Talking Point # 8 - Kliewer

Authors Argument:

Kliewer argues that it is unjust to take children out of mainstream classes just because of their disabilities (no matter what they are). to make judgements on a person with any disability is wrong and thats what this article goes into depth about.

1) "Shayne, however, did not see Isaac, or any of her students, as disabled (3 with down syndrome including Isaac) and 10 students considerably non disabled, Shayne and her associates worked to create a context that supported all children's full participation."

I thought this was strong. Shayne and her associates do NOT discriminate towards a child just because of their ability levels. i also think it is awesome to have them mixed in the same class so they don't feel like outcasts. i hated seeing the disabled kids in HS going to lunch together and sitting alone, staying in one classroom etc. it wasn't fair, they are people too who are at school for the same reason as anyone else. i would absolutely send my child to that school, i feel like it helps children understand that people are different and it is ok and how to act and interact with people who are different. i hate seeing a child scream and cry when they see someone who is different; it seriously breaks my heart. i feel like all school systems should have integrated classrooms in them.

2) "He tells the most amazing stories ... we were all Wild Things and it just came alive!"

This passage touched me. it goes to show that people with disabilities can still understand, interact and learn. Isaac just did it in a different way and i think that Shayne is an extraordinary person for embracing his learning style and i also think that Isaac is extraordinary for wanting to learn and expressing it the way he does. i would LOVE to work with a child like that; i feel like i would be able to embrace him or her and help the other children embrace and learn from it as well. good for Shayne and Isaac.

3) "John Mcgough experienced such a disability spread during his high school education in North Hollywood, California, where he attended a segregated school with other students who also had down syndrome . According to Andrews's (1995) detailed ethnography, John's North Hollywood existence was a lonely and isolated one. Outside of his family, he had few acquaintances and little community connection. His school experience was stagnant and filled with hopelessness. School personnel labeled him 'uneducable'"

This just proves that people with disabilities should be integrated into classroom with people who do not have disabilities. it makes the people without them realize that the people who do have disabilities are people too and that they should be treated as humans and be respected. they shouldn't be locked away by themselves in sad isolation. and shame on the school for labeling him like that, i bet they didn't even try to help him. people need to realize that you cant treat people like dirt just because they have disabilities or they are different. i honestly want to hit people like that. they tried that stuff with african americans and it was changed, they can now go to schools with us and do everything like they should be able to do. why discriminate against people with disabilities in this day in age. silly.

This article should have opened eyes and i think that all educators should be required to read this article. I hate that people are discriminated against because they are different, i think that i and other people would have learned and benefited from having people with disabilities in my classrooms and i think other people could have learned from it as well. this article is an eye opener. it was a little long but i liked it.