German education operates on a three-track pattern. After four years (ages 6-10) of compulsory primary school, students either attend a Gymnasium (academic secondary school), Realsclmlc (general high school) or Haiiptsclnilc (general school).
In France higher education is free to qualified students. Nearly 1 m. students continue their studies after secondary school in 72 universities and in technological institutes and grandes ecoles.
The fact that education operates a 'normalising' gaze over its participants exerts significant pressure on children with DCD and their families. Whilst it is vital (and the central theme of this chapter) that young children with DCD are helped to overcome their difficulties and to fulfil their potential, they should not in any way be made to feel that they must conform to a normative view of what it is to be a child. Unfortunately, just 'his kind of normative perspective has dominated education and health service practice for many years and conveyed, overtly and subliminally messages about the imperative of 'urative and therapeutic intervention (Oliver 1996, pp. 95-109). A positive way forward in thinking about these issues, and the ieeds of children with SEN, including those with DCD is to concep-aalise needs in a new way. Norwich (1996) suggested the following apology:
About 70 colleges and universities offer programs to train health education teachers, and the profession is growing. Members of the profession feel strongly that health education should not be considered a part of physical education and that physical education should not be a branch of health education. Some high schools now give a half year to physical education and a half year to health instruction.
German education operates on a three-track pattern. After four years (ages 6-10) of compulsory primary school, students either attend a Gymnasium (academic secondary school), Realsclmlc (general high school) or Haiiptsclnilc (general school).
In France higher education is free to qualified students. Nearly 1 m. students continue their studies after secondary school in 72 universities and in technological institutes and grandes ecoles.