Accademic Parents

When St Andrews was formed, it (like all old universities) was taking very young students – some as young as 14. They would be sent away from home to study, and because they were so young, they needed a mother/father figure to look out for them for a while. And so the Academic parenting system was born. Today, third and fourth year students “adopt” freshers each year. This is not something organised by the university or students union – it is something that just happens. There is also the Raisin weekend tradition, where parents were given raisins by their children as a thank you (although nowadays it tends to be alcohol!).

I was very lucky. My parents had a friend who’s daughter was at St Andrews. What’s more, the daughter (Hatty) had experience of Aspergers syndrome. And so, before I even arrived, it was arranged that she would adopt me. On my arrival last year, she was waiting to help me move in, sort out which fresher’s week activities I would and would not like, and also to show me around the town. She also got me involved with Ents, and it was though ents that I was also adopted by Phil. Since then, they have both helped me settle into St Andrews and become part of the community. The support I get isnt expensive, but for me, it was extremely effective. Last year, I would usually talk to them a couple of times a week (usually though simply bumping into each other though ents/at the students union), there would be occasional (and very tasty!) family meals. I have several academic siblings (all 3rd years now), and now know one of them quite well too (infact I am now an Academic Uncle).

I think it works so well because it is voluntary, unstructured and social. Now I am sure there are aspies reading this who see the words “unstructured” and “social” and think that it is not for them, and I will admit, if I hadn’t had Hatty to start with, I would have found it difficult to find parents to adopt me. But not impossible! One big leap of faith, and the rewards are great. Because it is voluntary, people feel no pressure to do it, they do it because they enjoyed being kids and now they want to be parents, it is unstructured so it can suit lots of people. For example, at St Andrews, there is a tradition of parents getting their kids drunk on raisin weekend, and then dressing them up for a big shaving foam fight. This obviously wasn’t for me, so instead, we had a very enjoyable family meal. It also works because it is social – it is something which can happen naturally. I do not for one minute want to belittle the work of people who are paid to work with people on the spectrum, or those who volunteer to things like 1 hour help sessions. Both do really great work, but at the same time, they are both very …. unnatural. In time they can become more natural, but academic parenting is natural from the start – it is casual, and that, I think, really helps it.

My question is this: Why isnt this done at every university? It is a great system! Not only for people on the spectrum, but for ordinary freshers. I have a lot of friends who say they would not have settled in as well if it was not for the academic parenting scheme. For me, I think this is one of the best examples of “best practice” because it works not just for people with autism/Aspergers, but for everyone – it is something everyone benefits from, and that everyone enjoys.

Dedicated to Hatty and Phil
Joshua Muggleton – Currently rather ill :(