'I'm not being racist but Indian people eat curry'

'I'm not being racist but Indian people eat curry' said Charlotte a student in my English class.

Why would she think that saying Indians often eat curry is being racist? Why - despite years of education in a multi-cultural city - does she not feel comfortable talking about cultural difference? When she made the remark, in my mind she was someone from a seemingly white, English probably working class background. More recently through her autobiographical writing, I have discovered that her background is much more mixed with Spanish and Maltese heritage. How could someone from such a mixed background be so uncomfortable with the language of difference?

Black History Month is a month that raises lots of questions. Why only a month? What about Asian or Chinese history? Why not White History month? Who are you a white Welsh History teacher to comment on Black History? Yet so often Black History Month is not about questions and discussion. So perhaps it is not just young people who don't have the confidence to talk about difference and in so doing, realise what we have in common.

Earlier this evening I went to a Facing History and Ourselves workshop. I was given a book called 'Identity and Belonging in a Changing Great Britain'. Facing History and Ourselves is an organisation that I have been involved for almost ten years. The organisation sets out to equip teachers with the skills and resources to teach lessons that create space for young people to discuss issues of identity, belonging and human behaviour. Teachers need training to be able to confidently facilitate informed discussion where there are clear ground rules.

I have used the Facing History approach to teach many aspects of History including the Holocaust. It was this approach that made me realise this was not about teaching the nasty things those Nazis did (turn to page 42) but instead questioning what was everyone else doing? What did the doctors do? What did the politicians do? What about the young people? Year 9s would also consider their own lives. What they would do if someone was laughing at someone else. Would they join in? Would they do nothing? What would be the right thing to do?

Questions, that are hard for us as adults, are questions that young people - particularly as they go through adolescence - need to have the opportunity to explore. If we, as teachers, can create these opportunities then surely this would be a fitting thing to do in this month or any other.

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The Facing History and Ourselves book 'Identity and Belonging in a Changing Great Britain' includes though provoking readings with questions for teachers to use in class. Available to download for free: http://www.facinghistory.org/resources/publications/identity-belonging-changing