This lesson explores how discrimination can prevent people from making a full contribution to society.

3. This lesson explores how discrimination can prevent people from making a full contribution to society.

5. Have you heard of: Florence Nightingale Mary Seacole

6. In March 1853 Russia invaded Turkey. England and France were very worried about the growing power of Russia, and went to Turkey�s aid. The Crimean Peninsular became a battle ground.

7. The �Crimean War� began in 1854. It was to last two years.

8. Conditions in the army hospital in Scutari were appalling. Wounded soldiers lay in their army uniforms that were "stiff with dirt and gore". They had no blankets to cover them, and nothing healthy to eat. Wounds only accounted for one death in six. Diseases such as typhoid, cholera and dysentery were the main reasons why so many soldiers lost their lives. 

9. Florence Nightingale was born in 1820 to wealthy parents while they were on a two year honeymoon in Florence, Italy.

10. Her parents wanted her to marry a rich man, but she wanted to become a nurse. Her parents were opposed to this, as nursing was considered to be a job for poor women. Eventually, when Florence was 31, her father gave her permission to train. Two years later she was appointed resident lady superintendent of a hospital for women in Harley Street, London.

11. Mary Seacole was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1805. At the time most black people were enslaved to the owners of sugar plantations. Because she was of mixed race, she wasn�t a slave, but her family had few civil rights. They could not vote, or enter the professions.

12. However, her mother was well known in her home town as a healer and she taught her daughter how to treat wounds, diseases and minor ailments.

13. When Florence Nightingale heard about the thousands of men suffering from disease in the Crimea, she volunteered her services to the British army. She was eventually given permission to take a group of thirty-eight nurses to Turkey.

14. Mary Seacole had travelled widely, and had learned to cure people suffering from Cholera and Typhoid, using her gentle herbal remedies. She recounted her adventures in a book �The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands�.

15. Despite her special skills and knowledge, Mary�s application to join Florence Nightingale�s group of nurses was turned down, because she was black. Nevertheless, Mary decided to pay for the 3,000 mile journey herself, and made her own way to the Crimea.

17. Florence Nightingale and her nurses were based in a hospital several miles from the front.

18. Here, by insisting on order, cleanliness and hygiene she was able to dramatically reduce the death-rate of her patients. Every night she toured the wards carrying a Turkish oil lamp

19. Mary started up a business called the British Hotel, a few miles from the battlefront. Here she sold food and drink to the British soldiers. With the money she earned from her business, Mary was able to finance the free medical treatment she gave to the soldiers.

20. It is said that Mary worked from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m. at night. Often she would be seen treating wounded soldiers from both sides on the battlefield, while the battle was still raging!

21. Wounded at the battle of Balaclava

22. In 1856 Florence Nightingale returned to England as a national heroine. She had been deeply shocked by the lack of organisation, hygiene and elementary care that wounded men received from the British Army. She began a campaign to improve the quality of nursing in military hospitals.

23. Later that year she had a special interview with Queen Victoria.

24. Florence died in 1910 at the age of ninety. The �Lady of the Lamp� is still revered as one of the most famous women in British History.

25. Mary Seacole was awarded medals by the British, Turkish and French in commemoration of her work with the soldiers of all nationalities. After the Crimean war, Mary Seacole divided her time between Jamaica and England She died in London in 1881 at the age of 76.

26. Sadly, after her death, The name of Mary Seacole was all too quickly forgotten. Click for Crossword

27. 150 years later ���. �One of the principle factors in transmitting infections in hospitals is related to hospital staff not cleaning their hands properly.� Professor Robert Pratt, 

28. A report has suggested that as many as 5,000 patients a year could be dying from infections caught in hospital. It estimated that a total of 100,000 people may catch bugs in hospital each year!

29. Both Mary and Florence had to overcome the prejudices of their times. How did they do this?

30. Do we have any prejudices nowadays which stop groups of people fulfilling their ambitions?

31. Can you name three other famous black or Asian people. Find out more about them. Prepare a presentation for the class.

32. Glossary Prejudice � bias, discrimination Hygiene - cleanliness Transmitting � passing on, sending out Ambitions � goals, aims

35. Useful Web Links www.maryseacole.com � all you need to know about Mary Seacole www.100greatblackbritons.com http://www.black-history-month.co.uk- Black History Month � Mary Seacole http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/famouspeople/standard/nightingale/index.shtml - quiz and learning about Florence Nightingale for kids http://www.florence-nightingale.co.uk/ - the Florence Nightingale museum �all you need to know about Florence Nightingale http://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/shp/modern/indrevdoctorsrev2.shtml - history of women in medicine http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=115 � resources on the history of women in medicine