Celebrate INTERdependence
We are a society that values independence. It’s reasonable to want students to become more independent. There are valuable outcomes of independence. A critical one is when our children develop self-advocacy skills. They begin to learn to express wants, needs, and opinions on what is happening in their lives. We want our children’s voices heard and their choices honored.
In IEP meetings there is much discussion on what the student can and can’t do independently. Sometimes it seems that independence is the be-all, end-all goal. While independence is important in certain situations, it may be worth questioning if we are placing too much value on it.
Concentrating on independence can lead to students being removed from opportunities to work with others. When we separate, marginalize, or merely tolerate people based on their differences we lose the chance to realize each of us possesses gifts that add so much richness to each other’s lives.
When we focus almost exclusively on independence and ignore INTERdependence, we set our children up for failure and exclusion in school and beyond.
INTERdependence is the recognition that we as individuals are all interconnected, that each of us has our own set of gifts and talents, and that when we share these things willingly with others we become a part of something larger. It's more than just belonging to one specific group, but participating in the enrichment and experience of many groups.
Do our classrooms and communities reflect this sense of interconnectedness? Do all students belong, participate and share?
