Discuss_Issues_of_Equality_and_Diversity_and_Ways_to_Promote_Inclusion_with_Your_Learners

Question 3 - a) Discuss issues of equality and diversity and ways to promote inclusion with your learners In all walks of life, you will have come across various forms of diversity and inequality. In a classroom, diversity and inequality is still a problem. People tend to generalise based on stereotypes, first impressions and previous experience. Petty (2004) says that “We do this because we want to know how to behave towards that person, and how we can expect them to behave towards us” (pg. 65). Stereotyping can be harmful in a teaching environment. Continuing to inform a student they aren’t going to do well, because their brother didn’t, will dent their self-confidence, make them feel excluded and they will most likely lose the motivation to achieve and do well. Petty (2004) describes this as “self-fulfilling prophecy” (pg. 67). People stereotype for many different reasons, common ones are gender, race, religion, sexuality, qualifications and disability. At some point in their lives, everyone will have made a decision based on a person because there is something different about them. This can also be done sub-consciously so easily and without thought. One of the most important things is to try and keep these stereotypes away from a classroom environment, to ensure that all students have an equal chance too succeed with an equal amount of support without feeling intimidated or discriminated against. Petty (2004) agrees with this, saying “All students must feel that they are positively and equally valued and accepted and that their efforts to learn are recognised and judged without bias”, “research has also continued to show that Afro-Caribbean’s, Asian’s and other ethnic minority students, and learners with disabilities or learning difficulties also get an unfair deal in the classroom from most teachers”. Ways to promote inclusion would be to avoid stereotyping people, trying not to form favourites, and also altering teaching materials if possible to ensure all students have the same chance to learn from them. Altering room layout to ensure there is easy accessibility for all learners and also attempt to make sure everything feels ‘normal’ so students won’t pick up your attitude to someone and include it in their own judgement of them. b) Review other points of referral available to meet the potential needs of your learners Sometimes you won’t be able to provide the answer to help a student, and may need to refer for extra support from an outside source. Some students may have additional learning needs such as hearing or site impairments, dyslexia, physical or mental disabilities or other health-related issues. There will also be additional needs from your students, such as childcare problems, financial problems, which you as a teacher cannot help with. You will need to know what services exist within and outside your workplace to help these students. Places you can refer too are counselling services, dyslexia support, learning support assistants. There could be a crèche facility in your workplace or nearby, for financial support there are student and government grants to aid students and enable them to afford course fee’s, material and sometimes help towards transport and food costs. Bibliography: Petty, G (2004) Teaching Today. 2nd Edition. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes