Inclusive Education Series
My story series about inclusion in public schools and classrooms
The following is a collection of my stories related to inclusion, particularly as it relates to inclusive schools and classrooms.
May 2023
Accommodating students in school is part of the job.
This isn’t a knock on teachers. Our education system is a massive mess. Teachers have too many students in their classroom and not enough training and resources to properly support them.
Effectively supporting all students is well and truly a team job.
February 2023
It’s nearly the end of February. I’ve contacted our Minister of Education every single day through social media, as well as sending more formal letters of concern, and have received zero acknowledgement.
It’s almost as though the minister is just not that into my work…
February was supposed to be national inclusive education month in Canada, but it was our worst inclusive education month ever.
Apparently our politicians think inclusive education month is a great time to insult the intelligence of their constituents.
Went to inclusive education month, and all I got were these lousy funding cuts…
Our heart-breaking and traumatic personal experience with seclusion in Manitoba’s public school system.
January 2023
If inclusive education month were like a genie in a lamp that could grant me three inclusion-related wishes, these would be the top three things I would change about our public education system.
December 2022
Practical advice for making classroom spaces and lessons more accessible for all students. The best lesson plans and classroom management strategies will be rendered useless if students do not feel cared about and safe in school.
March 2022 Update
Recently our school division presented their budget to parents and community members, prompting me to write another letter, despite the fact that my previous letters have thus far been ignored.
February 2022 updates
In light of this being inclusive education month, I finally shared a bit of the story that led me to become an inclusion advocate:
There’s no use in ranting or complaining about something without putting forth actionable and realistic suggestions for improvement, so I started there:
It’s also not helpful to speak for a community without actually consulting that community (even when we’re also part of that community, because we don’t speak for everyone). So I did that next:
We sometimes have to get a little creative, especially when resources are slim. Hence Thinking Outside The Box:
It’s important to know why you’re fighting for something, and how it will change the lives of others for the better, so I explained that here:
Inclusion Benefits All Students
Accommodations for neurodiverse students benefit everyone
medium.com
Nearly one year ago, I wrote this piece. I was incredulous after I learned that February was considered Inclusive Education Month in Manitoba — it’s actually not. As you’ll read, all this entailed was a photo of a declaration posted on social media.
That’s literally it.
No additional funding, no policy changes, no nothing.
One year later and nothing has improved — In fact, thanks to a pandemic and government incompetence, things have changed for the worse.
The only bright spot comes from a forward-thinking school division here in Manitoba, and I really hope others will follow suit. In January 2022, LRSD announced they have hired a Divisional Principal of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Services:
Anti-Bullying
I don’t really have an issue with pink shirt day, per se. It’s a great way to increase awareness and to start conversations about bullying in schools and classrooms, but it will take a lot more than wearing pink shirts to end bullying.
For even more education-related stories:
And the table of contents for all of my stories:
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