The value of education to Enid in Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’
I can explore the theme of education in Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’, with a focus on the character of Enid.
The value of education to Enid in Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’
I can explore the theme of education in Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’, with a focus on the character of Enid.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Enid values education.
- Enid believes education is a way to escape the rural poverty she experienced.
- Enid believes that education can't be taken away from someone.
- Pinnock says her parents received a colonialist education.
- Pinnock uses the character of Brod to explore the narrow focus of the British education system in the 1980s.
Keywords
Rural poverty - situations in which people who don’t live in urban areas lack financial stability and necessities for day to day living
Precarious - when something is unstable or insecure
Eurocentric - when there is a focus on European culture or history, ignoring or excluding cultures and history from the wider world
Indoctrinate - when you make people believe something; a less formal synonym is to brainwash
Colonisation - when a country establishes control over another country, exploiting it for economic gain
Common misconception
Education is only ever a positive power.
Consider Pinnock's words about her parents' generation and why and how education can be used as a tool of oppression.
Equipment
You need access to a copy of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' published by Nick Hern Books.
Content guidance
- Contains strong language
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Takes her daughters to an obeah reading
Prepares for the Pastor's visit; slaps Del who leaves home
Finds out about her mother's death
Grieves her mother and gives Viv money for university
Sees Mai again; still processing her grief
Has an obeah reading from Del