Remedial ‘testimonials’ speak for themselves

TALI FEINBERG

In fact, private remedial schools are designed to help learners reach their ultimate potential, and to succeed in both schooling and their careers. Most children go back into mainstream schooling, and succeed alongside their peers. The SA Jewish Report spoke to families with inspiring stories.

“Before this journey started, I was one of those parents that stood in judgement of a child that attended a remedial school. The day I acknowledged that I have a child with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), was the day I enrolled my son into a remedial school,” says Ashleigh Elad.

Her son Guy Elad is just one of many success stories – while he started his school career at Crossroads remedial school, he matriculated from a mainstream school with seven distinctions and 100 per cent for maths. He went on to study actuarial science at Wits, and has just been awarded the Golden Key Award, given to the top 15 students in the subject.

“Guy was never singled out or labelled as the boy with learning challenges, but rather as the boy with the determination to succeed. I always thought that having a child with a learning challenge was a curse but in actual fact it has been a blessing,” continues Ashleigh.

“Attending a remedial school was a true gift which taught him to be grounded, taught him coping skills and how to apply himself. It taught our family to never judge. I cannot stress enough, how crucial it is, that parents find the right school for their child.

“Avoiding remedial therapists in fear of stigma or ridicule or fear of isolation from friends and family does not solve the problem. In fact, it is a disservice to the child. Give your children what they need, be it educational or psychological support.”

A 28-year-old Jewish man went to Crossroads when he was in grade 3 because he had auditory processing issues that were getting in his way of learning at school. He spent three years at Crossroads. His mother asked that he not be identified as The Jewish Report was not able to contact him before going to press.

“Crossroads was fantastic for my son. It gave him so much confidence and taught him that he certainly wasn’t stupid, he just had a learning challenge and he needed to learn differently,” said his mother.  He went back to King David and went on to get a matric that enabled him to get into the University of Central Florida, where he studied B Com accounting.

When he finished, he applied for a job at Google. He was one of 500 applicants, probably the only South African, and he got the job. He and his wife now run their own company in Los Angeles.

“My son is just one of so many Crossroads and Bellavista success stories. There have been doctors and engineers who once had learning difficulties and went to these schools, which give them tools they couldn’t get in mainstream schools, so they could go back and succeed,” said the mother.

Tallia Pitum is 21 years old and attended Bellavista remedial school. “When I first went to Bellavista I honestly never thought I would be where I am today. It was a very good schooling environment for me and I think my parents made a good choice,” she says.

After Bellavista she went to Eden College and matriculated in 2013 with a distinction in visual arts.

“Although I had to study twice as hard as my classmates, I did it. I am now a prosthetic make-up artist working in the film industry. Just because I have dyslexia and ADD it still doesn’t stop me from achieving my goals.”

Razelle Esakowitz’s son Michael was at the Eden SCIP School for primary school, a remedial section of Eden College. “He then mainstreamed for high school, but would have continued to benefit from a small class environment. He had very little success at school, in fact he was lucky to scrape by and receive his matric, but his after-school success has been phenomenal,” says Razelle.

Michael made aliyah straight after he completed matric in 2010. He managed to learn Hebrew and became fluent after about a year in Israel. He did two and a half years of army service in an elite combat unit and went on to become a commander for a further six months, where he was in charge of nine soldiers.

He completed all the tests and course material in Hebrew – not even his mother tongue. He then went on to complete a BA Honours degree in government and counterterrorism at IDC University in Herzliya. 

While he was studying for his degree, he also worked up to five shifts a week in order to support himself. 

Michael is currently studying for a masters in energy and sustainability at Tel-Aviv University, but ultimately he would like to finish a masters in government/counter-terrorism at IDC.

Shterna Bacher went to Crossroads remedial school for four years and then to Torah Academy. “I was told I would not manage to study further after high school, but I went on to do a double BA in criminology and psychology and my honours as a PGCE in education for grades 7-12.”

Shterna says she has “reached success in myself and what I do. I have managed to enjoy learning new things and I have worked with amazing people in our Jewish organisations that I would never have tried to if I believed I wasn’t capable.

“To hear from your old teachers and headmistress that they can’t believe what I do today, makes me understand why I went to a school that gave me that foundation.”

As someone who taught at King David, she feels it is imperative to start a remedial school. “I have seen so many children struggle and they begin to feel less and that the school doesn’t care about them.

“They are constantly compared to the other children and are told they need to try harder in new terms or new year. This is belittling to them as most of them are either trying their best with what they are given, or have become lazy due to their own lack of belief in themselves.

“I believe this new school will give these children the chance to find themselves and what they are capable of achieving.”

Correction: In our print edition, the mnames of Guy Elad and Michael Esakowitz are incorrect. The names should be with the opposite pictures. Apologies.