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As you may or may not have read recently, National’s Associate Spokesperson for Education, Allan Peachey, has copped plenty of flak from all corners over his comments surrounding educational facilities for disabled people, or apparent lack thereof. Mr Peachey, pictured left, seems to want to fill our country with special schools for kids with special needs, going as far to say that Labour “is uncomfortable” about considering such a move; I would venture to say that they’re not uncomfortable, they’re just being sensible!
Research shows that children with disabilities achieve more on both academic and social levels when they experience education in regular schools. Furthermore, the NZ Disability Strategy, the cornerstone of disability rights legislation in this country, specifically aims to provide New Zealand children with an inclusive education, and what National is proposing completely goes against that critical value of inclusiveness. As the latest press release from the Inclusive Education Action Group suggests, “It is no longer acceptable to segregate children with disabilities from their siblings and friends in their local communities.”
CCS Disability Action have also been quick to fire a shot, spokesman Paul Gibson had this to say:
“In light of the research, New Zealand should not be bolstering its special schools to provide for children with disabilities. Instead, the focus needs to be on supporting the rights and needs of children with disabilities to receive a high quality education in their local school”
What are your thoughts? Should we be creating more special schools? Or promoting an inclusive environment? Leave your comments below!
5 responses so far ↓
1 Joyce // Nov 26, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I found your link to this blog on You’re Able.
I am not sure if you wanted comments from the USA, but as a physically disabled child growing up in the 1960s in California, I was not allowed in “regular” public school. I was forced to go to a “special” school where children with all sorts of disabilities were put. I had 5 siblings and a whole neighborhood of friends who went to the “regular” school so I did not feel good about going to the “special” school. I felt segregated, although I would have not thought of that word as a child. As a result of my unhappiness of being segregated and having to go to a school many miles away from out neighborhood, I began to misbehave at school when I was about seven years old. I kept begging my mom to let me go to the school with my sisters and brothers. She had to ‘fight’ the school district to get them to allow me into our neighborhood “regular” school.
Finally, at eight years old, after having to go through a battery of physical/medical examinations for the school district, I was allowed in “regular” school.
So I think excluding the disabled children from public schools and placing them in segregated schools is a horrible idea.
2 Red // Nov 26, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Hiya Joyce,
Gosh it’s fascinating to hear about the experiences of those who grew up in much more unforgiving times than these.. I grow up in a society where I expect equal opportunities, I expect equal treatment, and I sometimes forget that wasn’t always the case, so I greatly appreciate the insight, and thanks for your comment
Red
3 Arthur // Nov 26, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Is this just the opinion of Allan Peachey, or is this the policy of the National Party Education spokesman on the subject in question?
I think this would have been possible with Bill English as Education spokesman and Don Brash as leader, as part of their silly policies in 2005.
This does not sound like John Key or Kath Rich, who are quite progressive and liberal people.
Thanks for telling us about this and keep us updated please. In spite of the reported reaction I had not heard or read a thing.
4 Caz // Dec 10, 2007 at 11:02 am
Discriminating bastard, how dare he even suggest segregating us, yes ok there are some who wouldn’t cope in a mainstream school, but thats only a select few.
5 …and the research proves it! // Dec 11, 2007 at 2:38 am
[…] on from this post, regarding some right-wing politicians’ view that disabled children are better off segregated […]
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