February is Manitoba Inclusive Education Month

 

Apparently February 2021 is supposed to be Manitoba Inclusive Education Month

Though I'm not sure how we are supposed to know or what this is supposed to achieve.  Aside from school divisions posting this proclamation on their websites, I've seen absolutely nothing to indicate that this is anything other than yet another empty proclamation that achieves nothing.

Sorry if I sound cynical...  

No wait, I'm not sorry.  I'm cynical for very good reason and many other parents, caregivers, and professionals are too.  We are tired.  Tired of fighting, tired of advocating, and tired of shouting into the void.  We're tired of years of empty promises from both politicians and from schools.  

We're tired of seeing children punished for behaviour that stems from their disability; behaviour that, in that moment, was out of the child's control.  We're tired of seeing behaviour of children who are clearly struggling labelled as "defiant", "belligerent", "disobedient", "uncooperative", or whatever sugar-coated terminology some school staff are using to blame children rather than look beyond behaviours to see what is really going on.  

Children are hurting.  They're misunderstood.  Many children are being harmed by Manitoba's public education system: by ill-informed school staff, by long out-dated policy, and most of all by political inaction.  If we don't continue speaking up, louder and stronger and ever more persistent, to show politicians that there is a political appetite for change in our public school system, then things will not get better.  Unfortunately politicians need to see that their constituents care enough about this that it will impact how they vote in in the next provincial election. 

Let me be abundantly clear.  There are many absolutely amazing, outstanding teachers and school staff in our province.  They're also burning out faster than schools can find and hire "good" people and they need so much more support than they're getting: from their leadership, and especially from our province.  Our schools are pathetically under-funded, over-crowded, and under-resourced.  That is why teachers and school staff are overworked, under-trained, and under-paid.  That is why teachers are also exhausted and tired of fighting for their students.  That is why school staff feel helpless when they, too, are advocating for the needs of children and their concerns are falling on deaf ears.  Schools can only do so much with so little.  They need help too.  

So please, contact your Minister of Education.  In Manitoba, our newly appointed Minister of Education is the Honourable Cliff Cullen, MLA.  Constituents can email the office of the Ministry of Education at minedu@leg.gov.mb.ca.  

About the Author

Jillian is an ADHD 2e Coach and Child Advocate in Manitoba, Canada.

Jillian has a diploma in Child & Youth Work and a Degree in Psychology, as well as being the parent of an amazing 2e/ADHD child.

Visit ADHDPro.ca and Facebook.com/ADHD2ePro to learn more.

If you need help educating your child's school, your family, or with general ADHD coaching or advocacy, please feel free to contact us.