Talking Points 9

Citizenship in School: Reconeptualizing Down Syndrome Kliewer
Kliewer argues that the teaching in schools for kids with down syndrome is very limited, and they are kept apart from the "normal kids" which stunts their learning and social skills. This kind of relates back to the carlson article in a way. People who are less abled and have handicaps are treated as invisible. We see this in schools and the article demonstrates this people who have disabilities are in their own classrooms and own area away from everyone else. Some people might think that they don't notice, but it the special ed. students do notice and it does make them feel left out. Also keeping them separated creates a sense of awkwardness for the "normal" kids because they don't know how to interact with the special education students. What needs to happenis that special education students need to be incorporated into the normal classes so that they can develop the basic skills to be a part of society.

Quote 1
"its not like they come here to be labeled,or to believe the label. We're all here-kids,teachers,parents,whoever-its about all of us working together, playing together,being together, and that's what learning is. Don't tell me any of these kids are being set up to fail."

This quote is good because this is how learning should be. Yes if someone has a disablity they might require a little more attention then others, but they shouldn't be labeled and put in a classroom of other kids that are exactly like them. They need to be with the general population of students so that they can grow too. By setting them up not to fail really, but to not grow as a student the teacher is failing them. This quote connects to the Jeannie oakes piece because you could say that in the "normal" classes teachers might have some tough times dealing with class they put energy into their to help the kids. In the special education classes they might not push them to do much just the simple things how to talk basic math etc. THe teachers should try to push the special ed. children to do bigger things if they were in the general population it would help them become more social and grow more.
Quote 2
"The underdevelopment of the high funtions is a secondary structure on top of the defect. underdevelopment springs from what we might call the isolation of an abnormal child from his colletive."
By keeping special ed. kids by themselves they'll never learn how to socially interact with other children that are in their grade. This will create a stigma because they will think that they are not good, and th enormal kids will think that they are weird because they arent in their classes. By keeping special ed kids grouped together you are hurting them. In the movie we watched on tuesday it showed one of the boys who had a disability and he got integrated into a regular classroom. AT first there was trouble,but the boy blossomed so having special ed kids in classes with other kids won't slow down the class itll help the students.
Quote 3
His move to mendocino shattered the image of john as a community burden. there he entered into rlationships in which his individuality was both recognized and valued. john was not forced to prove his competence to the mdendocino citizenry in the way schools had first demanded, then given up on. "
By being in a postivie community and not being put down it allowed john who was mentally retarded to succeed. Before he was labeled negatively and people had no faith in him they didnt think he would succeed. When john went to the school in mendocino he made great connections with his community in the school. THis shows that all students can succeed if they are supported and encouraged.

This article was very interesting,and it should make all of us think back on our days back in elementary,middle or high school. Students with disabilities are treated as outcast and that they can't function in society. When i was in high school at lunch for example they sat in a certain area of the cafeteria. Why couldn't they sit with everyobody else? because by being separated so long a stigma came in and the "normal kids" would never go over and try to make connections and the special ed kids couldnt and wouldnt either. By putting all students together it allows them to connect and help each other reach the same goal to learn and become educated.