Talking Point #8

Christopher Kliewer

"Citizenship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome"


Premise: (What is this about?)

1. Children with Down Syndrome
2. Conformation
3. Diversity
4. Citizenship
5. Perception

Argument:

Kliewer argues that, "Fundamental to constructivist teaching is a respect for each student as both an active agent in the learning process and an essential member of the learning community."


My Thoughts:

First off i want to say i like the story about Issac in this piece. The fact that the teacher took the initiative to find a way to conform the student with a disability within the classroom setting with a lesson plan that let ALL the students actively learn was a major role there. Not only that, but the fact that she recognized Issac as a human child, not a disabled child and let him learn on a level that showed he was grasping the lessons being taught.

With that said, there were a couple quotes that stuck out to me in here that really made me think and reflect. One was, "Dialogue imposes itself as the way by which people achieve significance as human beings" I couldn't agree more with this because as Americans, i think we value our English language in the sense of its dominance, and think that ALL cultures should learn it. In the way in which we carry our dialogue as well, in fact shows significance. For example if one person says to you "I kinda like made me think" versus " I pondered this conundrum" who do you think is going to be seen as more significant in society?

Others Included....

1. "Communication is built on one's ability to listen deeply to others."
2. "Dialogic of democracy is ultimately a set of values based on respect, humility, and creative listening"
3. "It's not Lee (a child with a disability) you're picking out. It's your stereotype, your mind-set. It's you, and it has nothing to do with Lee."
4. "Altering the culture of disability requires that a child be recognized as an active learner, a thinker, and a problem solver, but this cannot occur apart from the relationships that allow for such engagement."

The third quote there is what i think is the biggest problem when it comes to teaching disabled children, in addition to the story i briefly talked about in the beginning. It usually comes down to an educator "being stuck in their ways" and not opening up or accepting those with a disability and automatically labeling them as a "deficit." It is in fact about them, and not wanting to accept someone who is different, and changing their lessons to incorporate someone with a learning disability.