Role models

To appreciate positive and negatives in today’s role models.

by Jude Scrutton

Suitable for Key Stage 3

Aims

To appreciate positive and negatives in today’s role models.

Preparation and materials

• Prepare a montage of George Best’s top football moments (or use one already prepared on YouTube). Likewise a similar montage of the Brazilian footballer Kaka. These can add impact, but the assembly can be used without them.

Assembly

1. Show the students the presentations of the two footballers.
   
   Ask them to think about their similarities and differences. Look for deeper understandings of the differences and similarities. Apart from being obviously immensely talented footballers, are there any other ways in which they are role models?
2. In his playing days, people loved and worshipped George Best so much that he became as famous as the Beatles. People began to copy his style in their clothes and the way they cut their hair. In fact he even had his own boutique.
3. Ask the students what they know about George Best’s personal life. Draw out issues over his extravagant lifestyle, alcoholism, abusive behaviour to women. Ask the students if they think the fame caused George Best to lose his way in life. (Paul Gascoigne may also be mentioned.)
   
   Now ask the students if they think he is a role model – someone to admire and use as a guide for their own morals and way of life.
4. Refer to the montage of Kaka, which should include the famous picture of him celebrating wearing the T-shirt with the slogan ‘I belong to Jesus’. Ask students to respond to the picture. What do they think prevents Kaka from making lifestyle choices similar to the ones that Best made?
5. Ask the students if they think that having faith and religious guidelines that govern the way we live can help us through difficult times. Reflect that Kaka clearly does have faith, and perhaps that helps him make those difficult decisions.
6. Even if we don’t believe in God, we can still live our lives within good moral guidelines and make judgements that help us live better lives.

Time for reflection

Repeat the montages as the students think about the assembly.

Prayer
Dear God,
Help us to make the most of our lives
and to make sure that we help people we meet.
Amen.

Hymn

‘Father, hear the prayer we offer’ (Come and Praise, 48)