Technolandy

Day 3 (of 2024/25) what a quote from a parent

Here is how I see the continuum from exclusion to belonging:  Exclusion: Outright rejection. “You can’t be here.” Tolerance: Neutral. “You can be here, but the space was not designed with you in mind, and we don’t particularly care if you are here or not. Please don’t get in the way.” Inclusion: “You are welcome here, but make sure your presence doesn’t ask too much of the rest of us. We are happy for you to be here as long as it doesn’t ask us to change.” Belonging: “Please come! We aren’t us without you.

Such a great share from someone looking at the work that we do. Shifting from a place of tolerance towards full belonging – with the obvious conflict/hypocrisy that we welcome and invite even those that wish we did not invite particular others.

BC Education has done a lot of work around bullying and harassment by looking at the learning that needs to be done rather than just listing a series of consequences. SOGI 123 introduces a lot of strategies and information that help many people who felt they needed to stay out of sight, be seen and be celebrated – as we do with every individual. It is why we talk about individualized education (even in group settings!). 

And as I have shared many times in the past – schools are great microcosms of the community where students can explore ‘who they are’ – in the past that might’ve included changing outfits on the way to school… listening to some different music with friends… reading books that might introduce new thinkings… where students can be who they are, not just who others wish they might be.

It’s why inclusion is great, but belonging is a commitment. I am not the same person I was as a student nor as a first year teacher, and I’m not going to be the same person when I reach retirement. But we will create learning environments where every student has a sense of belonging – even if another person in the room might make them feel different stages of exclusion/tolerance/inclusion because of internal feelings that are going through synthesis.

Love that statement though: please come! We aren’t us without you…!