to find the title of this BBC drama offensive

[junipertree2]

I am referring to the show 'Subnormal' which tells the story of how black children were inappropriately placed in special education in the 1960s and 1970s. The BBC website is carrying the stories of people who were placed in these schools and they are described very negatively.

While I'm sure this is an important story that needs to be told, I struggle with the implication that special need schools (which of course still exist) were filled with life's no hopers, who would 'struggle to get a labouring job.'

My son has MLD and autism and is highly intelligent in some ways. He attends a special school as there is not really the provision within the mainstream. Is anyone else feeling the same way when they see this word plastered everywhere on the BBC and in the media?

I am pretty certain it is meant to shock as it such as shocking subject.

Erm...no. This term was deemed appropriate at that time. However, please don't let anyone on here stop you from being offended!!

I think its supposed to be shocking isn't it. "Educationally subnormal" was used as a category of sorts for many years.

Surely the word is used deliberately to be shocking, to remind us that this is how those children were then described, and bring home how terrible it was? It’s condemnatory. If it shocks and offends, that’s because the policy was offensive. It doesn’t imply that this is how anyone with editorial control at the BBC thinks.

It's a documentary, not a drama.

What is offensive is that it happened and that was an acceptable term.

It’s meant to have that effect on the viewer

It absolutely is offensive.

No, it's not offensive, as that's exactly how special needs children used to be described.
It's intended to shock.
But, as I remarked on a different thread, it seems as if the professionally offended are out in force today.

The description was offensive, that's literally the point.

I agree, it's meant to shock.
And sadly "Educationally Subnormal" was the official term back then.

Well, first of all, as PP stated, it’s a documentary. I’m guessing if you’d known that, you might have known the title is factual, also as PP stated, not referring to them being “no hopers” or something. It is because they were called the terrible term “Educationally Subnormal” (ESN) and throughout the documentary, the former children talk about how being classified as ESN affected their entire lives. Here’s information about the documentary:
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/may/20/subnormal-a-british-scandal-review-racist-nightmare-steve-mcqueen

Did you watch the programme OP?

In the 1960's and 1970's, this type of educational facility was actually called 'an ESN school', ESN meaning educationally subnormal.

In no way, shape or form did the programme say or imply that today's non-mainstream schools were for 'subnormal' children.

It is offensive, but thats the point. I didn't watch it as not something i would enjoy.
I have a child with lds and am so glad that terms like that are no longer used.

I used to work for adult social services, about 10-15 years ago we received a referral letter from a GP referring to a patient as educationally subnormal, I was horrified.

Yes it’s offensive that’s the whole point.

I’m a retired doctor, and I think it’s very interesting to see the evolution of social attitudes over the decades that I was in practice.
Case notes from the 1960’s would say things like “I reviewed this Mongol baby in the clinic today…”
1970’s “I reviewed this Down’s patient..”
1980’s “this mentally handicapped patient …”
1990’s “this patient with special needs…”
2000’s “I saw Linda with her mother at the clinic today..”.
It took a long time before our special needs patients were seen as human beings, didn’t it.

This is a documentary about the past when this was the term in use in those institutions.

Did you watch it Op?

God almighty

It’s in context to the times the documentary was set in.

I immediately new why they said it as I’m of that era. I’m also the mother of a severely autistic adult and I didn’t think of him at all when reading about the documentary. My feelings were for the people of that time.

@Babdoc

I’m a retired doctor, and I think it’s very interesting to see the evolution of social attitudes over the decades that I was in practice. Case notes from the 1960’s would say things like “I reviewed this Mongol baby in the clinic today…” 1970’s “I reviewed this Down’s patient..” 1980’s “this mentally handicapped patient …” 1990’s “this patient with special needs…” 2000’s “I saw Linda with her mother at the clinic today..”. It took a long time before our special needs patients were seen as human beings, didn’t it.

I agree it’s interesting and shocking. I often have to dig into very old medical records for my job and sometimes the language used leaves my jaw on the floor.

I started working in a special school in 1986 and it was the phrase that was used at the time

Oh dear. Someone has missed the point.

It's correct. Special Schools then were for the educationally subnormal. It was only in the 70s that our children were entitled to an education. It's good to shine a light on it and make people think.

DD1 goes to special school, and has done since she was 4.