how can we ever take political correctness seriously when normal words suddenly become "hate crimes"

[Charis1]

not sure if this link will work, but this head teacher was investigated by the police for a "hate crime" for using the term "special needs" when referring to ASD.

schoolsimprovement.net/headteacher-cleared-in-police-disability-hate-crime-investigation-for-saying-autistic-pupil-had-special-needs/

Not enough info in piece.
I get the impression it was because it was published on the school website.
That's a complete no no.
The child might not even have been told they have autism. The child's peers might not be aware. It's a privacy issue and a safeguarding issue.
A school does not have the right to inform the public about various aspects of its pupils circumstances.

In the context of school though - the children need the school to adapt to their needs so their ability to access education is not impaired.

So all the things do for these children -such as altering the classroom environment, ensuring wheelchair access, looking at the way the teacher teaches etc etc - are they for the children with SN or SEN?

Ultimately, the school needs to do things to help children learn and to modify its environment and its approaches for the children.

In ye olde days, schools would make children on free school meals stand up in assembly, or eat separately. Children with SEN were likewise made to sit at separate tables.
Not all schools - but quite a few.
Thankfully, that kind of shit is unacceptable now.
You really can't publish this sort of thing on your website.
It's no OK.
There is v little clarity in Charis' link. IF the Head did publish confidential information on the school website, the Head is a bit of an idiot at best.

I complained to after school club - they had a list and pictures of children with allergies and SEN on the wall. I understand that it's important for staff to know who has what issues. What's not acceptable is for all the medical conditions of a child to be put on the wall in full view of any child who comes to the club. They then modified it by putting a piece of paper over each child's needs and medical issues.

Some people with dyslexia will require additional assistance beyond school and into work, eg Dragon software on PC.

I used to be called up to the teachers desk to be given my free school meal tickets.
That was a nice early education about how easy it is to make a human being feel less than their peers.

Adults sometimes forget that children are finding out who they are every moment of the day.

I think there needs to be an announcement on the BBC news or something every time word meanings change!

How the hell are people in general especially those not involved in education. Supposed to know that meanings have changed.

I remember my nan getting slated behind her back at the age of 91 for using an ' incorrect term' but how was she supposed to know the world had decided that word was now out of date, offensive and somebody could have reported her!

But that's not really true Whathaveilost.

A discussion on here will get very technical and language does move on but most people, those who want to, keep up with language quite easily. More importantly human beings interact daily and are generous and polite to each other when they do so.

This issue is not clear and may well have been a litigious parent being a pain in the ass. But the terms questioned seem to have been put on the school website. That sounds odd and potentially a problem.

I would have no issue with you using a term that I personally find a bit troubling because you are nice, not a specialist and we would just be chatting.
But if someone used a term that was inaccurate about my son on the school website it is possible he or I might be upset.

Let's not get silly about this. Speaking to people in a way with which they are comfortable is just kindness. I don't find it difficult to try and make a bit of effort to be kind.

Don't be daft what. If somebody doesn't know that a word they are using is inappropriate then they are excused. If they are pulled up on it and given the correct information, then the continued use of the word would be rude because they do know better, and any offence caused would be deliberate.

That's they way everybody learns these things.

We don't have enough information about this case to fully understand the context, although it seems clear that the police did not prosecute anybody for using the term 'special needs'.

However, language does change.

If people repeatedly use a word like 'spastic' as a term of abuse it becomes abusive.

If people use the word 'coloured' to discriminate, it becomes offensive.

If people use the term 'special' in a derogatory way - "He is just naughty, but the teacher didn't punish him because he is 'speshul'", the term becomes derogatory.

This has nothing to do with political correctness and everything to do with some people being complete fuckwits.

OP I hope it's apparent now that SN and SEN are not the same thing.

I can appreciate that as a teacher it may seem like the same thing as you are constantly dealing with the educational needs of the pupils. I can imagine the terms being used interchangeably within a school environment.

However, outside a school they are not. You wouldn't write on a DLA form "My daughter uses a Special Educational Needs buggy when she refuses to get out of the car and walk", would you?!

This case is probably a lot more complex than we know. I wouldn't love my daughter described as "being special needs' although she HAS them, but wouldn't sue. I'm sure there is a huge back story to this and sadly it will be hijacked by the sort of people who like to bang on about "PC gorn mad".

Also I am not liking the train of thought that it's somehow insulting to those with merely SEN to say they have actual SN.

Some parents of kids with high functioning autism seem to think their children are somhow superior to those with classic autism due to their intelligence and often add it to every conversation so I wonder if that has come into play here (not talking about any parents on MN before I get flamed).

So true Merrymouse.

And yes I agree with merrymouse

they are, completely interchangeable, Special needs, or SN, is an abbreviation of special educational needs, or SEN

Leaving aside the fact that support and funding for a child with an SEN is likely to come via the LEA and support for an SN is likely to come via the NHS, even from a basic English comprehension point of view, "Special Educational Needs", and "Special Needs" do not mean the same thing.

I don't think people taking offence at their child being referred to as having SN when they merely had SEN were thinking about where the funding came from, sadly.

Interesting thread. What are "Learning Difficulties" ? I've never understood this term.

Learning difficulties, also described as a learning disability, would be a type of SEN.

I never know what to say any more

My mum used to work for scope which previously went by the name The Spastic society.

Looking back I cannot believe it was called that. Maybe in 20 years time sen will be frowned upon.

"Hello everyone, I'd like to introduce Elizabeth who is working in accounts",

"Hello, Lizzie! welcome to the company"

"Thanks a lot, it seems to have a great atmosphere, by the way everybody calls me Elizabeth - I'll think you are talking to my cousin if you call me Lizzie".

Right response: "I'll remember that, do you want a tea or coffee Elizabeth?"

Wrong response: "Oh, I can't be doing with 'Elizabeth', I'm sure that won't be a problem for you Lizzie, right Lizzie, tea or coffee?".

We are adapting to different people all day long. Sometimes there are awkward moments, and it is true that elderly people often find change difficult, particularly change relating to language. However, the idea that if it weren't for political correctness language would stay the same and everybody could be treated identically without risk of offence is just wrong.

I always thought the difference was sen was specifically about educational needs and sn was about more general needs

You know, I have never yet come acros anything that somebody wanted to say but couldn't "because of political correctness" that wasn't sexist, homophobic, racist or disablist. Just saying.

And, by the way- here's a tip. If you don't want to "offend" people, don't say offensive things.