The Kid Who Could Never Fit In...

By Phillip Hawkins

Conformity comes in many forms and like the barriers in our lives, it’s the ones we are unaware of that have the greatest control over us. We are conditioned from an early age to fit in, to behave in a way that brings approval from those around us with reward and punishment as an incentive to behave in a socially accepted manner. Standards, values and discipline are necessary to build and develop character, but any virtue taken to the extreme becomes problematic and potentially destructive. Discipline and the rules and regulations that underpin it may start out as corrective guidance, but if left unchecked can quickly spiral out of control and a form of restrictive control implemented for its own sake.
In an age of information and technology ignorance is a choice; unfortunately as we embrace this technology we are sacrificing the ability to think for ourselves. Television informs us what is real, and social media keeps us posted as to what’s important in our lives like selfie’s, cute cuddly animals and pictures of food you really shouldn’t be eating. We have imaginary friends who are happy and content to play imaginary games enjoying the imaginary freedom it brings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BadgerDesign
• Release date: Nov 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370957606

Phillip Hawkins

A little of my background: A skilled tutor and trainer with significant experience gained developing, delivering and managing training programmes for a wide range of organizations, and groups with complex training/educational/social needs. An effective manager of personnel and resources, with strong negotiating and interpersonal skills, organised and flexible in approach to work ensuring action taken to respond to changing circumstances. Excellent analytical and presentation skills with the ability to define and support the aims and needs of the individual and the organization, experienced at working under own initiative or as part of a team. Support Worker: Secure Psychiatric Unit Support worker in a private 26 bed female only rehabilitation psychiatric hospital. Working alongside medical personnel providing patients with around the clock care that includes supported interventions, one to one and two to one line of sight/arms length observations. Assisting the NIC with the administration of medication and controlled drugs. General duties: maintaining security within the unit and supporting patients whilst out in the community. Specialist Tutor: Learning Curve To advise in the setting up the role of in-house specialist tutor. The role would involve working with on-line learners who have learning disabilities and complex needs. To provide information and guidance to trainers and assessors, in addition to the teaching resources to help the learners complete their on-line qualification in an agreed timescale. Support Worker/Compliance Auditor Dimensions Initially working in a residential setting with adults who have Autism/Learning difficulties who live independently but because of their educational, social and emotional needs can exhibit challenging behavior that requires a high level of support, guidance and mentoring. Seconded to auditors role as part of a national compliance audit team with responsibility for 28 services in the Tyne/Tees region, ensuring the level of service provided within those services meets CQC and Dimensions standards of care and support. Trainer/ Tutor: TEAM Wearside As an employability tutor delivering NCFE/City and Guilds employability programmes to students/clients with complex needs. Programme content included H&S, equality and diversity, personal development and Safeguarding for Entry level/Level 1 & 2. Seconded to Castlegreen Special Educational and Social Needs Community School as part of their existing centre of excellence, liaising with SFL and Apprenticeship teams within TEAM Wearside and external agencies working towards achievement for the learners including further qualifications, whilst assisting them to gain self confidence, work experience, access to FE or employment and independent living status. Tutor: Bishop Auckland College Developing training programmes for accreditation by the Open College Network (T.R.O.C.N.) delivering courses / programmes on Personal Safety, Aggression Management, and Assertiveness as part of the college curriculum and also to the private sector. Working with Foundation Learning E2E, and groups with learning and social difficulties, basic skills, numeracy and literacy based portfolio building and Skills for Life and NCFE employability programmes. Tutor: New College Durham Part of the Summer School team; delivering Reiki/personal development training to the high risk and vulnerable inmates with educational and social needs at Frankland Maximum Security Prison. Tutor: Education in the Community Developing Reiki training programmes to accreditation standards (T.R.O.C.N.). Developing and delivering Personal Development and Skills for Life courses as part of the A.C.L. Education in the Community Programme. Care Worker: Agency work Working in a wide range of care environments, care homes, nursing homes, EMI units, hospitals/hospice, and in the clients own homes. Duties included personal care, cooking and cleaning, supervising social days out, client health and safety, administering medication and liaising with nursing/medial personnel. Lecturer University of Sunderland Training Connexions personal advisers; responsible for delivering and presenting Connexion’s Programme, preparing training courses, assessing students.

Book preview

Chapter 1 - Education Is Meant To Free The Mind Not Enslave It

Conditioned to conform throughout our formative years, the education system reinforces the process by instilling the belief that society is built on conformity and the individual’s duty is to fit in and abide by the rules set in place by those in a position of power and authority to do so. Leaders who would have us believe they have our best interests at heart, unfortunately those who impose the rules don’t always comply with them, seeing themselves as in some way exempt and above the law of the land. The might of the establishment takes on the mantle of righteousness and their mantra is you must do as we say, and not what we do. When sacrifices are to be made, those in a position of political, religious and financial power ensure their followers obediently do so, so they themselves never have