A conversation that I loved
During my lunch break at work, I met up with an old university lecturer. She didn’t recognise me as it had been three years. Looks wise, I don’t think I’ve changed at all, but she’s changed a lot. She’s aged, and not in a negative way. You can see her wisdom, in her facial expressions and in the way she carries herself. Her wisdom is in her words. She is the kind of person I’d like to be in a few years time.
We talked about disability in education, and how it has been perceived over the years. How we talk about ‘mainstreaming’ and how all of these things are ‘better’ now, but in reality, they aren't, not really. Statistically, in Scotland the same number of children with ‘disabilities’ or barriers to learning are excluded from mainstream education - I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not. However, the KIND/NATURE of disability that is excluded has changed. It used to be the case that those with physical disabilities were marginalized and excluded - those with mobility problems, deaf children, blind children (I’m not saying that this has changed, but I think we can agree, this has gotten better) or it was those who were labelled ‘educationally subnormal’ Now it’s those children who have ADHD, ASD, etc. Those who make education inaccessible to those ‘neurotypical’ children.
We also talked about my beliefs about inclusion - I strongly believe that anyone with any disability/additional support need should be included in the classroom. However, I think before we consult educational psychologists, social workers, or even parents. The child should be consulted and examined to see where they thrive, not just survive. Children with barriers to learning should not just be placed in a mainstreaming situation, so that they can be the token difference in the class - to provide all of the ‘normal’ children with an experience of diversity. It limits their progress (both the child in question, and their peers) and it neglects the fact that the child with a barrier to learning is indeed a person.
We also talked about the danger of labels - something I've always felt strongly about. I struggle with no own labels - Bipolar disorder. What that? How do I overcome that? How do I know which parts are me and are the disorder? Am I my disorder? The people who bestow labels on children in Scotland are often not around to see the impact their ‘diagnosis’ has on the child and their community, after. They often only see the child for a limited amount of time, in certain situations - usually where they are compromised or in some way pressured. There have also been cases where the person has not met the child they have diagnosed.
Before we pin a label on a child, we must look at whether there is provision in place to help that child towards overcoming the barrier that society has created for them, otherwise the label is useless.
We also talked about the motives of professionals in helping pupils. We talked about the examples of heads of ASN I have met and worked with, deciding what the child can and can’t do for them. She spoke about a friend of hers she had who taught girls (with “poor personal hygiene”) how to put on make-up to make themselves more presentable. This woman in question wanted the girls to practise “good personal hygiene” by asking Facebook friends to donate their old make up to the cause. First of all, old make up does not signal good personal hygiene. Also, these were girls who did not understand the importance society places on ‘cleanliness’ but were being told that they needed the make up to be presentable, attractive, and sexualised. We spoke briefly about a friend I had who got people to sponsor her on a trip to Africa, she raised £3000 - most of the money was spent on her trip to Africa, where she took selfies with the “poor African kids who have nothing” it was “so rewarding, though”. About £70 of the money she raised went towards the actual charity.
We then spoke a little about our political beliefs and our opinion on the upcoming referendum, to which we agreed on almost everything. It was just such a lovely, worthwhile, and amazing conversation. We both support the Green Party, we both think Scotland should govern itself.
It was just such a worthwhile, engaging, amazing conversation. It is nice to speak to someone who is actually passionate about what they are doing. Who doesn't need to use academic jargon, who doesn't have to seem smart, who has thoughts, feelings, and says "fuck" a lot.
As always, I am but one person with an opinion - I welcome your thoughts.
