EthCo

EthCo came from the perceived need to inform our young people in Scotland of the Millennium Development Goals and their world wide importance. Exploring the role of Scotland in meeting these goals, and the realisation of young people that they could ‘make a difference’ seemed important aims for ‘Responsible citizens’ and education. This and the desire to have our young people more aware of the ethics of business, or the lack of them, linked to the effects of world wide trade, led to the ideas incorporated in these resources.
Angela Jackson of the Enterprise Department of Strathclyde University was successful in gaining support from the ‘Department for International Development’ and so ‘EthCo’ was born.

The Scottish Education Authorities were approached with the idea of developing classroom resources to deliver EthCo and gave their universal support. A small management group was formed with representatives from the University and some of the Local Authorities.

CfE was rapidly emerging at this time and it was clear that any new materials would have to be able to be part of the new curriculum.
EthCo seemed a natural for development as a series of ‘Interdisciplinary Tasks’ to help meet this requirement within CfE, and at the same time contribute to appropriate learning outcomes, so Dave Whitelaw was given the task of leading the creation of a series of ‘Ethco Interdisciplinary Tasks’ in the first instance aimed at CfE first, second and third levels.

Once the embryo tasks were written it was felt that support materials for the classroom should be available.
A team of writers, active in the classroom at the appropriate levels was brought together.
From East Ayrshire: Klaus Mayer and Elaine Cook. From Argyll and Bute: Fiona Wilson. And from South Lanarkshire: Caroline Pitcathley and Caroline Gibson.
The ‘Development Education Centres’  contributed a list of possible books or websites which could act as initial resources for EthCo in the classroom.
 

A Challenge to increase awareness of ‘EthCo’ was put to all schools in session 2008/9. This was to design a logo and create a ‘song for Ethco’. The response was outstanding. The entries were to a very high standard and very difficult to judge. Killermont Primary in East Dunbartonshire won the Logo, and Oban High School in Argyll and Bute composed and performed the winning song. Many other schools were highly commended for their entries and an award ceremony took place at the City Halls in Glasgow.

Across Scotland a number of schools gave their support for a pilot of the EthCo tasks. This is currently ongoing for session 2009/10 and it is intended that reports and resources from these pilots will be available on this website. Every indication at present is that the schools are very enthusiastic and that the tasks are going well with both staff and pupils. Any other school wishing to download the materials and ‘have a go’ are most welcome and should register this on the website.