Dyscalculic boy climbs Mount Kilimanjaro - but can't find school that wants him
BBC writes the story of Jack Harley-Walsh - a 10-year old boy from England who is diagnosed with dyscalculia and dyslexia. Avid climber, Jack has won awards and done more for for charity than most of us. Yet - he can not find a school that wants him. Quote;
The young mountaineer from Ascot has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya and Mount Meru, and also has to overcome daily challenges at school. He has been diagnosed with dyslexia and dyscalculia, and struggles with numeracy and literacy. His mother claims he has been turned down by 24 schools in three counties.
"Surprised and saddened"
She has tried to find him a place at schools in Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey, including private ones, but none will take him on due to his high levels of special needs. Jack's mother, Sue Walsh, added: "Knowing how bright he is, it is incredibly frustrating because he really needs a specific type of education for his needs.
"I do think there is a solution out there for him. He's always proved what he can achieve outside the classroom." As well as climbing three peaks in Africa, Jack has also walked the length of Hadrian's Wall raising money for charity and has been awarded a Gold Blue Peter Badge and a Bear Grylls Personal Award.
On Monday Jack visited RAF Benson in Oxfordshire to receive a certificate in gratitude for the £1,046 he has raised so far for the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust. Pat Conafray, Head of Fund Raising at TVACAA said: "Jack has already achieved more in his ten short years than many people do in a lifetime.
"We were very surprised and saddened when his mum Sue told us about his educational predicament because we know how much he is looking forward to secondary school. " A spokeswoman from Royal Windsor and Maidenhead said: "We are working closely with Jack's mother on this issue, we have approached three schools that could meet his needs, and are awaiting their responses."
Dunno what it's like over there, but out this way, schools are so overcrowded and understaffed that yes, kids with special needs get short shrift. This kid is obviously pretty cool, but if his outside accomplishments can't translate into being quiet and attentive in class, they're not really relevant to the situation. I wish him luck finding a place.
Blessed are the PURR in heart!
Location: Texas USA Posts: 3705 Joined: 2008-05-25
5/20/10
I think that Kestrel's words "not really relevant to the situation" hit the nail on the head. A girl might be 'stunningly beautiful' or a boy might be 'the best bird caller of anyone his age', but these things just 'aren't relevant' to finding a school that will take a child who can't, for example, stay in his seat, be quiet so that others can hear the teacher, and move through the day's routine with the rest of the class.
Now 'money', enough of it, might be able to buy the time of other people, so that it would 'appear' that he was in a normal 'school setting', but this would be something entirely different from being 'accepted' into an already existing school that he doesn't himself 'own'. - jus'
