EDSP 5330
Dr. Robin Lock - Instructor
Assignment - Chapter 1
Questions 1, 2, 6, 8
Spring, 1999
Jo Beth DeSoto
Advance Questions
Documentation of education dates back to the colonial days. The only students who received an education were white boys from upper middle class families! The first half of the 19th century welcomed financial support for the schools through taxation. With this came the inclusion of more children into the educational system Now female, poor, middle class, and culturally diverse students were entitled to an education. However, this "new" educational system maintained previous ideals: all students were taught the same thing, in the same way, on the same day. Nothing was individualized! Horace Mann eventually introduced the concept that EVERY child was to be educated. Public education would now be, "not only free but as good as any private institution." By 1860 his concept was in-place, and public education was accepted and enforced.
Education began to grow in the United States, and with this growth came the idea of graded schools. It was determined that a child’s age would be the basis for his/her academic placement and mastery of curriculum would determine advancement in the program. Again, nothing was individualized - everyone got the same material to learn at the same rate. Students with disabilities were not given any consideration - they were ignored.
As this educational program fell into place, students who failed to succeed began to appear. The students, then considered incapable, were stock-piled into "special" classes. These first "special" education classes, dating back to around 1899, served to remove students (who couldn’t perform up to par) from other students. However, their individual needs were never considered. Educating them was not the priority - they were just "kept".
This horrible discrepancy in educating students with special needs was finally address in The Civil Rights Act of 1964. Students who needed and deserved special education - were finally addressed. This was the beginning of a movement that would some day allow these children a free and appropriate public education.
Special Education today is driven by many factors, some of which include: individualized instruction, specialized programs, diversity of needs, and life skills. As the educational needs of each and every child became apparent and necessary, special education became increasingly popular. No longer is education concerned with the "masses", it now focuses on the individual child. Because the education of individual needs requires specialized program, these programs are becoming more and more prevalent. Programs today are designed to teach children with various needs, in a multi-sensory way. As these programs are evolving, the diversity of needs among the students in special education are becoming more obvious. Along with meeting these diverse needs, among students in specialized programs, special education is also responsible for developing life skills among its student population.
When we look at the "big picture" of special education, today it is more necessary than ever before to educate the individual child. The only way this will ever maintain success is through Special Education.
Page 2
Jo Beth DeSoto
ADVANTAGES:
DISADVANTAGES:
GENERAL EDUCATION SPECIAL EDUCATION
Group-oriented curriculum Individualized curriculum
Global approach to instruction Individually assessed instruction
Larger classes Smaller classes
Basal materials and texts Modified materials and texts
Grades are the focal point Progress and success are focal point
Paced for the average learner Paced for each child
No intervention recommended Intervention absolutely necessary