Inclusive culture in schools transforms communities | Heidi Heissenbuttel | TEDxMileHigh

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Can changing how we address differences in the classroom raise the bar for every student while creating a more compassionate, inclusive culture better suited to complex problem solving in the world? In this emotional talk, education leader Heidi Heissenbuttel explores the how and why of a new school model based on inclusivity in the classroom.

As an education leader for nearly three decades and a parent for two, Heidi has been a fervent advocate within schools as well as the broader community of parents and families to ensure children’s learning strengths are addressed, and, more importantly, that they feel empowered to communicate within the educational system for themselves and others.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[SacredcommitmenttoGod]

Inclusive education in schools promotes a sense of belonging and transforms communities by embracing diversity. Promote collaboration between educators and use innovative teaching methods This approach benefits all students by reducing isolation and deprivation by increasing academic performance and emotional intelligence. By evaluating all abilities and ideas. Inclusive schools create richer, more connected communities. which will ultimately change the world for the better.

[druoleary]

When administrators are almost as numerous as teachers but paid much more that's money not getting to the class. When I worked in the public schools the lazy, undisciplined kids whose parent never showed up for parent-teacher conferences were put in creative art classes for 3 hours a day. They don't get jobs.

[druoleary]

There have always been bullies and weirdos.

[opiumbrella]

Special education is needed. And in the past decades through many laws it is being enforced. But often at the expense of every other child. Inclusion at all costs is costing a lot. With these new demands comes no new funding. So funding is removed from the general population and teachers are left underpaid under funded over crowded and forced to deal with a subset of students who's abilities are not withing the parameters of a regular classroom setting. This is negatively impacting every other student, while a special needs students may have 50, 000 a year in aids and special interventions, due to new laws, this is taking from the education of every other child. The children can even further suffer when a child is shoehorned in by demand, but has daily outbursts of obscenities, violence, aggression, that is harmful to everyone in the class, but they can be reprimanded or put into a special setting because of THEIR RIGHTS. What about the rights of all the children? The forced integration also lowers test scores even further reducing the funding a school receives. People say "your discriminating. Seperate but equal is not ok". And on and on. My question is this. At what point do the needs and rights of our majority of children (even disabled ones who are fully capable of being in a classroom setting) get to be considered? It's not only the general education students suffering, many of the parents and voices advocating forced integration are worried about emphasizing their child having a "normal" experience in school, over them actually getting a decent, tailored, and strong education in a special education program with peers who are ging through the same things. We need to demand change. Seperate funding for increased disability laws, for one. We also need to end inclusion at all costs, because the costs are too high for all involved. Both special needs and general education students deserve to have a good education, instead we are lowering the quality of that education all around in favor of "equity". Basically "everyone must suffer because I don't want to admit my child is actually a detriment to the education of those around them."

[patrickwarner]

Cultural propaganda at it's finest. Differentiation is how unique skills are formed not by classing everyone as a single equivalent group many of the points here are not connected phenomena but different problems with different solutions not a uniform actuality.