Today I would like to post a blog that gives an account of my experience working in a special education school in Auckland. The school is situated on the outskirts of south Auckland in an area of high poverty and unemployment which is largely populated by Maori families, the area Papakura is renowned in Auckland to have a high level of gang violence. The school it’s self is a modern building that is well built and with a high level of resources and ammenities that aid children with special needs in their education.
The majority of the pupils in the school are Maori and pacific Island origins. Each class has a maximum capacity of 14 with at least 2-3 support staff and 1 teacher. The classes are based on each childs mental age the biological age for pupils within the school which is a government run school is 5-21.
The day begins at 9:15 with the first class, on this specific day the first class was 8 boys who were profondly mentally and physically disabilied, in this case the support was 2-1. The session stared by sitting around in a semi circle with Paula in centre on a wheelie stood, each support work sat between two children including mysel, aiding the children to be involved.
Paula works largely if not totally with stories and story re-enactment within all the classes, but with each class dependent on ability the delivery is very different and the skills needed for facilitaton varies. Within this particular class the session began with a very shor verbal introduction to the story lasting probarly 20 seconds, next a song would be sung by the group going like so:
Hello “Micheal” Hello “Micheal” etc “How are you today”
The child would then be assisted to respond my sticking their thumb up, to say that they were well.
Each member of the class was sung too and a response received with the aid of support staff.
Next the story Thunder God came alive with Paula introducing very simple movement along with song
I am the Thunder God, see what i can do………
I can rain fall from the sky…….
The children would feel raindrops on their palm by the support worker and on this occasion me using their fingertips. etc different movements using hands and arms. Next more action would be done using gestures and song.
A story usually lasts 3-4 weeks, each week a different section of the story is told to each class. All stories must contain, alot of action instead of dialoge the main characters usually have a challenge to get over either in a human form or in the enviroment.
The sessions are always highly stuructured and tactile, each child in all encourage to take part. Teachers and support workers are their to assist and to experience the drama alongside the children.
“The structure of the myth or old tale provides the safe passage, enabling us to negotiate ruff sea’s, hear the siren’s song, meet the three headed dog and return safe, sometimes stirred or even uncomfortable, but with the possibility of greater awareness.” (Watts, 1985 p6)
