An online report tells of Sir Jackie Stewart, one of the most high-profile figures in the UK to suffer [sic] from dyslexia, who has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of the condition. Sir Jackie visited Saughton Prison recently to promote interest in courses to enable people leaving prison to cope in the outside world.
He said, As a dyslexic, I have no ability to even fill in a drivers’ license form – I just can’t do it. Nowadays you need to fill out a form to get any job, and these prisoners are learning to do that and are progressing very well.
Sir Jackie has been an indefatigable campaigner for dyslexia awareness in Scotland and elsewhere. He sometimes appears not to have grasped that we generally have a much better understanding of and provision for learners with dyslexia now than when he was at school (he recently had his 70th birthday) but his heart and his energy are in the right place.
I wonder if his charity work cancels out the enormous negative impact on the environment motor racing produces? Probably not.
Thanks to http://www.flickr.com/photos/mariazambruno/1593610372/
I have just returned from a weekend at the Bradford Festival of Political Song, Raise your Banners. One of the songs our group sang was a spoof of ‘Daisy, Daisy’. Dasiy had refused the prososal, singing:
Michael, Michael. Here’s your answer dear.
I can’t cycle, it makes me feel so queer.
If you can’t afford a carriage, put off the bloomin’ marriage
I’ll be blowed if I’ll be towed On a bicycle built for two.
To which we replied:
Daisy, Daisy, bicycling’s good for you.
Driving’s crazy, cars spew out c02.
We know we should not disparage, an elegant motor carriage.
But take a hike or ride a bike
The environment will love you!
Words by The Raging Grannies
Nov 09, 2009 @ 21:33:04
Sir Jackie’s absloutely right to bring up this issue. The statistics on what percentage of the UK prison population suffer from dyslexia are staggering. While education can’t be blamed for all of societies ills, proper special needs provision is a must for the longer term good. It’s also worth remembering that there are some benefits to having dyslexia as Oxford University’s Professor John Stein argues in this talk: http://www.dystalk.com/talks/89-the-dyslexia-benefits
Nov 10, 2009 @ 10:13:03
I agree. I visited Saughton Prison myself once to look at educational provison and was both very impressed by the officer’s caring attitudes and disheartened by the fact that education was a bit of a Cinderella service. This was about 20 years ago so perhaps things have changed.
Thanks for the link.
Nov 15, 2009 @ 21:20:40
As a parent of a child who is severally affected by issues with Dyslexia, I am currently fighting a very costly legal battle, just to get our Local Education Authority to recognise the condition, and offer an appropriate education for our child (which they have a DUTY to provide!).
I would like to point out that in England at least, the L.E.A.s DEFINITELY DO NOT “have a much better understanding of and provision for learners with Dyslexia”, as is misguidedly suggested by the writer.
Yes, there is now much more research and information regarding Dyslexia. However, at present the L.E.A.s (in England) take little notice of this, and pupils (who are by and large otherwise very able and intelligent) are given little help, with inadequate and inappropriate teaching methods used. This has resulted in a significant percentage of our young people leaving school with no qualifications or prospects, not able to read or spell, and severely affected by low self esteem and a negative self image (and sometimes mental health issues). PLEASE BE CLEAR READERS – THIS IS DEFINITELY STILL HAPPENING TODAY, NOW, IN OUR SCHOOLS AT THIS VERY MOMENT IN TIME!
Jackie Stewart’s campaigning has had a significant impact on the welfare of children with Dyslexia, particularly in Scotland (although much still needs to be addressed). If only the bureaucracy of the British educational system could be successfully challenged, then we could save our children from the torture of being stigmatised and marginalised, and generally left to fail, by their own Local Education Authorities.
At least climate change is now on the agenda – the welfare and future of a significant proportion of our future society, doesn’t yet seem to be!
Nov 16, 2009 @ 09:35:46
Dear J Britton
I was in no way trying to diminish the genuine difficulties that youngsters with dyslexia continue to experience in schools today. I do understand how traumatic and stressful it is to battle to get appropriate recognition and provision for your child.
Here in Scotland, in my own region as elsewhere, there are also parents who feel dissatisfied with the opportunities presented to their children.
However, I have worked in education for over 3 decades trying to ensure that schools address the learning needs of youngsters with dyslexia and I have noted considerable progress, in personal and professional contexts. My own brother left school (in England) with no qualifications while his son – in the same LEA, with even more severe dyslexic difficulties – is well on the way to achieving excellent exam results.
It is my experience that over the past 30 years the wider education community has moved from a position of ignorance through denial to acceptance that dyslexia exists. There can be no doubt in most thoughtful peoples’ minds that there is a continuum of difficulties in learning to read, write and spell which persist despite the provision of appropriate opportunities and which are independent of cognitive ability.
It is tragic that some children are still being denied their right to achieve their full potential.
I wish you luck.