[Ammi]

…there does seem to be more of the story in that the student wanted to give a speech as well …that doesn’t change the thing that it all appears to be a huge error and mis-judged reaction by the school and I hope that as well as the apology, she is given time to make the speech…which is very well written and very thought filled, I feel…

…the short speech in full…

Hello everyone.
Today I want to talk about my culture - British culture - and why it’s important to me.
In Britain, we have lots of traditions including drinking tea, our love for talking about the weather and we have the Royal Family.
We have amazing history, like Kings and Queens, castles, and writers like Shakespeare.
It's also modern, diverse and always changing - with music, fashion and food from all around the world blending into daily life. And let’s not forget fish and chips!
It's also the way we speak, our humour, our values of fairness and politeness, and the mix of old traditions and new ideas.
But sometimes at school, we only hear about other cultures - which is great because learning about different countries is interesting and important. But it can feel like being British doesn’t count as a culture, just because it’s the majority.
I think culture should be for everyone - not just for people from other countries or backgrounds. Being British is still a culture, and it matters too. It’s part of who I am.
So let’s celebrate all cultures - whether they come from far away or right here at home.
Thank you!