Unfair Labels

Unfair labels are often placed on children with disabilities. The mention of Special Education brings out labels of mental retards, weird, psycho, poor kids, and other labels. Unfair labels are nothing new. They have existed in schools for decades. The problem is that now they are part of the hidden culture that is alive and present in today’s schools. When a student is “tested” and is found to have an IQ of below 70 he/she is put into a program that in most cases does not teach them and also prevents them from ever graduating from school. The school system calls this “appropriate” education. From recent brain research we now know that IQ is not static. IQ’s can and do change with education. In fact education and educational experience can change the physical structure of the brain. Our students with lower IQ’s need to be taught in a manner that is consistent with our children that have higher cognitive levels. Make sure the education system does not write off your child by putting him/her in a class that treats their education as second to providing day care. Many of these classes do not have a defined curriculum and only pay lip service to educating our children. I am a teacher of one of those child development classes. (CDC) I have had 5 students come out of my CDC classes and back into the regular education class room (with supports) in the last two years. I approach special education not as a remedial effort but in a manner that teaches higher level concepts with allowable modifications. An example is that I have heard teachers saying –“My students will never learn math with a calculator”. Well my philosophy is that if a student has not remembered that 3 plus 3 equals 6 by the time they are in 3rd grade it is time to roll out the calculator. If we keep doing the same things over and over and in the same way with the child we will keep getting the same results. Einstein said that is the definition of insanity. However we can use technology to teach higher level thinking and calculations. The purpose of special education was never to teach remedial forever. The purpose of special education is to teach children higher levels of functioning using supports and modifications. It is preparing “all“ students to be able to function in the 21st century.