Do You Like School?

By Catherine Steele

Well, it’s fall... cooler weather, coloured leaves and the beginning of another school year.

There are some who really look forward to fall and school, while others wish summer would last longer (or forever)!

How many people do you think like going to school? A survey of 7,000 Canadian youth, aged 11-16 years, found that 80 per cent of them liked school! Hard to believe? Wait ’til you hear what 250 youth with physical disabilities (11-16 years) from across Ontario reported: 88 per cent of them liked school -- a higher number than their national peers!

Some of you may be asking, how could this be? How could youth like school? A group at the Bloorview MacMillan Centre, funded by the Easter Seal Research Institute, had the same question. They decided to find the answer by asking youth with physical disabilities why they like school. Their answers included: "There are a lot of friends at school, so we can hang out at school"; "School is cool"; "Your friends are right there to back you up"; "We learn more about a favourite subject, such as computers, English." Great answers!

Some of you still may not be convinced that school is for you. Yes, school can be tough. All right, how about some more numbers? The 1991 Health and Activity Limitations Survey found that 30 per cent of adults with disabilities who had only elementary education were employed, while 67 per cent who had a university degree were employed. Education does increase your chances of employment.

Still not quite convinced of the value of attending school? Well, let’s give one more reason: just for the fun of learning. No matter how old you are, you can find a subject that you like (e.g. art, theatre, music, sports or fitness, or politics) and take it for fun, not necessarily for a grade. Learning keeps your mind busy and active. It widens your world. It gives you something else to think about. It makes you realize there is more to learn and, hopefully, that school and learning are an okay thing!

(If you have other reasons why you like school, please let us know by calling Catherine Steele at Bloorview MacMillan Centre in Toronto, (416) 424-3855 (or 1-800-363-2440), ext. 642.)