Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Segregation in the Classroom

Is it right to have a classroom of only students with disabilities?  
     
Some of you may say that it depends on the focus of the class and the nature of the disabilities.  That it is not right to have students who have cognitive disabilities in a classroom of students who are mentally their age.  But let me ask you this: is it right to have a classroom of only African Americans or only whites or only lesbians or only gays or only bisexuals or only transgendered people?  The answer is NO, it is not right!  It is not even right for me to categorize and for that I am sorry.  So then why do people seem to think it's alright to put every student who has a disability into one classroom at the end of the hall where the door is always closed?
     It is hard work for the adults to accommodate for the students needs, therefore these needs do not get met and the child is left with no way to demonstrate their understanding.  Some kids have trouble with talking and writing, and left with no way to show that they know what's going on.  The teacher is then discouraged to teach their students anything, taking their students out of class when they should be learning, baking and doing mindless activities.  This is what happens in a "special ed" classroom and this is why students with disabilities should not be put into special ed.  No one should be segregated and segregation should not be happening. 
     You may be thinking, "What about the kids who actually need to be in the special ed classroom?"  A student who has a cognitive disability often benefits in many ways by being surrounded by their same age peers.  It not only benefits them socially but it also with speech and understanding because of the interaction with kids their own age.  It also benefits the typically abled students in having the knowledge to interact with the student who have disabilities as you would interact with anyone else.  
     All students in a school are students just the same, so treat them like human beings, like kids and treat others how you would like to be treated.  Remember: "All students are general education students, some students have special education SUPPORTS."

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