Eleven months of continual confrontation
And justification to achieve what every parent
Has a right to request. I have finally been told
That my son can have an assessment by an
Educational psychologist to determine his
Individual academic and social needs. And this
After four short term exclusions and untold time outs
In order to address the many rising issues that he
Has with the school and the school so apparently
Has with him. This was not achieved via the
School who still adamantly hold that they are able
To carter for his needs, but via the local council
And continual complaints made about the way
That he is treated at his current school. What I
Didn’t know as part of my role as a teacher of
Children with behavioural difficulties I now know
As the parent of a child with behavioural difficulties.
I am somewhat concerned for children like my own
Who do not fit the academic structure of the hidden
Curriculum as in codes of conduct and social niceties
And who while are intelligent individuals are not
Robotic in their learning methods to fit our nice
Learning structures and environments. I had the pleasure
Of running an alternative educational programme last
Year in Nottingham (actually it was two, one for school
Aged pupils and one for over sixteen’s) and also an
Alternative year eleven programme in a college in
Colchester the year before. It was my experience that those
Children that the educational system had written of had much
To offer to both the wider community and those who contributed
To their education. While the government has plans for
A nation wide programme of vocational qualifications for
Students who are not academically inclined I fear that we
Shall be left in the position where we are picking up a generation
Of young people who have been disaffected by the educational
System. The cost will be more then a monetary one in that
These individuals will come out of the educational system
Knowing little more than they went in with combined with
Common sense. The same can be said of primary children with
The now changing emphasis upon relationship building and
Community spirit that is so obviously the new national agenda
For the hidden curriculum. Again here a generation of children will
Pass from primary to secondary school feeling inadequate and
Confused as to the change of emphasis within their schooling
Career. My youngest is coming on nine and the eldest twenty
Three and all I say is thank good that I don’t have to do this again
More than once should the need arise. Our educational system is
So rigid that any deviation from the conceptual norm is an
Extreme hindrance for the child and family concerned. Having to
Teach children as young as seven who’s parents are unable to cope
With their disruptive and challenging behaviour, I often ask myself
what is next for them when the medication is at such a high does that
it effects there cognitive abilities. Do we then Wright them off and
institutionalise them indifferently? While the prospect appears bleak
there is hope for those that are determined to fight for their
Childs right to an education (of sorts). What your up against is the
Unwillingness of local authorities and schools to admit that one size does not fit all and that that odd size comes with a very big price tag. The private school that I work at is the best that I have thus far come across (the second being Jacques Hall in Essex) both of which are based upon an holistic and Therapeutic method of teaching and learning. But at £58.000 a year plus per child it is unfortunately out of the reach of all but those considered extremely disadvantaged in economic, social or political terms. The weight that a statement of needs carries is not surprising considering what is required in order to obtain one in the fist place.
