Ruskeasuo

Transcription

Children of Ruskis -A story of unusual learning The history of Ruskeasuo School begins at the end of the 19th century At that time, the life of disabled people was difficult in Finland. For example in Helsinki disabled people, the elderly and mentally ill, who did not fit in to mental institutions or who were under-aged, were transferred to municipal almshouses. Quite often disabled people didn't have access to education, and did not get any treatment at all. There was need for improvement. Vera Hjelt was a socially conscious woman. In 1889 she founded a private Association for the Aid of Crippled with the help of a group of active women. The goal of the association was to give disabled people access to job training. In addition it was intended to provide appropriate care for disabled people. The following year a vocational school for the disabled began operating in a small apartment in the centre of Helsinki. The first school director was Signe Häggman. The students were poor and disabled children and adults. A few years later another teacher, Aina Palmgren, was hired. Elementary school teaching was started by Ida Paaso. They were later all in turn directors of the school. The number of students increased. In 1897 the school had to move to new premises. Now the association had a school building of its own. The students were given instructions on brush-making, woodworking, weaving, sewing, basket making, shoemaking, tailoring and book binding. It made an impression on contemporaries. A visitor to the school must wonder at the great patience of both the students and the teachers. The fine and durable goods have been created without hands, without fingers or with only one hand. In 1900 an orthopedic clinic was established. The services were extended to younger children. In 1904 children's home began operations alongside the school. Later, adult students were accepted into the school only in exceptional cases. Adults were not believed to adapt to the school's strict discipline and control. The students made their own school journal. I salute you young people and my friends and wish you a happy summer. The chimes of spring are ringing quietly. They invite us to seek eternal happiness. The short northern summer, which will last only for a few months, is wonderful and hopeful. Likewise the life of human beings is full of hope… Many applications were sent to the school by mail. Could you accept a crippled boy into your school? He was born in 1920, he had polio and the other leg is short and weak. Arms and other parts of the body are normal. He is currently in the mental health ward and his upbringing is very troublesome. Maintaining the school was burdensome for the managers and teachers of the school. Money was scarce and the school was forced to rush the parishes to pay for pupils' tuition fees. …if you still want to apply for study, you must pay the new fee before the twentieth of May, otherwise the boy will be sent to the almshouse, because his mother is not able to care of him. Discipline in the school was hard. Students were dismissed because of bad behavior. The student had secretly pledged his coat. He used the money for candies and maybe even tobacco. He threw away the pawnshop receipt, so it is not possible to redeem the coat. This is a sad example of the bad tendencies of this boy. The teachers also took good care of their students. She will be sent home by train on Saturday nineteenth for Christmas holiday. She will arrive at the station on Sunday twentieth. Please make sure that someone will welcome her and take a blanket for the sleigh ride so that she will not catch cold. Many of the students became attached to the school. Some of the teachers could become very important people for them. I cannot forget my teacher who supported me so strongly. When I look back in time, I remember all the kindness, helpfulness and care by my teacher. I will never forget it. The disabled people started their own social activities in the mid-1930s. The students founded an association which was the predecessor of the Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities. Now the invalids were for the first time able to speak for themselves. The operations of the school were interrupted by the Second World War. The Invalid Foundation established its own separate organization and building. The Association for the Aid of Crippled continued in its current premises. The school focused on teaching elementary school subjects. The wooden buildings were in bad condition. Buckets were needed in the corridors because the roof was leaking. A new school building was desperately needed. Now the school was also criticised. The Chairman of the Association of People with Physical Disabilities claimed that education of invalid children was at the same level as it was at the beginning of the century. It is painful to say that in 1951 the education of invalids can't be carried out in the same spirit as in 1900. Seriously, we hope that as the new school building will be completed, also the spirit is renewed. If it does not, the new walls are of little importance. Finally, in 1952, the new building was finished. It was situated in Ruskeasuo, with the building of the Invalid Foundation nearby. In Ruskeasuo, in the midst of frosty pine trees, stands a four-story building. It serves as the home and school of more than one hundred crippled children. They have the opportunity to do schoolwork and to get vocational training. On the ground floor there is a metal shop and woodwork class. And here is the modern kitchen. First Lady Alli Paasikivi arrives at the dedication of the school. Everything did not go quite as planned. Something special had to be arranged. They took a white tufted carpet from the floor and placed it on the chair of Mrs. Paasikivi. It can be imagined what the lady's velvet dress looked like when she got up from the chair. After a settling-in period, life was going well in the new school building. The night nurse guards the sleeping children. Now is the time for morning wake up call. It is seven o'clock and it is time to get up. Good morning, boys - Good morning. After the meal school day begins with matins. Let's sing the hymn 424, the first and fifth verse. Praise to the Lord, he is our supreme king… The boys' woodwork class is located on the ground floor. Ricky's stool has been completed in the painting stage. The eighth grade girls work in teaching kitchen. Dishes are prepared with great care and devotion. The young cooks are aware that they will also eat the prepared food. Sport is, of course, the favorite lesson, as in any school. The school bell rings and a break begins. The existence of the school was important to the students. This school is a good place, while here we are not considered to be odd. It would be difficult to live among the healthy. Fun excursions were also included in the school's activities. Today we have a very special AERO flight. 76 students of the School for the crippled are given a change to look at the scenery from the air. The children are happy and attentive and admire the scenery below. Well, how do you feel, are you nervous? No, not anymore. Is it the first time you are flying, right? It is. What is the most exciting thing, is it the takeoff? Yes, it was exciting. Those air pockets. In the 1950's debate about the education of children with brain injuries became more active. The school had had a cerebral palsy class since 1955. Also archiatre Arvo Ylppö participated in the discussion. Cerebral palsy children's education is a very difficult problem in our country. Physically mild cases can attend normal schools. But the more difficult cases are not able to do that, although they may be mentally normal, often even gifted. The school opened a new CP department in 1968. Arvo Ylppö laid the foundation stone of the building. In the 1960's school's activities turned outward. Now the aim was to place children with disabilities in municipal school classes and in special classes. Already in the 1970's Ruskeasuo School was a multi-service facility. The school's mission was to serve the most severely disabled children and young people. The aim was to make schooling as familiar as possible. In 1980 pupils' thoughts of the school were very similar to children in mainstream schools. The first days were pretty horrible. I did not have any friends, a new school, could not go anywhere. I didn't dare to go to the dorm to watch TV because I was afraid of the older children. At school I was ashamed with new classmates and teachers. It was a terrible hustle and bustle and the school was strange and new. I had some difficulties to adapt to schooling. It's nice when the chicks chase you, that's gives you good exercise. Weekends at the dormitory are nice, because some of the boys travel home for a weekend. I think the party is cool if there is slow dance and occasionally speedy rock. All the people dancing and not just standing around. They should be serving soda pop and even a piece of sausage. And no alcohol, it can ruin the whole idea. I hope that people would understand invalids and not look down to their disabilities. They should understand that invalids are not crazy but normal human beings. They are not insane even if they use a wheelchair. The highlights of the semester included the spring trips to various parts of Finland and even to foreign countries. In 1971 the upper comprehensive school was founded and in 1986 Ruskeasuo School became a state-owned school. The foundation that used to own the school continued its activities as the Vamlas Foundation. In 2002, an extension of the school building was finished. It included fine new residential homes and an apartment for independent living practice. Today, Ruskeasuo School applies the principles of conductive education. The main objective is to support problem-solving skills and to increase the active involvement of the student. Forward, march! Mrs. Laatinen God bless! In addition, the school has an important role in promoting inclusion. It highlights everyone's right to be a member of the community without a need to earn it. Thus, the school also supports students with disabilities in municipal schools and arranges learning and rehabilitation support periods for them. Five, six, seven, eight… The aim of school's education is that the students will use and learn to be aware of their own resources. The key idea is how to help children and young people to help themselves, so that they could lead a rich and active life. What do you think about the banana? There will certainly still be challenges for Ruskeasuo School in the coming decades. We are now in a good position to move forward. Hello everyone, welcome to Ruskeasuo School. Here is a lot of noise, and I cannot tell you any more than that. But if you want to know more, go to www.ruskis.fi But now I have to stop, because there is just too much noise. Cut, cut... Children of Ruskis - A story of unusual learning