Calm down but Speak Up! - A Pipeline to Prison/Ego Death/Isolation Rooms/ The Ethos of Parental Partnerships/Judging

I am not writing to diss the current UK education system. I have had enough of doing so privately - which results in stress and futhermore DESTRUCTION!

The very system that should be supporting behaviourial issues and addtional needs are exacerbating them. I am not here to diss but to critique, to help.

All too often institutionalised racism and SEND gets studied, researched and findings not applied. POC are also often participating in perpetuating stereotypes that often results in a self-fulfilled prophecy.

Writing about my experience as an educator and as a parent is not only cathartic for me but I believe many others can relate and will contribute to social change. All of our voices, no matter the story, matter- in fact the more we feel we shouldn’t share by doubt of others judging us, the more we probably should!

If we want change, if I am to stay true to my teaching philosophy that overarchingly includes empowering others through kindness, care and creativity, then speak up I shall. Calmly!

No parent should be made to feel as I have navigating a child of colour through a broken system while additional needs are being so called assessed. I have also seen it all too often as a teacher.

I emphasise this is not an attack on teachers. Especially not on anyone in particular. It’s turning pain to progress in hope the younger generation has a childhood- like a normal thing?

I will be writing up what has effected me and my family personally and from the perspective as an educator. I am not going into greater depth now as I have just had a return to school meeting for my son after a 5 day expulsion. I will also not get too specific about particulars for privacy for my son and the school. I want to be calm. Provide concrete evidence on what needs to change and fact checked by my mum a veteran in UK education!

The title of this blogpost: Calm down but Speak Up! - A Pipeline to Prison/Ego Death/Isolation Rooms/ The Ethos of Parental Partnerships/Judging will be further explored in my next account. I think it will be a series so to speak- Calm down but Speak Up!

Thank you for taking the time to read. Your perspective matters and I appreciate you reading without judgement. A balanced critique is great- the world however is far too focused on competitiveness in success and this unfortunately results in judging others. Which isn’t useful for those being judged nor those judging.

I digress and will be busy formulating my next post on this.

Thanks again for reading.