Not All Potatoes Are Round

Don’t worry – This article is not going to give you cooking advice for potatoes, however the other day I was at the supermarket shopping for some fresh produce for the week ahead when I came across a bag of quirky looking potatoes known as ‘The Odd Bunch’. This bag, sitting in the corner of the aisle in an inconspicuous manner, was full of potatoes considered to be the ‘less desirable’ bunch. Those of all odd shapes and sizes. I found it quite striking that my mind immediately wandered to all the students whom I had ever taught that had diverse needs or were seen as different. This bunch of potatoes (the unintentionally discovered simile) with the vast differences between them, were considered the odd ones out because they were different from the norm and I, in my various roles throughout the years, had seen many students be treated like this bag in their own classroom – outcasts.

The truth of the matter is that there are teachers out there who do this – particularly towards their students with diverse learning needs. They separate them from the classroom to ‘work on a booklet’ on their own in the back corner while they teach ‘the rest of the class’. They turn their class into an ‘us and them’ scenario – often without knowing they are doing it. This is known as segregation and can be done directly or indirectly. It involves putting students with diverse learning needs or disabilities in separate environments to students without disabilities.

This is no word of a lie, but up until I saw this bunch of oddly built potatoes, I had this preconceived notion that all potatoes were round. That carrots were long cone-like structures, and that all apples were gloriously glossy and perfect. I never thought about the fact that there were fruits and vegetables out there that did not make it onto the supermarket shelves because they were not considered picture perfect.

My job and passion have always been to promote inclusion – the concept and process of modifying content, teaching methods, approaches and structures to overcome barriers and allow equitable access for students with diverse learning needs so that they can have the same opportunities as students without. It is not easy! Teachers are often scared because they do not know how to cater to diverse learning needs and are afraid to ask for help. Similarly, many teachers often feel that to have students with diverse learning needs in their class alone, creates inclusion. However, this integration does not necessarily equate to an inclusive and equitable classroom and is just as damaging as exclusion itself.

Why is it that we do not want to see the oddly shaped potatoes in the supermarket? It is because it is not considered the norm? or is it because they themselves have been excluded from the supermarket shelves so long, that we have forgotten about them entirely? This is what happens in education. I am not saying all teachers and educators do this, but it would be senseless to say that it does not occur. If we as educators do not fight for inclusion and equity, students with disabilities or diverse learning needs are forgotten – denied access to a quality education which we all deserve no matter our differences.

Interestingly I bought the bag of peculiar potatoes – mainly because this same story I am writing about now occurred to me in an epiphany whilst standing in aisle 1, blankly starring at the bag for a few minutes. What caught my eye was this description on the bag - I'm not perfect but who is? Just as beautiful on the inside, the real difference is our incredible value. 

This is what I want for all educators in the world. For them all to see the value in teaching students with disabilities or diverse learning needs and to be advocates for inclusion and equity. We all have value and deserve to be valued.

I'm not perfect but who is? Just as beautiful on the inside, the real difference is our incredible value. 

So next time you are at the supermarket, get yourself a bag of The Odd Bunch potatoes: shorturl.at/amGM6

Comment below on how you promote inclusion in your classroom. I am always up for new and innovative ways to ensure my classroom remains equitable and inclusive.

Tom