ROSS DEUCHAR

Jack McConnell called it "Scotland's secret shame", and First Minister Alex Salmond described it as one of the "ills of our society". Sectarianism has become so engrained in the Scottish way of life that many people don't even notice its stench.

Many would argue that it reveals itself most vividly in the football rivalry between Rangers and Celtic. Legislation has been introduced to outlaw sectarian behaviour and Rangers FC recently warned supporters that its ground could be closed by Uefa if the club failed to eradicate sectarian songs at matches. The issue erupted last week when Dr Jeanette Findlay, who chairs the Celtic Trust, defended the singing of songs about the IRA, calling them "songs from a war of independence going back over 100 years". Her comments provoked outrage, largely from Celtic's own fans.

Beyond football, the Scottish Government has made a commitment to educate all young people about the impact of sectarianism and intolerance. But how do schools begin educating pupils about its dangers? Many teachers worry about whether they have the skills to handle open-ended discussions that could lead to extreme and offensive views being expressed in the classroom.

This month, I visited a Glasgow school to observe a workshop presented by Nil by Mouth, a charity that aims to rid Scotland of sectarianism through campaigning, education and training. Working in groups, 14-year-old pupils discussed the words and images that came to mind when they heard the word "sectarianism". I was struck by how apparently aware they were. Words such as "fenian", "IRA", "UVF", "tim", "hun", "loyalist" and "orange scum" screamed out at me. The message underpinning this exercise was made clear by Richard Benjamin, Nil by Mouth's campaign director: words can be powerful, and youngsters often use them because they hear them used by the older generation, without really knowing what they mean.

The latter point was brought home when Benjamin asked the pupils: "What religion do you belong to if you are a Catholic?" As responses such as "tim" and "Celtic" were mumbled by a few kids at the back of the room and accompanied by sniggers, Benjamin probed further: "What religion do you belong to if you are a Protestant?"

Further responses such as "hun" and even "Jew" revealed the limitations of the kids' knowledge - not just of the meaning of the terms of abuse with which they were so familiar, but also that Catholics and Protestants share a Christian faith.

The story of Mark Scott, a Celtic supporter who died in a busy street in 1995 when his throat was cut by a Rangers supporter, was a poignant reminder to the kids of the power of sectarianism over young lives. Sectarianism, explained Benjamin, had claimed two victims that day: one life had ended and another had been ruined.

As the workshop drew to an end, the kids were presented with a challenge: if they heard sectarian language or witnessed the violence associated with it, should they (a) challenge it, (b) walk away or (c) fight back? Most kids opted to "walk away", but Benjamin asked them to challenge it and, in so doing, bring about change.

In the past two years, Scotland has made great progress in tackling sectarian behaviour. The former Scottish Executive's Summits on Sectarianism were followed by national campaigns, and the Old Firm clubs have taken unprecedented steps to rid their grounds of bigotry. A new Sectarianism in Football working group has launched a nationwide awareness-raising campaign and new educational resources and initiatives have been launched such as Don't Give It, Don't Take It, an online resource for teachers and youth workers.

Recently, enthusiasts from Scottish education, politics and religion and volunteer campaigners visited the Scottish Parliament for the launch of a DVD produced by Nil by Mouth. It captures 12 people's stories of the impact sectarianism can have on families and communities.

One example is the story of Mandy, a nurse in the accident and emergency department of a Glasgow hospital, who describes the impact of an Old Firm game. She describes the verbal abuse she and her colleagues get from fans, and reveals they are often harassed because of the colour of the uniforms they wear. Mandy also reveals that the loudest, most abusive patients tend to be treated first to get them out of the waiting room and reduce the risk of violence to patients or staff. Then there are the experiences of Lauren, an 18-year-old who describes the bigotry she witnessed in a shared-campus school. What makes her story particularly horrifying is that even teachers set demarcation lines between Catholics and other pupils and punished kids for talking to pupils from "the other side".

The Curriculum for Excellence has the teaching of controversial issues, the exploration of social values and the fostering of active participation at its core. Focusing on issues such as sectarianism in the classroom empowers young people to challenge ideas that may have been instilled in them from an early age. By encouraging them to reflect critically on their own values and beliefs and to challenge sectarian attitudes, teachers can help kids develop the confidence and ambition to build communities based on tolerance and respect.

In so doing, pupils will also become responsible citizens and effective contributors: developing an awareness of multiple perspectives instils wider, more ethical views about complex issues in pupils, encourages them to take action and to link that action to values. By drawing upon the Nil by Mouth workshops and DVD, teachers can address many of the key outcomes of the curriculum. It is important that we ensure public opinion in Scotland continues to turn against the bigoted minority. We need to empower the next generation to contribute towards that public opinion.