To all those who responded to me in my dismay,
Thank you so much for your comments. I feel a lot less isolated now, but
somewhat amazed at the size of the response. Some I will respond to
personally. I would like to say that I felt heartened enough to write to
the Dean of the School of Education at the Open University.
It is wonderful to know that even in the minority world of e-mail
communication, there are so many, in various countries, who wish to ensure
that the debate about minority &/ or oppressed groups is being pushed
forward. Like Tony Booth, I feel that the time is right, in the wake of
the Stephen Lawrence enquiry, to look again at ideas about institutional &
individual discrimination. Like David Skidmore, I agree that the reality,
the actions behind the words is the important issue I am reminded of 2
things
Once an Acting Principal at the College where I work stopped me in the
corridor & asked me how many students with Downs syndrome we had she
looked surprised when I replied that I did not know. Why dont you know
? caught on the hop, for an instant I thought why dont I know ?
then I managed to regain my faculties & replied to me they are people
first, not walking syndromes.
This same person later once exclaimed in the middle of a heated debate
about the composition of the Equal Opportunities Committee no-one cares
about Equal Opportunities more than I !
Those in positions of authority (including ourselves) can know the right
words, but what are we really doing on the road to Equality of
Opportunity/ Equity ?
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