Boys in the Making
Ashton
‘Boys in the Making’
‘Ashton’
Scoil Chiaráin C.B.S.,
Scoil Chiaráin C.B.S., located in Donnycarney, Dublin 5 is an all-boys school dedicated to social and gender justice. The school launched a whole-school initiative called 'Boys in the Making' to address and dismantle gender stereotypes, gender codes, and gender processes within the educational environment.
In collaboration with Youth Justice Workers of Donnycarney, students, teachers, and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and the team produced a movie titled "Ashton," developed an illustrated and graphic novel, James and Luis, and now, in its third year, the initiative continues to thrive.
Ashton grew from the discussion workshops and manifested as a new boy in their class. Ashton reflects the collective interests and experiences of each boy in the class, representing their lives, their hopes, their dreams, their community and above all the challenges they face. Through Ashton’s eyes, the boys were given the space to critically analyse stereotypes, we, as their families, friends and community have placed on them. Ashton, initially, reflected the interests of many boys of 8 years of age, that of a footballer! However, throughout the whole process, they were presented with different scenarios of being Ashton, and what one should do when faced with such a challenge. These ranged from hiding your favourite teddy, if your friend came to play, to what would you do if you were being picked on - would you hit back or walk away? What are boys told to do? The boys discussed Ashton’s family and the role of women in his family, all reflective of the boys’ experiences but shared in a safe way through their creation of Ashton.
The success of 'Boys in the Making' is attributed to its interactive workshops, where every student engages in discussions about gender stereotypes and norms through creative mediums such as art, drama, and music. These workshops encourage boys to explore questions like:
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"When are boys told not to cry?"
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"When does a boy stop needing a teddy?"
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"What makes a boy tough, strong, or brave?"
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"Ah, that's just boys being boys" – what does that mean?
The culmination of the boys' discussions, ideas, and hard work was the creation of a short film, written, produced, and directed by Gary Whelan, of Broken Talkers Theatre Group. Gary gathered their workshop feedback on a weekly basis, and used this as inspiration for the written piece, which can be found below.
This groundbreaking initiative, now extending its efforts to involve parents in challenging stereotypes, is unique in Ireland. Stay tuned for more developments!
Ashton
Aston.
Tall for his age
The tallest boy in our class by a mile. Never out of his football top.
Cheeky. Toothy smile.
He’s 8 and so he’s not yet showing Any signs of rage
That some older boys and men
The ones who fight and fight
Sometimes display.
A kind and caring kind of kid
His family, his friends, and a football. to him they're all he needs.
Every day after school
till dark in the park practising
The kicks and flicks and tricks.
That his grandad taught him.
Living for football and Dreaming
one day that he’ll play for PSG
and score the winning goal in stoppage time. From an impossible 30 yard free.
Did you hear about what happened To Ashton in the park
He was up there playing football
With his friend
on the fake grass
Wearing his new psg top
The one that Santa brought him
And Ashtons practising his tricks.
and Aston’s showing off a bit
And then this group of boys
who were down the other end.
Walk over to where Ashton’s playing football with his friend.
Aston doesn't recognize these boys, but he thinks they're acting sus. “Give us a shot of your ball” one says and then they start to push Ashton’s friend and try to steal the ball
And Ashton said, “here give it back.”
And out of nowhere, this boy round Ashton’s age
walks up and smack
He punches Ashton full force in the face.
Bang! A white flash like a firework goes off behind his eyes. Ashton stumbles and falls backwards.
Walking home
from the park
Thump thump Thump
His heart's pumpin’
It’s getting dark.
He’s covered in mud
These eyes are red his cheek is numb
His clothes are soaking wet
He’s doing that weird fast breathing in thing Children do when they're upset.
Ashton’s not the sort of boy that’s used to bring in fights It’s not that he’s a chicken he’s just kind of quiet and He’s walking home and thinking
about what he needs to do
And because this is all new to him
he hasn't got a clue.
He knows that he should tell him mam and dad, But He keeps it to himself
bottles it all up inside
And it's not good for his health
he lies there in his bed asleep
Nightmares of the bully creeping
Up to beat him up again
And then awake.
lying in his bed for hours
Wishing he had superpowers
Super speed, agility, Super strength, Invisibility He’d sort that bully out in a flash
And turn around and get on with the match
And everyone would know
Ashton’s not to be messed with.
Skills like Spiderman Skills like Messi and loads of friends who all do Karate. and being the best
At football and at fighting.
Always winning.
Never frightened.
In school he can’t focus on his work
Stuck on repeat, in his mind, the beating Afraid to go up to the park just in case he meets Those same boys again.
He needs to tell his mam and dad
He needs to tell his sister
He needs to tell his cousin.
He needs to tell his teacher.
He needs to tell his sister’s boyfriend
He does MMA
He doesn’t want to tell his older brother
He knows exactly what he’d say.
He’d say “You need to toughen up little man and learn to throw a punch. Hit the gym, get built like me up like me, drink protein shakes for lunch.
He needs someone to tell him that it's going to be alright. No, He needs someone to tell him to get back up there and fight
But if Aston starts fighting now,
he could end up fighting all his life.
When he’s older - Fighting with his girlfriend, or his children or his wife.
Fighting might become Ashton’s answer
to all of life's hard questions.
To raise your voice or raise a fist just to get people’s attention.
I think we should talk to him.
We’re his friends
We need to tell him he doesn’t have to keep things to himself. He needs to know there’s nothing wrong with getting help.
He needs to know that sometimes bad things happen and that everyone gets scared.
Even the bullies get scared sometimes.
They're just scared of something else.