We live in a time when we see more than ever positive words such as: inclusion, empathy, support, sensitivity and acceptance. Personally, I am very pleased that Let us fight day by day to achieve a better world and that we try to educate our children to be sensitive adults and emotionally intelligent.
But there is still much to do, and we have realized this after knowing the terrible and shameful conversation that a group of mothers had when celebrating that they had changed class to a child with Asperger.
What is Asperger syndrome?
In Babies and more We have previously talked about Asperger's Syndrome, which is included in the Autism Spectrum Disorder, but which has certain characteristics that distinguish it from classical autism.
This syndrome is a poorly known neurobiological developmental disorder that occurs in at least three percent of children. It occurs most often in men and It is characterized by a serious alteration of social interaction, so those who suffer from it usually present problems when interacting with other people.
Due to the characteristics of this syndrome, It is common for children who suffer from it to be considered to have a behavioral or personality problem, even many can be misdiagnosed with learning disorders or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Unfortunately, although today we talk a lot about inclusion and have an International Asperger Syndrome Day, it is also common for these children to be seen as troublemakers or rebels, when they are simply different children, who must be understood and supported.
The nasty "celebration"
Rosaura Gómez is an aunt of a child who suffers from Asperger and who attends the fourth grade of primary school at San Antonio de Padua School in Argentina. Recently she posted in a closed Facebook group a message that accompanied with screenshots of a WhatsApp group, and in which he denounced a situation that happened with the other mothers of the class his nephew attended.
She tells that the mothers of her nephew's classmates, they decided not to take their children to school until they had expelled the child from school. Incredibly, the protest made by the mothers was attended by the school, who opted to change the group child, which although it was a minor measure to expel him, is still a reprehensible action.
Worst of all, even more than knowing what the school did to change the group child, has been the reaction of the mothers, who they celebrated the change of the group of the child in question.
Mothers' reactions caused indignation in social networks, where they were harshly criticized and attacked for their way of acting and thinking. Among the comments that can be read in the publication of the news on Facebook They highlight the absence of empathy from the group of mothers and the bad example they are giving their children to react in this way.
Although we don't know the context or the whole story that was inside the classroom, however complex and difficult it was, this is not the way to act. You don't organize and act against who is different, because the intention of this group of women was to get the child expelled from school. I ask those mothers: what if it was your son?
For me it was really unpleasant to read the comments of the mothers, because one of the main responsibilities we have as parents is to educate our children in values. Academic education is the main work of schools, but the education that makes us human and people of good, is what is received at home.
What I think when reading this ridiculous and shameful celebration is how the treatment of the other classmates will have been having those mothers, who surely complained about the child in front of their children. How do we intend to end bullying if we act in this way?
Support who is different, not isolate
In a world where we see sad and tragic news daily, inclusion and sensitivity must be fundamental at home. We must educate our children to be empathic, not to discriminate or isolate who is different from them.
I think a better way to act would have been to be gentle and help find the way in which everyone could be calm. Nothing cost the mothers to support the family of the child and work with the school, perhaps asking that the teacher be trained to care for the child accordingly without neglecting the group, seeking inclusion. Plena Inclusión Madrid already told us International Autism Awareness Day this year: let's reach out to people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
The only thing that has left me this is more desire to keep fighting for a more inclusive world and educate our children so that tomorrow they are empathic and sensitive people.
