Public education is a right given to those in America, but
what happens when one student's education impedes on another? Children with
neurodevelopmental disorders have the same rights as any other children within
the United States, but due to the lack of funding these children are unable to
be successful in school. The autism spectrum is a neurodevelopment disorder
that impairs a child's ability to communicate and interact with others, this
condition according to the DSM-5 is a disorder that accompanies autism,
Asperger's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and
pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. These children
usually have a hard time adapting to public schools and their atmospheres
because they are unable to socialize at the same level as other children. Teachers are not given the appropriate
training to better integrate the children into a social environment.
Academically, children with disabilities are given their own curriculum which
teachers can follow, but outside of the classroom these children are usually
targets for bullying due to their differences. The first article is
one example of when a child with Asperger's syndrome enters a public school
which does not have the capability to understand and manage these children.
This particular article ends with one trait that many parents of children with
autism spectrum disorder lack, hope. Many parents are unable to create a
specialized home-schooling curriculum due to financial reasons. Although the
government does provide certain services to families that have children with
disorders it is very limited and unable to provide all that is needed for these
families.
Another problem that is prevalent in public schools is the
lack of capable teacher for these children. A child on the autism spectrum display
unique patterns of behaviors so it is difficult to generalize certain symptoms
and their severity to all children with autism. Certain children may be more aggressive
than others while some may be more unresponsive. Unfortunately due to this not
all children within the autism spectrum disorder may be suitable for a public
school setting, but not all families can afford private schooling for these
children. An issue that has been recently publicized is the treatment of these
children in public schools. This article explains the use of seclusion and
restraints when children have episodes that may turn violent. Although morally
it may seem wrong to isolate and restrain children, it is also a matter of
safety. Aggressive behavior from children can range from biting and scratching
to stabbing and throwing items. These children pose a threat to both teachers
and other students, but does this give the right for teachers to use extreme
methods do stop these children?
Questions:
What solutions are there for all children to receive public
education without impeding on another child’s?
Do teachers have the right to restrain children with autism spectrum disorder if it means keeping other children safe?
Is integration or separation (from other children) better for
children with autism spectrum disorder?
In the first article, she kept saying that we can't expect public school teachers to be psychologists as well, and I agree with that (if for no other reason than that they are not paid enough for that) but I think teachers would really benefit from that type of training. Overall, I think everyone should know more about developmental disabilities, and it's really sad that even teachers aren't really expected to.
ReplyDeleteIntegration is really important so that children don't feel isolated, and the neurotypical children will likely grow up more sympathetic and understanding to people who think differently from themselves. But it's hard to control, and children /don't/ understand people different from themselves from the very start, so they can behave, accidentally or thoughtlessly, in ways that are damaging to the neurodivergent students. That's not a fair risk to take :/
In the first article, she kept saying that we can't expect public school teachers to be psychologists as well, and I agree with that (if for no other reason than that they are not paid enough for that) but I think teachers would really benefit from that type of training. Overall, I think everyone should know more about developmental disabilities, and it's really sad that even teachers aren't really expected to.
ReplyDeleteIntegration is really important so that children don't feel isolated, and the neurotypical children will likely grow up more sympathetic and understanding to people who think differently from themselves. But it's hard to control, and children /don't/ understand people different from themselves from the very start, so they can behave, accidentally or thoughtlessly, in ways that are damaging to the neurodivergent students. That's not a fair risk to take :/
I think the best method for providing a quality education for every child regardless of their mental conditions is setting up their own school. One thing that I know is extremely effective is that when you put students who are the same whether it is race, gender, mental capabilities, or others, it is generally easier for them to socialize and get work done. For example, in St. Augustine, Florida, the state made an entirely separate school for the deaf and blind; it is a boarding school, but the state helps fund students while also providing transportation for students who live far away from the school like in Miami. The deaf students that I was able to "talk" had a thriving culture and they were well-integrated into the school system even though some were over 200 miles away from their parents. I think teachers have a right to ensure their own safety and the safety of others. I would detest anything, anyone, or even any child who dare hurt my child when I send them to school so they can get a proper education and I would the faculty would try their hardest to ensure my child's safety while they're not with me. I realize that some of these children do not have the mental capability to know that what they are doing is hurting someone else; however if it was a neurotypical child who was hurting students and staff, I honestly believe that that child would receive the same punishment of being restrained. As I've said, separation for now might be our best option because if we can get kids with autism to be social at a young age then they will find their own friends later on in life who don't have a mental disability.
ReplyDelete1.What solutions are there for all children to receive public education without impeding on another child’s?
ReplyDeleteI believe all schools hould have a special education program with teacher dedicated only for these students. As far as I can remember both my middle school and high school had these programs, I can't remember if my elementry school had one. In my middle school these students were in their own section and place and thier own classes. In my highschool they had there set room but they did a better job in integrating these students with the other students. For example I had some special students in my art and gym classes who would attend class with a gaurdian. My high school did a good job in integrating these students to not isolate them. I believe if all public schools have a program like this there shouldn't be a problem with all children to receive public education without impeding on another child’s.
Do teachers have the right to restrain children with autism spectrum disorder if it means keeping other children safe?
Similar to my top questions it's only okay to an extend. I really liked how my high school special education program tried to integrate these students as well as my studen council class. We would do a seperate homecomming king and queen because of the fact that they may not be able to attend the dance. In my art class a special ed student got really frusterated when he couldn't complete a task and his guardian had to take him out of the room and was isolated from the class for a week. I believe those circumstances are right.
Is integration or separation (from other children) better for children with autism spectrum disorder?
I believe it is very important to try and intergate these students for there well being. I believe they cant be isolated throughout their education career because once they leave the school they are not going to have that isolation or better yet htey shouldn't be isolated.
1. I would say that there is a reasonable expectation that public school systems can provide education to those with special needs, this being said it must be understood that public education will still be formalized and may not fit the abilities of each student. As a student who had special needs children in booth my elementary and high school I find that specialized education can be achieved. To do this though someone, at some point in time, must decide if the specific student depending on the needs he/she possess can academically survive in a formal classroom or if they need an reformed method of teaching.
ReplyDelete2. I would say that if in the presence of a clear threat a teacher has the right to restrain a student with practically any mental disorder. This however is a very thin line of what is and is not an imminent threat and thus one is at the mercy of the school review board if one chooses to restrain such a student.
3. Provided the special needs disorder is not overall limiting of one's abilities I would argue that integration is the route to go. Students benefit from the friendships and experiences that could come with working with other students in a traditional classroom setting. If integration is used though, it is up to the teacher and other school staff to determine that the student is truly learning and that the student is having an enriching educational experience, because if this is not the case than separation is an option to ensure a better educational experience.
1. I would say that there is a reasonable expectation that public school systems can provide education to those with special needs, this being said it must be understood that public education will still be formalized and may not fit the abilities of each student. As a student who had special needs children in booth my elementary and high school I find that specialized education can be achieved. To do this though someone, at some point in time, must decide if the specific student depending on the needs he/she possess can academically survive in a formal classroom or if they need an reformed method of teaching.
ReplyDelete2. I would say that if in the presence of a clear threat a teacher has the right to restrain a student with practically any mental disorder. This however is a very thin line of what is and is not an imminent threat and thus one is at the mercy of the school review board if one chooses to restrain such a student.
3. Provided the special needs disorder is not overall limiting of one's abilities I would argue that integration is the route to go. Students benefit from the friendships and experiences that could come with working with other students in a traditional classroom setting. If integration is used though, it is up to the teacher and other school staff to determine that the student is truly learning and that the student is having an enriching educational experience, because if this is not the case than separation is an option to ensure a better educational experience.
In response to the isolation versus integration aspect of the discussion questions, I strongly believe that it is beneficial for all parties involved if mentally disabled students are fully integrated into the student population. I am in full agreement that there should be alternative learning programs adapted to the learning styles of mentally handicapped, but I view the segregation of the mentally “capable” and the mentally “disabled” to be very discriminatory. There is no reason that students with disabilities shouldn’t be allowed to communicate and be amongst the rest of the student population.
ReplyDeleteIn general i'd like to say that developmental disorders are a very difficult issue to approach because they are so varied. Even two people who have the same disorder may behave in varying degrees of severity, Take autism for example, while someone with mild autism can certainly sit in a normal classroom and perform just fine, while a child with a more sever case may need an aid or may need to be separated from normal instruction. Thus this raises the question, how do we decide where each of these children will receive the best care. While viewing these children on a case by case basis is clearly the best option, this can be incredibly unrealistic in a public school where classes are large and resources stretched thin. Ultimately, I believe that if a students is able to function in a classroom setting they absolutely have the right, however if the average classroom puts to much pressure on the student in question to the point where it impeded their own learning or the learning of others, separation should be an option.
ReplyDelete