Don't Send Him in Tomorrow: Shining a Light on the Marginalized, Disenfranchised and Forgotten Children of Today's Schools

by Jarlath O'Brien

Every health and wealth indicator used to measure people with learning difficulties reveals something alarming. They die younger. They work less. They are much more likely to be excluded from school. They are more likely to be bullied at school. Leaders in education including politicians, regulators, head teachers, and even parents are marginalizing, disenfranchising and isolating children with learning difficulties. We are creating an underclass that is invisible to society.

The progress that children with learning difficulties make is never discussed, because it is not understood. That is a problem. The bone-crushing infrastructure which professionals have to negotiate is a problem. The fact that so many parents have to fight tooth and nail so that the needs of their children are met, which the rest of us would consider a basic entitlement, is a problem. This chronic and pervasive lack of understanding and discussion is a problem: one which this book seeks to redress.

192 pages, Paperback

Published August 4, 2016

Reviews

[Sarah Giles · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book does what it sets out to do: educate teachers about the realities of SEN provision and exclusion. As a parent of children with SEN, I found it interesting, depressing, and certainly a book I would recommend to my children’s school. It’s not aimed at parents, so it is perhaps unfair of me to give only four stars because I would have liked more about how to advocate our way through the EHCP process from a parental perspective. Still very well written and helpful.

[Angus George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic, but for the massive blind spot of race. There seems to be no engagement with the way black or brown kids will interact with a headmaster who works as an agent of the police. Acknowledgment, yes, but no engagement.

[Roy Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a lot of shocking information in this book, even the introduction will show you 15 facts you probably don't know, the entire book was eye opening.

[Hayley Goleniowska · Rating 5 out of 5]

This forthright book is a must for every staffroom.
It shines a light on the shortcomings of the education system for children with SEN and highlights inequalities, whilst going a long way to bringing these valuable yet vulnerable members of our communities out of the shadows.
Jarlath is honest about his own professional failings in the past, as he seeks to educate other teachers by example and create a culture where SEN is everybody’s business.
Until a realisation that a holistic approach to fully understanding the uniqueness of each pupil and the ways in which their strengths can be developed and celebrated is implemented, we will never move beyond mere labels.
This is truly a book that will galvanise change.”

[Gemma Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any leader involved with the education of SEND children. There has to be a shift in focus nationally in order to ensure ALL children receive their educational entitlement. Very though provoking