What is Social Exclusion?
"The failure of society to provide certain individuals and groups with those rights and benefits normally available to its members, such as employment, adequate housing, health care, education and training, etc." -Collins English Dictionary
An Example...
- A public library that does not provide resources for non-English speakers. Supplying services and books only in English.
-A teacher presuming to expect different capabilities to learn from students of different socio-economic backgrounds.
-A teacher presuming to expect different capabilities to learn from students of different socio-economic backgrounds.
How is this Detrimental?
When everyone is not afforded an equal opportunity, the individual and society suffers. The more an individual suffers, the more society suffers as whole.
Society digs a hole or turns a blind eye to those who are socially excluded either out of ignorance or self-promotion (or a combination of both).
In the example of the teacher with varied expectations, the detriment is that the student who is called to reach a higher level of achievement likely will and the student who is given the easier path will not learn the problem-solving skills necessary to achieve in later life. Not to mention the fact that the student will also pick up on the teacher's unequal expectations and will come to expect less from his or herself as well.
Society digs a hole or turns a blind eye to those who are socially excluded either out of ignorance or self-promotion (or a combination of both).
In the example of the teacher with varied expectations, the detriment is that the student who is called to reach a higher level of achievement likely will and the student who is given the easier path will not learn the problem-solving skills necessary to achieve in later life. Not to mention the fact that the student will also pick up on the teacher's unequal expectations and will come to expect less from his or herself as well.
Solutions...
- A conscious effort to create more equal opportunities.
- Resolving to create sustainable environments that encourage problem-solving and self-motivation in all students.
- Putting oneself in the position of those who have been excluded is a good step in the right direction. Empathy is a cornerstone to our humanity and helps motivate us to action.
- Making a greater effort to identify the strengths and weakness of individuals. Providing scaffolding to help them overcome hurdles and opportunities to utilize their strengths.