The delusion of sameness leads away from the values of Inclusion: Educators

According to some educators, the real meaning of Inclusion is understood by honoring and growing from our shared struggle with our diverse gifts, differences, and weaknesses.

According to a team of four educators, John O'Brien, Marsha Forest, Jack Pearpoint, Shafik Asante & Judith Snow, there are some delusions which are common, but mostly unconscious among advocates for Inclusion. Here, delusion means "a mistaken idea or belief".

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!" This delusion 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 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.

Real community members 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 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 gift. It shouldn't be assumed and it can't be legislated. But people can choose to work for inclusive schools and communities, and schools and agencies and associations can carefully build up norms and customs that communicate the expectation that people will work hard to recognize, honor, and find common cause for action in