Citizenship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome

The beginning of this article was difficult to understand and I found myself going over paragraphs several times. Once I got through the first couple of pages the reading was much more enjoyable. I enjoyed the story telling portions of the article and the teacher, Shayne Robbin's that he spoke of sounds like a wonderful role model for all teachers. I was awed by her ability to include children of all levels in the same lesson plan and not only include them but have everyone learning in their own special way.

1)He had to be up, dancing in the middle of the circle, acting it out. He just couldn't resist. He could not help himself. It got all the kids going. We were all Wild Things and it just came alive! Here Shayne is telling a story about the first time she read Where The Wild Things Are in class and the reaction that Issac, a student with Downes Syndrom, had. I loved her ability to allow him to express himself the way that he needed to she is a true example of letting children learn in the least restrictive environment possible. I feel like many teachers would see this as behavioral disorder and would stiffle Issacs way of learning to conform to the "norm' .
2)Vygotsky found that the culture of segregation surrounding people with disabilities actually teaches underdevelopment of thinking through the isolation of children from socially valued opportunities. This is such a vallid point. Children with disabilities who are segregated are void of the experiences that most other children are priveleged to. Everyone's experience is enriched when these children are included. How do we teach children humanity when we dont treat all equally and give everyone the same opportunities?
3)She took Lee's idiosyncratic performance mannerisms and experiences seriously, recognizing in Lee a thinking, affective, valuable individual whose ability to connect with his community could occur only after he was afforded membership. This is such a key point stated in the article, how do these children connect with the rest of society if we shut them away from society. They are people first and need to be treated as people not as disabilities.

I just want to add that I feel teachers like the ones in the stories told here need to be commended on tunning in to the needs of All their students and embracing the challenge to give these children the most enriching and meaningful experiences. I am sure it's not easy coming up with new fresh ideas on how to make lessons work for everyone's needs but these teachers obviously put time, and caring effort into giving these children what they desreve.

One More River To Cross

This was a easy to read in places but I feel it got very repetetive. The author did get his point across that the Brown V. Board of Education case was not a complete victory. When he points out the wording used in the case such as " segregation generates a feeling of inferiority" or " a sense of inferiority". The courts talked about it as if it didn't really exist but like it was how the blacks saw it. Charles Lawrence reminds me of Johnson because Johnson says that you have to not be afraid to say the words. The inferiority was not just a "feeling" it was a harsh and evident reality in every aspect of the black persons life.

1) " Once blacks are labeled inferior, they are denied access to equal societal opportunities". The resulting inadequate educational preparation, poverty of cultural backrounds, and lack of experience constitute real limitations on their ability to contribute to society, and the prophecy of their inferiority is fulfilled. The label of being inferior fuels the opression of the black people. Desegragation of the schools was only one small step to breaking the stigma attached to being black.
2) The same people who controlled the schools controlled the jobs for which the school was preparing its students. CULTURE OF POWER.
3) The injury inflicted by a segregated school system is inseperable from the injury inflicted by segregated housing or public accomodations because each reinforces the other and because the removal of one will not heal the injury without the removal of the others. This points out how the black people could lok at the Brown V. Board of Education case was like a small step toward equality or somewhat of a bandaid on a much larger problem. You cant just fix a portion of the problem and expect the wounds that it left behind to disappear. Today more than ever we as a nation can see that steps like this one have lead us to a much better place of equality than ever before, we have a President who represents the black community for the first time ever. The issue of being under represented in positions of power has forever been an issue for the black people and this new representation we have in our nation is a great step forward for all people not just black people.

Why Schools Need To Take Another Route

Tracking: by Jeannie Oakes

This article was short and to the point. I will say that I have some mixed emotions on this subject, although after reading the article I can see why the author feels strongly against tracking. As a parent I have a tendency to see it as a positive teaching strategy for my own children because when they are grouped by ability they are given the oppurtunity to work without the interuptions that the the author talked about in the low level classes. I personally know several public school teachers and a couple of them have said that in a 50 minute class periode their actual instruction time achieved is about 30 minutes due to interuptions. I dont think this is the best way way to serve our higher performing students. I dont feel getting rid of tracking is the answer, I feel that providing better quality and more enriching education for the lower level students is a beeter way to go. Teachers shouldnt assume that those students aren't capable of producing high quality work and therefor should raise the standards for these students. I think the more I read the article the more I flip flop between agreeing with her and opposing her views.

1)Few widespread schooling practices are as controversial as ability grouping and tracking. I picked the opening as a quote to comment on because I think people have opinions on this and can back it up with ligitimate reasons, but then you have a child of your own and sometimes the opinion that you you had changes because you see the actual effects on learning from the inability to make heterogeneous classrooms work at their highest potential for ALL students.
2)The achievment gaps we observe among students of differing abilities are exacerbated by the failure of classrooms to provide all students with the time, opportunities, and resources they need to learn. Not all children learn at the same pace or need the same resources for learning which is another reason that I dont totally oppose tracking.

3) Unless teachers have the time and the autonomy to deliberate about, develop, and experiment with fundamental changes in school organization and classroom practices, alternatives to tracking are unlikely to be intelligently concieved, enthusiastically endorsed, or successfully implemented. This is the big picture. Until we as whole in this country put education on the top of the list of priorities, we are going to continue to struggle with a system that is failing to provide our students with the most enriching, challenging , thought provoking education that they all deserve and need to be successful in their future.