According to some educators, the real meaning of 'inclusion' is understood by honouring and growing from our shared struggle with our diverse gifts, differences, and weaknesses. It can never be achieved through policy documents and legislation. India is amidst education reform based on equity and inclusion as well as inflicted with social distancing in an education scenario marred by on-line education which is defunct and needed to be reformed with collective action. There is need to revisit the concept or social value of inclusion.
A team of four educators, John O'Brien, Marsha Forest, Jack Pearpoint, Shafik Asante & Judith Snow, calling delusion means "a mistaken idea or belief" point out that there are some delusions which are common, but mostly unconscious among advocates for inclusion itself.
Here is the summary of an article by John O'Brien, Marsha Forest, Jack Pearpoint, Shafik Asante & Judith Snow titled “The Ethics of Inclusion: Three Common Delusions” at inclusion.com.
One illusion is treating inclusion as "We must all be one big, happy family!" which pushes people into pretending, or wanting others to pretend, that real differences of opinion and personality don't exist or don't really matter.
The real challenge of inclusion is to find common social cause for important work that cannot be done effectively if we isolate ourselves from one another along the many differences of race, culture, nationality, gender, class, ability, and personality that truly do divide us.
Another delusion is that inclusion means everyone must always be happy and satisfied or "Inclusion cures all ills." The delusion that Inclusion equals happiness leads to its opposite: a pseudo-community in which people who are disagreeable or suffering has no place unless the group has the magic to cure them. Groups trapped in this delusion hold up a false kind of status difference that values people who act happy more than people who suffer. This delusion creates disappointment that Inclusion is not the panacea.
The community members when wish to get inclusive get over the wish for a 'cure-all' and look for ways to focus on promoting one another's gifts and capacities in the service of justice. They support, and often must endure, one another's weaknesses by respecting diversity; and learning ways to forgive, to reconcile, and to rediscover shared purpose. Out of this hard work comes a measure of healing.
Yet another delusion is that inclusion is the same as friendship or "We are really all the same." Friendship grows mysteriously between people as a mutual or shared gift. It shouldn't be assumed and it can't be legislated.
But people can choose to create inclusive schools and communities. While, schools, students, parents and activists
and associations can carefully build up norms and customs that communicate the expectation they will work hard to recognize, honour, and find common cause for action despite diversity and differences.
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