Niamh Ní Hoireabhaird: Class photo fiasco in Scotland is no surprise – I know some who would see no issue with editing disabled from society

Parents of children at Aboyne Primary School in Scotland were offered a choice between photos featuring all the children, or photos excluding the children with additional needs

BBC Scotland revealed that a photography company offered parents a school photo excluding students with complex needs. Photo: Getty/Gary John Norman

Niamh Ní Hoireabhaird

Schoolchildren can be merciless – from name-calling to teasing or more serious bullying – but the cruelty of children can be understood in the context of childhood naivete.

We don’t come out of the womb knowing how to be considerate of each other’s diverse needs, characteristics, and experiences.