Shayne Robbins states "That class would not be half what it is if any one of those kids got segregated. We're all together in here". In my opinion students with disabilities should not be segregated at all. When I was in my senior year of high school I worked one hour a day each week with the special needs children. All special needs students stayed in one classroom, in the basement all day long (aside from lunch time) and whats worse? At one point they were forced to sit at two tables in the back of the lunchroom. How were these students supposed to function in everyday society if they weren't even allowed to assosciate themselves with others? Children with special needs add some diversity to the classroom. In some cases certain actions need to be taken, but with most students we don't even give them a chance. At least if these students were able to switch classrooms and walk through the hallways with other students inbetween classes, they would have some sort of interaction with others. It isn't fair for us to not include them; they bring a lot to the classroom, just as much as any other person would.
Lee is, in a sense, in a way he's branded. People see him. They see Down syndrome. They see mental challenge, retardation, whatever you want to call it. That's what they see, but they wouldn't be seeing him. This is a challenge that many of us face. The stereotypes and misjudgements. Whether you have Down syndrome, white, black, handicapped or able bodied. Everyone faces being judged just by what they look like. Unfortunately, this is one of the hardest things to change a person's perception of. Many make people make a decision about you before you even open your mouth to introduce yourself- just based on your appearance. This is why it is so important to get to know each student as an individual before you judge them. You may never know which students have an IEP, have a home, have both their parents, or what the child has been through in their life. Every child should be seen as an individual and for who they are.
i loved what you said about that second quote and i totally agree. it is hard for us to not judge people by their appearance, but we really need to get to know a person, especially a student, before we made any deductions. just because someone has a mental disability doesn't mean they fit into some mold. everyone is an individual and everyone should be treated as one.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to not judge people by appearance because we always subconciously do it whether we want to admit it or not.
ReplyDeleteIts true that we all judge weither conciously or subconciously, but i feel that diversity is needed within our classroom to avoid this practice of "melting" cultures, which creates normalcy. Rather, diveristy and differences should be taught between all students, creating the thinking that diversity is not only okay but something to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteMy video for this weeks post... People with Down Syndrome are just like everyone else..
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWuRnmRvEBc
I hear what you mean when you say special needs bring in diversity to a classroom, but are you willing to sacrifice the education of every student for the sake of diversity? I actually believe students should be separated based on learning abilities- are you a visual learner? A group/ individual learner? Does music help you? I think THIS benefits students so much and, if this becomes the case, I really think we will not have to deliberately diversify- it will happen naturally.
ReplyDelete