I read an article
named "What's 'Special' about Special Education" by Douglas Fuchs.
This author makes an argument saying that those students that are placed in
Special Education classes are not just those with Autism or Down Syndrome, but
those also with ADHD and various learning disabilities. Douglas talks a lot
about how those that learn differently or slower than others are seen as the
students that are "unteachable." Douglas states, "they (full
inclusionists) believe that general education historically has used, currently uses, and forever will use special education settings as dumping grounds for children it deems "unteachable" and that general educators typically consider children with severe mental retardation to be the least teachable"
(Fuchs 5). Thinking about this idea of students being unteachable is something
that took me by surprise. Going through just one class, now, of Education
classes, I have learned that every student learns differently and that there
are stereotypes within the classroom that have to be broken. In my opinion, it
is up to the teacher to make the students feel safe and comfortable in the
classroom so if a student does learn a little slower it is your job to pay
extra attention to that student or to find a curriculum that will suit their
needs. So what is "Special" about Special Education? What is
"special" about them is that there disability is something that
prominent in their life. Not only does it interfere with their school life, but
it also interferes with their every day life. Teachers need to realize that
there is a difference between a student needing extra attention and a student
being Special Needs.
Fuchs, Douglas. "What's "Special" about Special Education." Questia.com. N.p., Mar. 1995. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.questia.com/read/1G1-16765755/what-s-special-about-special-education>.
I think that it is hard to determine the least restrictive environment for a special education student. General education teachers don't have the training to help a student with special needs. But I do agree and think that some students just need a little extra help and don't need to be in a special education classroom.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this article because I think your passion shines through in it. Your passion is backed up by facts and information. Something you my want to think about is how the education system works and they might not have enough teachers to help all ADHD or ADD kids so they need to put them all together so they ca get the extra help they need. But I do agree if they have the resources and enough teachers they should just give the ADHD or ADD kids a chance to be in a real classroom and not get put in the special needs class
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