Our new topic to read about, dicuss, and write about is Special Needs students and how they can best be served in our educational system, the two sides being “inclusion” (included into general or mainstream classes) versus “segregation.” (separated and taught into “special needs classes”).
Here is your assignment: Select one quotation from each of the four articles then in a well developed paragraph respond to it. Try to briefly rephrase/explain the quote in your own words.
Some possibilities for response:
–Support/agree with the quotation and explain why you think it makes a strong point;
–Disagree with a quotation and explain why you think it is incorrect, weak, or vulnerable to attack from an alternate position;
–Point out something that you think is insightful, something you hadn’t before thught of, and explain the insight in your words;
–Express your confusion with (negative) or curiosity concerning (positive) a specific quotation;
–Respond and react to what you reading any way pertinent to the topic at hand.
Here are two examples of what I’m looking for:
1) In the article “Mainstreaming Doesn’t Work for Everyone,” the author Amy Lutz writes the following: “Perhaps this is why most of the parents calling for fully incclusive classrooms have younger kids: the differences are less stark when children are in elementary schools.” Here, she is implying that as children age their parents move more and more in favor of segregated classrooms. I can definitely understand this as the child’s frustrations may grow and their behaviors become more radical, even dangerous. On the other hand, I can also see the opposite happening, at least in less severe case, where some group of their peers may come to befriend the special needs child, supporting, encouraging them, and embracing them. (118 words)
2)
In “Students with Disabilities Deserve Inclusion” by Hannah Grieco, the author writes:
Inclusion involves . . . implementing a strategic plan to support the child within the general classroom setting. This is done by a
special education team. .. . . The team offers options such as teacher training, team teaching, pushed-in special education
instruction, classroom accommodations (standing desk, computer workstation, etc.) an interpreter, or a classroom assistant
added to the room for portions of the day.
In effect, Grieco is arguing that inclusive education is not a one-person job. Instead, it is complex, requires a team, and is likely expensive. This makes sense to me,but it also leads to wonder about the gap between planning and execution. In what percentage of cases is it likely that such a complicate and holistic solution really be available to the school and to the child. (143 words)
Shoot for a minimum of 100 words per response.
Double space, double space EVERYTHING.
