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The Fonz: Not too cool for school
Written by Hayley DunlopWhen ISC staff members Hayley Dunlop, Alex Caish and Buffy Sansom attended the Teaching Awards this summer, little did they know they would be meeting The Fonz – AKA Happy Days actor and dyslexia campaigner Henry Winkler. ISC Press Officer Hayley later caught up with the star to find out why he is so passionate about teaching…
“I think The Fonz is over there…”
Not the phrase I had imagined uttering at the London Teaching Awards in July. My colleagues and I had been expecting an afternoon of celebration and feel-good teaching stories. However, in addition to that, we had a star encounter with American actor Henry Winkler – most famous for his role as ‘The Fonz’ in Happy Days
“At school I was constantly told that I was ‘slow’ and ‘not living up to my potential’. But inside I thought I was trying to live up to my potential. Inside I thought ‘I don’t think I am stupid.’ A child hearing those around them saying they are not good enough, start to believe that maybe they are dumb.”
Winkler believes the key to unlocking the potential of every child is to instil in them a sense of self-confidence, and is therefore full of praise for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCos) at private schools in the UK: “Thank goodness they understand and help their students to stay strong. There is nothing more important than that and there is no better gift than their warmth and understanding.”
While, for us, Winkler will always be synonymous with Fonzie, today he has a whole new generation of fans thanks to his series of children’s books, which follow the adventures of dyslexic character Hank Zipzer – ‘the world’s greatest underachiever’.
“In 2002 my agent suggested that I write a children’s book about my dyslexia. Well, that was out of the question. I was positive that this was a task I could absolutely not do. Two years later he asked me the same question. I don’t know why but I said ‘okay’. He introduced me to my co-author, Lin Oliver, over lunch. The fish was horrible but the meeting was good and we quickly came up with the character.
“There are now 15 books and children everywhere react the same way. They relate to Hank’s humour and resourcefulness. They love that his friends and fellow school pupils, who do not have a learning problems, do not judge him.
“At the very first meeting I had with the publishers I looked down on the table and there was a copy of the first book. My mind turned to cream cheese. I just could not imagine that I had helped to create this thing.
“Now I tell children that they have no idea about the greatness inside them, and that they must dig down deep, find their gift and give it to the world. Thank goodness there are now teachers out there who also understand this.”
Some of the best specialist schools in the country for pupils with dyslexia, dyspraxia and associated difficulties are ISC schools. For further information and advice about choosing a private school for a child with special educational needs, click here.
More information
View our section on special educational needs in the Parent Zone as well as information on ISC schools, accredited for pupils with Dyslexia
Related posts:
- Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Independent Schools
- A public school education for my child?
- SEN2008 – another successful ISC special educational needs conference
- SEN pupil gets support needed at independent school
- School league tables, websites and independent schools guides: How do I decide which school is best for my child?
