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"Scott Weiser" wrote in message ... A Usenet persona calling itself KMAN wrote: in article , Scott Weiser at wrote on 4/5/05 5:24 PM: A Usenet persona calling itself BCITORGB wrote: Scott proposes a model tat contradicts earlier comments: ================== It depends on the individual student, the particular class, and the specific needs of the disabled student. It may well require additional teaching aides to help the disabled student keep up. It may require special teaching techniques and tools. It may even require modifying the *whole* curriculum so that the "normal" students participate in ways which help the disabled students through. Peer mentoring has had some success. ============== I'm not entirely opposed to this. However, may I remind you that you thought it entirely appropriate for wealthy parents, of brighter kids, to take those kids out of the public school environment. Your point was that they have every obligation to look after the best interests of their child. Let's go with that proposition. What if I decide that it is NOT in my child's best interests to mentor someone else? You claim the move to a private school, to "escape" the public school environment, is appropriate for wealthy people. Where's my child's right to "escape" and to have an individualized curriculum? I never suggested that any child should be compelled to attend public school if private schools are an option, I merely state that for those who must, perforce, attend public school, they ought to be required to assist those in need as a part of the curriculum. Ah. That has nothing to do with "mentoring." That is one person being forced to "help" another person who has not requested the help. So? These are children, and they don't have the right to refuse to participate in educational programs, even when those programs require their active participation in teaching other students, or helping other students who need help. It helps create a sense of community and responsibility for others, which is something that is sorely lacking in today's selfish society. It's not mentoring when neither party is willing or makes the choice. The non-disabled student is not trained in supporting the individual with a disability in an appropriate helper role and will serve the purpose of teaching the individual with a disability that they are not competent and need to be assigned a non-disabled person to make their decisions for them. I also advocate mandatory national service upon graduation from high school, either in the Civilian Conservation Corps (or other like public works entity) or military service. That's a very different idea altogether. For example, having a voluntary service requirement means finding an agency with a volunteer program, receiving appropriate training and supervision, and supporting someone who has made a choice to receive that support. This is not only highly inappropriate, but dangerous. It helps teach the person with a disability that non-disabled people are their superiors, that they are deficient beings who must rely on non-disabled people, that they do not make their own decisions about what support they want and who will provide it, etc and so on. Hogwash. Disabled people know they are disabled and are well aware of the limitations they face and when they require assistance. Nobody is suggesting forcing assistance on anyone who is able to do something for themselves. You suggest that a student whose wheelchair is stuck in a hole ought to be left there without assistance, even if the occupant is incapable of communicating a desire for assistance. There is a huge difference between having an attendant to assist with such situations at one's request. This is not what I am talking about. I am talking about those students who are forcibly "mainstreamed" into an inappropriate curriculum. Certainly if a disabled person wishes to do something themselves, their wishes should be respected, and they should always be encouraged to attempt self-sufficiency, but when help is required, there's nothing wrong with engaging other students in helping them. Frocing them to do so is inappropriate. You are not picking up a piece of poo from the schoolyard. It's a human being. If someone doesn't want to help another human being, forcing them to do so is humliating for the person with a disability and only teaches the person being forced to project their anger onto an innocent party. All part of what contributes to making them an extremely vulnerable population. It also teaches the non-disabled student that it is appropriate and normal for them to assume a position of power over people with disabilities. Poppycock. There are no power issues here, there is simple human compassion and friendship. Your argument presupposes a selfish motive in the teaching of compassion. Forcing someone to perform a task against their will has nothing to do with the teaching of compassion. It might possibly help someone to develop a sense of duty, which of course can mean a lot of things. |
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