[community] Fwd: Future of unique inclusive kindergarten in doubt | Toronto Star

[Paul Alcamo]

Hi Dorin
Thank you for engaging in this discussion.
I would like to reply to your comments of the natural acceptance of children to each other and to the idea that parents engage in our program as a fulfillment of their dream/delusion.
I can tell you from experience that the philosophy that we live each day in my classroom is one that has been refined over our 21 year history.  Initially, as we felt our way along in the pilot year, we came to realise that while integration by proximity does have benefits for both groups of students in our class, the real effect in developing students  and families that understand and embrace this philosophy came from direct tuition and facilitating opportunities for parents and children to engage.  
In our class we provide clear outlines of our inclusive philosophy through almost every interaction in the room.  Explicit lessons are laid out in elements of friendship that one would not normally teach in a JK/SK room.  Topics such as explaining one's equipment, comparing similarities and differences and discussing relative merits of both,studying accessibility issues which lead to evaluating and redesigning playrounds, teaching to watch for friends who stand by the side and look to be invited, inviting and asking to be invited into games and demonstrating elements of adapted activities in weekly mini lessons and setting problem solving sessions for students to use this new skill to adapt games based on the needs and abilities of classmates are only part of the explicit teaching of inclusion that goes on in our room.  It is through the daily micropractices of acceptance and advocacy that these children in our room grow.  It is in a facility which aims to carefully develop the abilities of the child receiving therapy that in recent research expounded that this child gains confidence to see himself as a potential peer of the community based classmate and his relationship verges from linear to multi directional.
It is a conscious decision by staff in the program to reach out to families, invite them in constantly to share in the class happenings, to facilitate out of school gatherings and thus to nurture relationships that allow students to find each other not just as classmates but as friends whose families encourage deeper connections.  Families are educated.  Knowledge replaces misconceptions and stereotype.  All students are seen as kids first before anything else.  What we see from the children is not that they play together because this friend is special and should be treated  nicely.  They play together because they are friends--full stop.
If it were up to me, I would have programs like this funded in every section 68 school facility in the province.  This experience, while yes is limited in its reach, makes a big impact on those that experience it.  
I want to thank you for the subtext compliment that it looks like it all happens without much influence. Our program, with a great deal of planning, work and cooperation from all players in our community results in acceptance.  And yes, schooling is serious business.  Just ask the children who made the passionate depositions yesterday in front of our Bloorview School Board in support of a program that they attended over 12 years ago.
Regards
Paul

      From: Dorin Petrescu <dorin.petrescu at sympatico.ca>
 To: Jutta Treviranus <jtreviranus at ocadu.ca>; Donna Saccutelli <donna.saccutelli at icloud.com>; Jess Mitchell <jmitchell at ocadu.ca>; Inclusive Design Community <community at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca>; pajalcamo <pajalcamo at yahoo.com> 
 Sent: Wednesday, 3 May 2017, 9:27
 Subject: Re: [community] Fwd: Future of unique inclusive kindergarten in doubt | Toronto Star
   
 Hello everyone, Without any intention to diminish the importance of such actions, I must say funds won't do much good, or, at least they are not the only answer; it will only keep the place open and a number of people employed, but the underlying problem will be brushed under the rug. My own, direct experience showed me how (why avoid the term) ignorant adults are. Children naturally accept children with special needs unless they are brought up in families that coin special needs as anomalies. Adults must to be educated/informed that their children will become better and happier persons, and future professionals (oh, every parent's dream and delusion equally) if they live in an inclusive community. Adults have a real problem differentiating tolerance from acceptance. Their "Oh, give me a break. Schooling is serious business" mindset must be changed first! Cheers,
Dorin 
 ---------- Original Message ----------
From: Donna Saccutelli <donna.saccutelli at icloud.com>
Date: May 3, 2017 at 8:04 AM


Hello Jutta

Listed below from Paul
is his recommendations of what else can be done to
save Integrated Kindergarten at Bloorview

> 1. Petition--as many names as possible
> 2. Individuals to send notes to their MPP asking them to review the mandate for the Province to make this program fully funded.
> 
> 


Thank you so much
Donna 


Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Paul Alcamo <lamp1963 at ymail.com>
> Date: May 3, 2017 at 7:56:25 AM EDT
> To: Donna Saccutelli <donna.saccutelli at icloud.com>
> Subject: Re: Fwd: Future of unique inclusive kindergarten in doubt | Toronto Star
> Reply-To: Paul Alcamo <lamp1963 at ymail.com>
> 
> 1. Petition--as many names as possible
> 2. Individuals to send notes to their MPP asking them to review the mandate for the Province to make this program fully funded.
> 
> thanks
> 
> Paul
> From: Donna Saccutelli <donna.saccutelli at icloud.com>
> To: Paul Alcamo <lamp1963 at ymail.com> 
> Sent: Tuesday, May 2, 2017 11:23 PM
> Subject: Fwd: Future of unique inclusive kindergarten in doubt | Toronto Star
> 
> Jutta. Wants to know what else we can do
> 
> D
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
>> From: "Treviranus, Jutta" <jtreviranus at ocadu.ca>
>> Date: May 2, 2017 at 10:16:56 PM EDT
>> To: Donna Saccutelli <donna.saccutelli at icloud.com>
>> Cc: "Mitchell, Jess" <jmitchell at ocadu.ca>
>> Subject: Re: Future of unique inclusive kindergarten in doubt | Toronto Star
>> 
>> Hi Donna,
>> This is a great article. I saw it in the Metro this morning. Beyond signing the petition, is there anything else we can do to help?
>> 
>> best,
>> Jutta
>> 
>>> On May 2, 2017, at 10:03 PM, Donna Saccutelli <donna.saccutelli at icloud.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/05/01/future-of-unique-inclusive-kindergarten-in-doubt.html
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
> 
> 
________________________________________
Inclusive Design Community (community at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca)
To manage your subscription, please visit: http://lists.idrc.ocadu.ca/mailman/listinfo/community