Today we resumed virtual learning. One of my students asked me this morning, “does my future still matter?
Of course, the answer is yes. However, in listening to my students, I realized that the reality of this question for Gen Z students is quite scary.
I also realized that students don’t have anyone else to really have these conversations with outside of their teachers.
This is why each year, I start my students off with conversations and the planning of short and long-term goals they want to achieve for the year.
Several of the exceptional learners I teach stated they are in projects that would help people who look, learn and develop skills like them can be successful.
My students don’t see themselves in local, regional, or global companies.
You may be saying to yourself, well workplaces aren’t supposed to discriminate against persons with physical, mental, or intellectual disabilities so why is this.
Gen Z students realize that many of the labels used to identify how they learn in public schools aren’t transferable in the workplace.
Autism, ADHD, hearing loss, and visual impairments aren’t things managers, supervisors, program directors, or other business leaders are thinking about for their workforce.
We should be thinking and having conversations around how we improve the inclusion of exceptional learners in the workforce.
Potential areas of growth can definitely be found in technology, agriculture, healthcare, and education.
Subscribe to The Educators Voice here and check out more of this conversation on January 19th, 6:00 p.m. for the Speak Black Man podcast where teachers talk about the importance of patience in and out of the classroom.
View Speak Black Man live on educational entities' FB page.
