Kliewer

Nicole Pickering
Citizenship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome
Christopher Kliewer


1. "It's not like they come here to be labeled, or to believe the label. We're all here--kids, teachers, parents, whoever--it's about all of us working together, playing together, being together and that's what learning is."
     1. I believe that this statement can definitely prove a point. It is a very strong use of words. You sometimes have to be around other people and work with peers in order to learn something. You can't always learn the material on your own. Being together with people could definitely show a huge improvement in one's work. Not one person should be labeled, especially kids. Kids are kids. Everyone is different and kids are just trying to live their life and have some fun with it. They should not be labeled as something and be put down.
2. 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.”
     1. I believe this quote is trying to point out the fact that teachers need to realize that each and every student in their class is important. Each student is important to the class in one way or another. In order for students to respect teachers, the teachers must also respect the students. That is how trust is gained. Respect is a big deal in a classroom and if one does one have respect for another, problems will be caused. Every student is unique in their own way and they each bring something unique about themselves to the classroom so the teacher should be able to respect that fact.

3. Vygotsky found the the culture of segregation surrounding people with disabilities actually teaches underdevelopment of thinking though the isolation of children from socially valued opportunities."
     1. This quote kind of confused me because one would think that being put down all the time would make them want to stand up for themselves in order to prove something wrong. But in this quote it seems like the complete opposite. One may start to believe that they are not important to the world if they are being put down all the time.


This reading was a good artice to read. It wasn't that hard to read, but it just didn't catch my attention like other ones have in the past. After reading this article, I got mixed feelings about segregating students with disabilities. One would think that segregating them would be better because they can receive the attention that they need, but after reading this, I don't know what to think is the better idea: to segregate or not to segregate. People need to understand that not everyone is the same and people learn at different levels. I think it's great that schools have clubs and sports because students can get to meet other people and experience different cultures.