So, I've been sitting here working on writing more about the Inclusion in Idaho study I completed in the fall. As I write about inclusion and look at all the barriers identified by teachers, administrators, and parents, I can't help but get a little depressed about the possibilities for the future. The more I think about the patterns I'm finding the more I can see that the segregatory (discriminatory) practices in schools is not really an individual choice by teachers or administrators. Almost all of the participants in the study seem to locate the root of the problem outside of themselves...which can mean one of two things: either they are in denial and don't want to accept responsibility for educating students with disabilities, OR the root of segregation in special education is inherent in the system. If the latter is true then it seems to me that the only way to counter it is to scrap the current system and reconstruct it from the ground up.
It is quite evident to me that this may be the only way to make further progress towards full inclusion for all students with disabilities. The segregation we see in schools is echoed in our colleges of education where we segregate regular and special education teacher candidates, to our schools, to our communities, and so on. Of course there are those who say we can achieve more inclusion through more inclusive education, but the attitudinal and practical barriers to that dream are formidable and may be unassailable.
So, I've wondered about the possiblity of developing a model inclusive school that operates outside of the realm of federal and state funding and education policy. What if we could make a private school that showed how inclusion could work...without the constraints of government funding, testing, and paperwork I think it could work...I don't know. Just a thought I've been playing with this week that I thought I'd share. What are your thoughts?
I would not give teachers, administrators, or parents the total benefit of the doubt. They have choices. Being liked is a problem. Getting along with the status quo is a problem. Wanting to avoid discomfort is a problem. Maybe these issues are external, but maybe they are internal. Fear is very powerful. I challenge those who believe the problem is external to walk away. They won't.
ReplyDeleteI think I can say that because I have lost plenty by walking away at times and standing my ground at times. I could blame external factors, but I won't.
I don't need to be popular, I don't care about status quo, and I'm ok with discomfort. And, I know I can sleep at night.