My children are blessed; they are welcome and included at our community school. Our Principal is doing everything he can to support our teachers, and our teacher’s are learning and growing in order to meet the challenges that they face, as the school district moves our current system toward a more inclusive model.
The more I speak up about the benefits of inclusion, the more stories I hear from frustrated parents who feel as if their schools aren’t even trying to include their child. Which would stand to reason, we have been telling teacher’s for years that you need special training and expensive, fancy equipment in order to educate these kids… that frame of thinking will not be undone overnight. Parent’s vision and input is not welcome in every school in our district, therefore, neither are their children. The district is doing everything they can to provide the necessary supports for our school and teachers. It is very frustrating and difficult for families to understand that it can be done at our school, but not theirs.
Our school district prides itself for it’s commitment to being “A District of Choice”.
Our diverse programs of study support our mission statement by giving parents and students different paths to achieve academic and personal success. Choice is the foundation of our district's approach to education. Edmonton Public Schools is recognized internationally for offering the curriculum in ways that complement the unique backgrounds and talents of our students. Alternative programs are developed programs wherever it will support and foster student achievement.
We believe that the "one size fits all" model of education is no longer appropriate in today's rapidly evolving society. Children have different learning styles and some achieve better in certain environments. Edmonton Public Schools is making a strong statement about our ability to address and meet the changing needs of students.
Implemented more than two decades ago, Edmonton Public Schools created its revolutionary open boundary system. This allows parents and students to pursue educational programming study in a learning environment of their choice.
I believe that this philosophy was created by many people, who were no less passionate or well-intended than I. Sometimes it takes time to notice that something isn’t working the way it was intended to work. Because I believe in many cases, choice serves the school more than the parent or the child.
In the District Overview it states under special education programming that:
Edmonton Public Schools is committed to providing strong programming choices for students who have special education needs. A wide range of programming options and supports are offered. Inclusive programming in the community school is the first option considered and discussed with parents. Parents of students who meet special education eligibility may also choose programming provided in a number of district centre and specialized school programs. Depending on student needs, programming is supported through specialized assessment, consultation or other district services. With input from parents, staff develop an Individualized Program Plan (IPP) for each student identified as having special education needs. This plan outlines priority goals and objectives, guides programming, monitors and communicates student growth. The district supports students with special education needs to gain the knowledge, skills and self confidence they need to be successful in school and life
Parents are encouraged to contact their child's community school principal for information, support and advice.
I can be persuaded into believing that being a ‘district of choice’ is something to be proud of…..when those choices are quality, equitable, choices that are being made by informed parents, in the best interest of the children and their family (rather than being recommended by persuasive Principals).
If our district is going to claim that, ‘Inclusive programming in the community school is the first option considered and discussed with parents’, it would be fair to expect the best inclusive practices to be embedded in every school in our district, in order to ensure that every parent has access to quality educational choices for their child and their family. Crappy inclusion should not be an option for ANY childJ
Last night, my BFF and co-crusader Crystal and I, took advantage of an invitation to have our voices and opinions heard at the District level at a stakeholders consultation. The Board has developed new draft Vision, Mission, Beliefs and Values and Priorities for the next three years and invited interested members of the public to provide their input. There were two ways offered to provide input, through an online questionnaire or at an in-person consultation with Trustees and other stakeholders.
I was a little nervous as we pulled into the parking garage at the Centre for Education; I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. As it turns out, I am so glad to have chosen the in-person option, hearing the different perspectives helped me to provide my input with more clarity, depth and confidence than I would have on-line. There was very engaging conversation, and as the Trustees were sitting in, I felt like I was being heard and that my opinion was valued. I left feeling proud of what I had to offer to the conversation and with a satisfied feeling, for 'having the courage to change the things I can'.
My overall feeling is that the new Vision, Mission, Beliefs and Values and Priorities Documents will be a better reflect the changing needs of our students and communities (provided a few changes are made;). I look forward to seeing the revised draft following the stakeholder consultation.
