The importance of discourse EATSIP, Jan 22th 2013 Cindy Leclercq (KATHO, Belgium)

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq A little exercice to get a taste of SEN-words : Make a web of words that you consider important in the field of Special Educational Needs and inclusion. Work with the people sitting around you – 5 minutes

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq ‘DISCOURSE’ = what is written and spoken At a certain time In a certain society That describes how we see our world But also forms the way we see our world  Discourse represents our reality  Discourse constructs our reality

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq Foucault, Michel French philosopher 1926 – 1984 History of madness The order of things (l’ordre du discours) Discipline and punish governmentality

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq e.g. Guidelines for teachers (1872) Teachers have to fill the oil lamps and have to clean the chimney every day. Every teacher has to bring a bucket of water and a bucket of coal to be used during the school day. Provide extra care in the creation of the writing pens. One can sharpen the pens in such a way that is most appropriate for individual pupils. Male teachers are allowed to spend one night a week to recruit a spouse, or two nights a week in case they attend church an a regular basis. After an attendance of 10 hours in the school, teachers are allowed to spend the rest of the time reading the Bible or other useful literature. Female teachers that engage in mariage or that misbehave, have to be fired. Every teacher will put aside a considerate amount of every payment in order to provide in his needs during the years of decline; thus he will never be a burden to society. Every teacher who smokes, uses alcohol in any other form, attends gambling, visits taverns or gets a shave in a barber shop, shall rightfully be the subject of suspicious considerations on his moral opinions, on the purity of his purposes and on his impeccability or veracity. The teacher who fulfills his duties without mistakes and in a loyal way during 5 years, can receive a rise in salary of 25 cents per week, if agreed by the Ministry of Education

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq Discourse changes over time o Children with cognitive disabilities - cognitive impairments o Children with intellectual disabilities o Children with mental disabilities o Mentally handicapped children o Mentally retarded o Idiots, imbecil, o Intellectually challenged Words change  concepts change  opinions change  how we look at things changes  ‘reality’ changes

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq If we don’t have (a) word(s), it doesn’t exist in (our) language, In our minds, In our reality Autisme, ADHD, dyslexia, … : when did the words appear in our language? Did it exist before? Didn’t we notice before? How come we see more and more of it? ‘Possession’, hysteria, chastity, … : when did the words disappear? How did our mind shift to make these words disappear?

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq Discourse forms our reality + our identity: Who am I / who can I be? Robin has dyslexia, Ken is an autist, Sara has ADHD, …. Spotlights on: Gifted children, children with disabilities, children with special educational needs What is left in the dark? Who is the normal child? Where is the normal child?

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq With discourse comes POWER What we say indicates what we consider What is normal What is good What is allowed What is confirmed

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq With discourse comes POWER What we say indicates what we consider What is normalabnormal What is goodbad What is allowedforbidden What is confirmed restricted

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq With discourse comes POWER What we say indicates what we consider SELF – EVIDENT But this is not necessary such It can be different!

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq What is good, normal, allowed, self-evident Can change over time e.g. giving a child a slap

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq With discourse comes POWER With discourse comes EXCLUSION what is not allowed What is not mentioned (= cannot exist)

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq With discourse comes POWER With discourse comes EXCLUSION With discourse comes RESISTANCE

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq Resistance = The persons, behaviors, … That put question marks To things we find self-evident e.g. why do we ‘label’ our children ? e.g. M. Luther King – black people are equal I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq Discourse Analysis 1)Looking at texts, analyzing words + meanings To search what kind of reality is constructed through those words : what is considered ‘normal’, ‘good’, what is self-evident 2) Putting question marks to this 3) To search for alternative possibilities to allow new identities To create a form of freedom …

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq A mothers diary Text on the paper is translation/ transcription of some parts Try to analyse this as a discourse!

The importance of discourse EATSIP - Jan., 21st – Feb., 2nd 2013C. Leclercq