Is the student or the system falling short?
One night at bedtime, a 10-year-old looked at her mother with tears in her eyes and said, “Mom, I think I’m stupid.” Her friends could read. She couldn’t. The teacher […]
A 10-year-old girl expressed her belief that she was "stupid" to her mother during bedtime. Her friends could read, but she struggled, leading her to believe the problem stemmed from her own inadequacy. This sentiment is shared by many students across Manitoba, where around half of them fail to meet grade-level reading expectations on provincial assessments.
The education system sets a specific definition for what constitutes a "good student," which often involves reading on schedule, sitting for long periods, and demonstrating knowledge in a narrow format. This rigid approach leaves many children feeling inadequate, ashamed, and reluctant to seek necessary support. Manitoba has implemented universal screening for learning disabilities, but the process often leads to a long waiting period before children can receive tailored assistance.
This wait time exacerbates the shame associated with struggling readers, as they may feel they are being singled out. The second cost of this educational approach is the shame experienced by these children. The Manitoba Human Rights Commission has called for no delays in interim accommodations for students awaiting assessments, emphasizing that help should not be contingent upon waiting for proof.
To address this issue, it is suggested that help should follow the child's need, not paperwork. Every child flagged by screening should receive timely help, and the waiting period for assessments should be limited. Classroom designs should be modified to accommodate more students from the start, ensuring that support is built into the system rather than seen as an exception.
This would make additional resources, such as laptops or extra time, as ordinary as glasses or a wheelchair ramp. Ultimately, the focus should shift from questioning the student's abilities to questioning the system's shortcomings. By redefining a "good student" as one who is learning, rather than one who fits a specific mold, the education system can better support all learners.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
