Report to the People
20th June 2005
Learning a Lesson
Like any commuter, fighting my way
along the M8 in the pouring rain, hoping the clown sitting 2 inches from my
bumper won’t smash into the boot, or sitting in traffic on the Kingston Bridge
admiring what passes for the view, is hardly the highlight of my working day.
I
was, though, glad I made the trip home last Tuesday night.
It
allowed me to attend James Watt College’s Faculty of Supported Learning annual
award ceremony in the Town Hall. The
evening honoured the achievements of the students, none of whom has let the
obstacles in their way overcome their desire to learn.
Indeed,
their determination is in stark contrast to the excuses of those who, although
having fewer barriers, always find a reason not to take advantage of the
learning opportunities on offer.
While
it was a night for the students, every award was also a plaudit for the
hardworking staff. They don’t
fall into the trap of seeing further education as just a substitute for
day-care.
They
realise that people with learning difficulties have an important contribution to
make - a point underlined on Thursday night when the Scottish Parliament held a
debate to mark Learning Disability Week.
We
might have moved on from the days when people with learning difficulties were
locked away in institutions. But we
still haven’t accepted them as full players in our community.
Hopefully the work at James Watt and events like Learning Disability Week
will help change that.
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