School class divisions cause a sense of stigma, fear of the mother of two students

In the North Karelian At school, the classes have been shared according to the needs of the students, but the practice has also caused feelings of stigma.

Helsingin Sanomat told Wednesdaythat the Kauniainen Elementary School will be distributed to classes on the basis of religion this fall.

The same kind of division is done at Polvijärvi School, the mother of school children tells HS.

HS does not publish the mother’s name as she wants to protect the privacy of her children living in a small municipality. The mother’s identity is known to the editorial.

The mother has two children who attend Polvijärvi Upper Secondary School. One of the children is in the « ordinary » class and the other in the « class in need ». Although the idea behind the breakdown is good, it causes a sense of stigma for both children and parents, the mother says.

Maternal According to the high school parallel classes, the need for support is divided. There is typically a diagnosis behind the aid decision. The mother’s other child has ADHD. The child is in the class of those in need, even though the mother does not have learning difficulties and receives good grades.

The child knows that he or she is in a supported class and feels that it defines him. Schoolchildren are aware of the interdependence between classes and the supported class has a reputation for a « weaker group », Mom describes. The « ordinary » class is also better off at the school’s sports competition, which emphasizes the difference.

The class division has been discussed among the students in the summer before the seventh grade start, as students have tried to find out who belongs to each group.

The mother has tried to encourage her supported child by reminding her that classification does not limit her future and opportunities.

« Children are sharing the breakdown. There is a lot of good at school, but this undertone is no longer modern. »

According to the mother, the division has been reported to the parents of the pupils before the start of high school. The division is justified by the fact that students receive the support they need.

Polvijärvi school headmaster Katja Kajava Classes are not divided directly on the basis of pedagogical support, but the need for pupil support is taken into account when making the division. Like Kauniainen Elementary School, Polvijärvi is also made for the upper classes according to the viewer.

The justification is the same: timetables. It is impossible to organize the teaching and supported teaching of the auditorium if the classes are formed in the sum, says Kajava.

According to Kajava, parents and pupils have been understanding the division of the consideration, according to Kajava. Kajava knows that at the beginning of high school, the class division always evokes emotions when some long -term classmates are separated.

« There is always pain and it is understandable. But when the school year begins, young people find that friends who have gone to different classes are still seen during the break. »

In the world of school The principle of inclusion has been driven in recent years. Inclusion means that every student has the right to teach in a « ordinary » class, regardless of learning difficulties, injuries or illnesses.

The principle has received a lot of criticism because it has caused Practical problems in schools. Due to problems from the beginning of August Learning Support Indeed, the renewal in basic education.

Counselor Jukka Vetoniemi The National Board of Education commented on the subject in general in a story about Kauniainen Elementary School. According to the betting name, students should not be classified on the basis of any feature and the groups should be constructed so that equality is achieved as well as possible.

According to Kajava, teaching should consider the individual needs of each student in addition to inclusion. Customizing the best possible teaching requires constant observation from teachers and families.

The different support needs of students are a fact that it is good for them to understand, Kajava believes. He uses a metaphor:

« Not everyone can see the same height stool. It would be equality to have a suitable stool for everyone. »