Mentoring and Belonging
Back to the Alternative Learning Trust too this month. I went to a medical alternative provision in Croydon where I met some great young people who were excluded from mainstream school due to struggling with attendance through issues such as anxiety and ASD.. They were great and there was lots of willingness there to go university and it was such a shame that they had to go through such shaming before they found an environment that they could flourish in with less students in a class. You cannot help but think if they were wealthy enough to attend a private school there might have been no issue in the first place! On to Sutton to a PRU where I spoke to young people and got a tour around the gym where they have been getting great results using boxing to help young people develop control of their behaviour. I am a huge advocate for boxing in schools, particularly in London. The confidence that comes with developing boxing skills reduces confrontation and increases concentration. It ought to be more widespread!
Jason Clark invited me to an event in the City of London for the Worshipful Company of Plumbers. I met some influential people in the world of plumbing who are very keen to widen access to trades for young people. It turns out, many colleges say you must have qualifications such as GCSEs or Functional Skills when in actual fact they should be providing them alongside the course, as was the case with Jason. There is government funding for this. There was a young lady at a PRU that had been rejected for an apprenticeship in plumbing due to not having a maths qualification, however, through Jason and the people at the livery company, we have got her on a course with a private training provider that will provide her functional skills! Giving young people the opportunity to learn a trade is giving them their dignity back. I am looking forward to working more closely with them to help more young people excluded from schools get into trades without facing more arbitrary rejection!
Is exclusion the end of 'belonging?'
When I was born to dual heritage, something unusual happened. Both sides rejected me. So, where did I belong?
I did not know. Racially abused at home and in my community for being Pakistani, whilst being rejected by my Pakistani family for being White English.
Then came school.
For me, not a multicultural space, but nevertheless a space enriched by difference. One that I yearned to connect with in the absence of any domestic connection.
I just did not not know how to connect 'appropriately'. In my medical records of 1996, my primary school headteacher says I cannot wait my turn to speak and show excessive friendliness to others, often kissing and hugging them.
My mother admits she did not hug me until I was 14.
Now why do I share this snippet of my childhood? Because context is important.
There is context to children's behaviour that I believe it is morally incumbent to discover. I also happen to believe there is great functional utility to this discovery, in that it can help the child improve their behaviour in school, when we have knowledge of what drives it.
Was my background the responsibility of the school? No.
Could the school have made a difference? Yes.
My exclusion, that conscious decision to give up on me without trying, stayed with me for almost thirty years. Making me feel wrong in the world, unlovable and that I do not belong in society.
For me, exclusion was the end of belonging. I entered an exile that made me counter-cultural and suspicious of authority and institutions.
My challenge is this...
If there is a mechanism of exclusion, can we truly have a culture of belonging?
Big thank you to CASTLE PHOENIX TRUST and St John Paul II Multi Academy for hearing me out and engaging so well with this topic!BIG thank you to all who donated to help me get a new pc for work with Excluded from School! Particularly Prof David Lane who made up the difference! David is an accomplished author and very experienced in matters of school inclusion. You can find one of his books on bullying in schools here.
A local gentleman who sells computers and who is sympathetic to our cause and who’s wife works with children with SEN, gave me a heavy discount on a pc to meet our budget of £250 and included a monitor and a warranty! It is a beauty! Calls are totally seamless now and I am currently working on creating content and updating the website, but I do need help!
Finally, I have decided to start to offer comprehensive mentoring packages to young people at risk of school or exclusion or who are currently excluded. I want to work with young people over the course of an entire term, helping them develop the skillsand drive they need to get back into a school setting and flourish with a future goal in mind. Currently, there is nothing in place for young people who are excluded, they are expected to suddenly be able to manage their behaviour and develop a willingness to conform. This is the definition of madness. Change nothing whilst hoping for change. I have mentored for years both children and young men and I believe that this, in addition to training teachers and advocating for systemic change, is my true calling. If anyone has suggestions, can help, refer me and help me develop my program into a visually friendly package, I would appreciate it!
Support us!
I am really pleased with the last appeal to get the computer and currently, I do not need anything equipment wise. I have decided that Buy me a Coffee is more hassle than it is worth due to heavy fees and waiting times for money to clear. I will instead provide the EFS bank details below if anybody would like to support or support regularly. Most of my work and mentoring at the moment I do for free, living off of conference talks and trainings. I would use any donated monies to cover the cost of the website each month which is £25.
Excluded from School LTD
Clearbank (Tide)
Acc no: 24779554
Sort: 04-06-05
As always, nudge me if you have not gotten a reply as I will have either thought I have replied or my email account will be playing up again!
Have a great week all
Tier