February 12, 2008 6:22 PM
Special Ed in Loudoun County: overcoming the bigotry of low expectations
This phrase came to mind as we were finally began dealing with the aftermath of Daniel's last year and a half in school:
My research revealed it was popularized when President Bush used it in a speech on No Child Left Behind. I think he may have been referring to kids trapped in schools with a history of poor performance.
But I found the phrase very apropos for what was going on with Daniel as his new teacher began working with him on January 16, modifying the fifth grade curriculum so that he could study the same subjects as his peers at a level that would allow him to succeed while challenging him to rise to his potential.
Remember how I told you that when his class was giving oral reports, she had him give one too? How when a school consultant asked her why, she said "Because he can."
It was a simply beautiful statement - like a breath of fresh air over a parched land where for way too long a time too many people getting paid to educate Daniel had been basing his activities each day on the philosophy Because He Can't.
I remember at the infamous January 15 meeting (where my son's IQ was used as a rhetorical guillotine) I challenged the idea that IQ had anything at all to do with the philosophy of inclusion. The assistant principal said, "Well, let's take a look at the fifth grade schedule and see where he can be included."
I said, "Why not try a new approach: let's start with the assumption that he can be included in everything and then look to see if there are specific places he can't."
Can you hear the difference? The first way sounds like you're doing him a favor to find places to stick him in with his peers. The second sounds like he is one of them except where his needs call for some time outside the classroom.
I am thanking God that Daniel is now in the hands of a teacher who regards him as an individual with dignity and meaning and purpose (Yes - thank you for your prayers, she came back to work recharged on Monday and Loudoun County has finally given her appropriate support for doing two jobs). You can tell the difference because she's not just herding him around in the "special needs" group keeping him busy with activities that are way too young for him. She's also not content to have inclusion time mean having him sit passively in a desk in the regular ed classroom staring around vacantly.
She is taking the time - challenging herself - to modify the curriculum to create meaningful work for him each day. What she's doing looks novel and exciting only because we haven't seen it for so long. But this is what every special ed teacher should be doing and this is what inclusion is supposed to look like.
Tom Marshall is the School Board member who is supposed to be a liaison to Special Ed. He responded to my comments to the School Board with a few questions that I though might best be answered by the experts and so I've proposed a meeting with him, Eleanor Voldish, Executive Director of LARC, and Cherie Takemoto, Executive Director of PEATC. He has promised to meet with us and I won't rest until we have a date on the calendar.
I have also asked Cherie Takemoto to write a guest blog for me on the benefits of inclusion for ALL students. What everyone - parents, teachers, administrators - need to understand is that inclusion does not just benefit kids with disabilities - it benefits the entire student population.
But we must be careful that when we talk of inclusion or any aspects of educating students with disabilities, we are truly rejecting the soft - no, what are we saying, it's not really soft at all! - that we are truly rejecting the hard bigotry of low expectations.
We must search our hearts and our minds and clear away the prejudice - the pre-judging - and embrace the potential of each child to rise above arbitrary limits based on our own schedules, staffing, and convenience. We need to catch the excitement that comes when we see a child doing something we too casually dismissed -
Because He Can!
Posted in Disabilities, Inclusion, Loudoun County, Public schools, Special education | Permalink
Comments
Oh, I can't say how happy I am to hear of this answer to our prayers!!! An answer for you, for Daniel, and for healing for that wonderful teacher. Thank you God, that you have allowed NO MAN (or woman) to stand in the way of Your justice for sweet Daniel. I'm so relieved.
Posted by: Greta | February 12, 2008 10:45 PM
I've been meaning to tell you that there is a little girl in my son's kindergarten class who has DS. I believe she is full inclusion, but I'm not sure.
At first I didn't noticed; I thought she was from China or some other country; she did not looked like she had DS to me, but then again, I have never met anyone with DS before. Soon I realized that Lia always had an adult helper with her; then I realized she has DS.
One day, no long ago, my son told me he wished he had a helper, like Lia. I explained to him that Little Lia suffers from a condition called Down syndrome and that, although she was just like any other child, she sometimes needed extra help to get things done and that, although she was capable of learning just as much as him, it took her a little longer. I asked him to always be nice to her and help her in any way he could, to which he responded "I do mom, I always do".
Was that ok what I said to him? I have to say I was really not prepared to answer any questions about Lia, so I hope I did good with my answer; what do you think?
Anyway, everyday at school, the teacher's helper of the day (every day is a different child) gets to go to the office to drop off the assistance sheet and the lunch order for next day; the helper gets to pick a buddy to go with; about three weeks ago I was happy to see that one of the kids had picked Lia to be his buddy; there they were, in the hallway, holding hands, walking and talking in their way to the office. I thought that was great and I was so happy to see this little boy including Lia in their activities. I quietly wished that when it was my son's turn, he would pick her too.
Well, last fiday, when I picked him up, as soon as we got in the van he said to me: "mom, can I tell you a secret? Skyler thinks I'm going to pick her to go with me when it's my turn to be helper of the day, but I'm picking Lia to be my buddy"
For some odd reason I felt butterflies in my stomach.....and I could almost feel a little tear beginning to form in my eyes. But I didn't know exactly why.
I told my son that I was happy to hear he wanted to pick Lia.....I told him that was a great choice.
Later that day I realized that my son knows she is special in and of herself; he doesn't necessarily see the Down Syndrome; he just sees her, and he thinks she is cool.
Deep inside me I prayed that he never loses his capacity to see beyond any labels or diagnosis, colors and shapes, and keep focusing on the heart.
That would be more than enough to make this momma proud.
Now, if I could only do the same.
Posted by: LadyLovas | February 13, 2008 11:19 AM
Good for Daniel!
Posted by: Julana | February 14, 2008 7:39 PM
Dear Lady Lovas -
I think what you said was fine. And I love your story. Thanks for sharing it!
And I am so happy for you and your son - and the other kids in the class - that God has blessed you all with someone who will bring out the best in everyone.
love,
barbara
Posted by: barbara | February 17, 2008 7:05 AM
