[senco-forum] 'SEN kids will contribute exactly what to theeconomy?'

My immediate thoughts on reading Brian's remarks were to think of Jamie
Oliver - he says he was in SEN groups at school and of Richard Branson--- to
name but 2 famous dyslexics.
They've both contributed their fair share to the economy !

I can think of quite a few personal acquaintances who were certainly NOT SEN
who haven't contributed their fair share!!

So--we've had the arguments for additional funding for SEN and the arguments
for G &  T. What about the run of the mill average kids, the ones who slog
their guts out day in day out, do their homework, turn up to school, never
cause any aggro...  shouldn't THEY be the ones who receive extra funding?
Shouldn't they be the ones to have subsidised places to go to Art Galleries,
museums, L.A., skiing? Aren't they the ones who could achieve more if given
smaller groups, individual teaching and additional support?

There's a flaw in my argument somewhere but I'm not quite sure where !!!
Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of Kate Barnes
Sent: 14 January 2008 16:41
To: 'senco forum'
Subject: [senco-forum] 'SEN kids will contribute exactly what to
theeconomy?' 

This comment was probably made tongue in cheek (I hope) but its an
interesting thread....
  Many kids with SEN grow up to be well adjusted hardworking adults who hold
down key jobs in our society, and will be contributing to the pensions of
many on this forum. You may not need English or Maths GCSE to be a hospital
porter or refuse collector but see what happens when these people go on
strike! Sadly the importance of these jobs is not reflected in the pay,
anymore than the importance of teacher's jobs....
  Personally I dont measure someone's contribution to society merely in
financial terms, but the comment did use the words economy.  One can look at
the vast amount of caring in the community effectively  done by those who
were labelled SEN at school - this saves the government a fortune.
  What other ways do people think those with SEN contribute to the economy?
  Kate 