Looking Outside the Box (CR #4)

People have become self-absorbed and unaware of their surroundings. Whether it is conscious or not, people naturally avoid those who are different. John Powell, director of the Hass Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society, spoke of this and believes that people use “segregation because of being uncomfortable.” The discomfort comes from a lack of knowledge of understanding other peoples’ culture, beliefs, sexual orientation, race, socio-economic status and more. In Powell’s talk he made a statement that really stood out to me. He said that “we notice, but do not see.” I have become more aware of this in my everyday life. We might notice a homeless person with a sign asking for money, but we do not truly see that person for who they are or the struggles they’ve had. We make assumptions that our society has created. He is homeless because he is lazy, he is homeless because he is a drug addict, he is homeless because he has made bad choices. These are the societal assumptions, when in fact he may be homeless because he has a mental illness, he may be homeless because he has no family support, he may be homeless because of the stamp that going to war has left on him. We make assumptions which do not help tackle the issues which leads to homelessness.

Charles Taylor, in The Ethics of Authenticity, says that “we suffer from a lack of passion,” that we are now a “me generation” that is self-absorbed. He sees that human kind has lost compassion. Our moral compass has been shifted to be more concerned with our own well-being than that of the whole. Many of the kids who I work with have been cast aside because they do not fit the “normal” teenage stereotype. All of the students have either diagnosed learning disabilities, are considered emotionally disturbed, or on the autism spectrum. They were not successful in a traditional class setting and were left behind. Once the students are at New Horizon School, we get to know them. Many of them first come to us as shy defensive kids who have been picked on and made fun of while growing up. We make a safe place where they can flourish both socially and academically. In Daring Democracy, the authors talk about “connection.” At the school we create a “community in which we(they) feel we(they) can be ourselves(themselves) and be accepted, encouraged, and protected” (Lappe & Eichen, 6). These students have been “othered” their entire lives and we let them know that they are not alone and are a part of the whole, a part that matters. Inclusion is one of our main goals. When they feel included, they thrive.

Being afraid of the unknown is a basic human survival instinct or defense mechanism, but how we act on that fear makes the difference. Do we use that instinct to avoid or do we use that instinct to raise interest of what we do not know? This is what John Powell talked about with his reference to subconscious ideas. I get to know our students very well. Most of them act a little different or talk a little different but they are amazing people. Some of their talents are amazing, whether it be musical, art, comedy or more. By working with these kids I have learned to not judge them by what their reports say. Before we get a student we get a whole file of tests and observations and by reading some of these reports one might think that the student is a horrible person, but when they get to our school, I see that they have been shunned and cast aside and that they are really amazing. These students are on the outside of “the circle of human concern,” and we bring them into the circle by letting them know that we care and respect them.