you hit our kids
You dirty Gyppo
I'm taking you to a teacher
He'll know just what to do
They go down the site
They want to see his dad
We don't want him at our school
He's behaving very bad
So now you know why Gypsies
Don't bother with the schools
Cause you end up the guilty ones
being treated just like fools
(written by a Gypsy child)
Julie Gentle
