FOOTBALL clubs are not doing enough to tackle sectarianism, according to the man behind the country's largest anti-sectarianism education project.

Sense Over Sectarianism will mark its 20th anniversary in July, reaching thousands of primary and secondary school pupils every year.

Mark Adams, who runs the scheme, said he is frustrated by the constant claims that more should be done in schools to tackle "Scotland's shame".

The problem, he says, is not with children and young people but with adult influences in their lives.

Mark, development officer for Sense Over Sectarianism, said: "One of the great frustrations is that it's too easy to say we should be educating kids about this - we already are educating kids.

"There are 140 Glasgow primary schools and every year between 115 and 120 take part in our Divided City novel study - after Harry Potter that must be the most well read book in Glasgow.

Mark Adams (middle of frame) project co-ordinator with Sense Over Sectarianism pictured speaking to Darnley Primary school P6 pupils. In foreground left is class teacher Martin Walker with Haniya Akhter age 11 Picture: Colin Mearns

Mark Adams (middle of frame) project co-ordinator with Sense Over Sectarianism pictured speaking to Darnley Primary school P6 pupils. In foreground left is class teacher Martin Walker with Haniya Akhter age 11 Picture: Colin Mearns

"One of the big programmes we have is Communities United where we bring together the Catholic schools to work with the non-denominational schools and we do that for three weeks with a sports event to finish that off and we have no problems, the kids have no problems working together, they enjoy it, they enjoy making new friends.

"That's not the problem, the kids are not the problem.

"We're trying to get a generation educated and then we hope that we can keep them on board but the big problem is the other outside influences coming from different perspectives."

Mark started out as a community activist and joined Sense Over Sectarianism in 2006 to run community projects in Maryhill.

Mark Adams, project co-ordinator with Sense Over Sectarianism, pictured speaking to Darnley Primary school P6 pupils who are reading copies of Divided City by Theresa Breslin Picture: Colin Mearns

Mark Adams, project co-ordinator with Sense Over Sectarianism, pictured speaking to Darnley Primary school P6 pupils who are reading copies of Divided City by Theresa Breslin Picture: Colin Mearns

The following year he began working as a schools officer before becoming full time development officer for the charity, which has grown to run a number of projects at primary and secondary level.

Divided City studies the novel by Theresa Breslin and encourages P7 pupils to talk about what sectarianism means to them, the language of sectarianism and what they and wider society can do to tackle the problem.

Mark said: "We look at the Orange Lodge, the history of sectarianism in Scotland, discrimination in employment, history of football clubs and how they have become entangled in it.

Darnley Primary school P7 class teacher Jennifer McKay with pupils Sophie MacDonald age 11, left and Ava McChristie age 12 Picture: Colin Mearns

Darnley Primary school P7 class teacher Jennifer McKay with pupils Sophie MacDonald age 11, left and Ava McChristie age 12 Picture: Colin Mearns

"Then we look at Glasgow as a whole, what we like about Glasgow, what we dislike.

"Because there's so many good things but they're counterbalanced by things like the grafitti we've got in the city at the moment. It's unbelievable. Loads of hate crime graffiti.

"We talk about how we can eradicate those. How we can reduce sectarianism.

"I use the example of the drink driving. Everybody said drink driving is normal in one generation but now if you're drink driving you're a social pariah - so significant change can be made if we all pull in the right direction."

Darnley Primary School is one of those taking part in Sense Over Sectarianism - and P7/6 teacher Dawn Coull said it has had a "positive impact" on the children.

In non-covid years, Darnley would work with the neighbouring Catholic primary school to bring the pupils together but this year that was not possible.

Class teacher Martin Walker with Haniya Akhter age 11 Picture: Colin Mearns

Class teacher Martin Walker with Haniya Akhter age 11 Picture: Colin Mearns

Instead, four classes of P6 and P7s took part in the project.

Dawn said: "Issues that are covered are still large problems across all of Glasgow.

"Attitudes children have come from home and are instilled in them before we get them so it's about breaking down that pattern that you have to pick a side.

"It's about having to challenge attitudes and not think a certain way.

"And this project really makes them think.

"It's good at making them think about things without the football being brought in to it, before they even realise that what it's aimed at.

"Being a Glasgow school, it's really important to take part. Our children are the future of Glasgow.

"We see them develop positive attitudes towards others and towards people they see being different.

Darnley Primary school P6 pupil Abbie Watson with a copy of Divided City by Theresa Breslin Picture: Colin Mearns

Darnley Primary school P6 pupil Abbie Watson with a copy of Divided City by Theresa Breslin Picture: Colin Mearns

"We still have a long way to go as a city and yes, we are not going to change everybody, but if we can change one person then that's progress."

Mark also lectures student teachers at Glasgow University, who then take the course with them across Scotland.

He said: "Teachers go and work all across Scotland so Divided City is now also delivered in West Lothian, Fife, Dumfries, all over, North and South Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire.

"And that's important because there is a myth that this is a Glasgow problem and it's not - you want to go to Bathgate on a Saturday afternoon and look at the pubs there.

"And it's too easy to say it's a Glasgow problem because then you don't need to deal with it.

"You do need to deal with it, whether you're in Derry, Bathgate, Bo'ness. It doesn't matter where you are."

Mark says the scenes last Saturday, when 15,000 Rangers fans gathered at Ibrox and George Square with a minority singing anti-Catholic sectarian songs, show the problem is alive and well.

Darnley Primary school P pupil Constant Tho age 11 with a copy of Divided City by Theresa Breslin Picture: Colin Mearns

Darnley Primary school P pupil Constant Tho age 11 with a copy of Divided City by Theresa Breslin Picture: Colin Mearns

Catholic churches reported congregants being abused as they attended mass and one Glasgow church said it had been targeted with graffiti.

Mark said: "We have this whole religious hate thing but most of these people have not set foot in a church in the past 10 years.

"They are culturally Protestant even though they don't worship.

"We give people the knowledge and education and, ultimately, when it comes down to it, the choice of how to behave is up to them.

"So these people who were getting arrested on Saturday, they know it's their own fault they're getting arrested because they know what the consequences of their actions would be.

"Football clubs are not doing enough. Football clubs always make a statement saying 'We're doing everything we can'.

"My feeling is they should be doing the maximum, not the minimum.

"Again, that we are not doing enough in schools is absolute nonsense. We are massively doing this in schools.

"Schools are not the problem, schools are the solution."