Portrait series shows where education fails
Iris Valentina photographs children who get stuck in education. "I hope the pictures are so touching that the system changes."
Image: Iris Valentina
"What keeps you awake?" This question led to the project 'Children of education' in which Iris Valentina photographs children who get stuck in school. She knows from her own experience how terrible that is. “My daughter often comes home from school totally overstimulated and with a headache and now more often than not she doesn't go. The subject I had been looking for so long was right in front of me.”
Because she also sees children and parents struggling with the school system in her environment. “There is nothing wrong with these kids at all. They just don't come into their own at a school where the average is the norm. They cannot be themselves in this, there is no room for their own development or ideas,” says the photographer. “With constant stress, anxiety and eventually even burnout or failure as a result.”
Big heart
With the portrait series she wants to shed light on the problem, without raising a judgmental finger. Because what she also sees is that teachers are doing their utmost. “I have a lot of respect for them. Teachers work so hard and with such a big heart for children, but they also get stuck in the system. Due to the high workload and large classes, they fall short everywhere, that must hurt.”
She has now portrayed more than twenty children in a poignant manner, both in image and in text, and that number is growing. Iris Valentina: “I won't stop until politicians realize that education is failing. I hope the pictures hit. That they fuel outrage, creating an intrinsic motivation to reform the system together.”
Philine (12): “If it doesn't work out for a child, leave it for a while. Give space. Not always have to. There needs to be a better policy for this.”
Maysa (15): “I was always very curious and loved to learn. Since reading is an obligation, I've never really been able to read a physical book again. While I used to be a real bookworm.”
Silvijn (11): “Primary school didn't suit me. I had to act like the other kids. 'Being normal', so I couldn't be completely myself.”
Isa (10): “When I was still at school, I wanted to die. I didn't like my life because I had to keep going to school with so much tension. Now that I no longer have to go to school, I have more fun in my life.”
Jazz (10): “I would like the schools to give more time and attention to the children who cannot learn well or who need lessons in a different way. Now the masters and teachers are unable to do this.”
This story comes from the Education magazine of February. Read also System pushes home sitters into the corner of Inclusive education seems further away than ever.
De AOb is committed to measures to ensure appropriate education. Help us with your practical story here to share.
