Excluded
Parents of eight autistic children in Lakewood, Colorado, are objecting to where a classroom for children has been located—in a portable classroom outside the main school, a story in the April 9th 9news reports. As the parents notes, “the chance for casual interaction with other kids in the hallways and around the building are eliminated when the kids are placed outside.”
My son Charlie is also in a public autism classroom at one of the public schools in our town. His classroom–as all of his classrooms have been—-is in the main building. If his class were in a portable building that was separate, and literally, physically, “excluded” from the rest of the students, and the school—I’d be at least objecting, too.
Tags: asd, asperger, autism, classroom, Education, mother, Parenting, pdd-nos, portable, schoolRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Education
11 opinions for Excluded
Translating Autism
Apr 10, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Right after college I spent one year as a music teacher in Florida. At the time, Florida’s student population was growing so fast that the State could not build schools fast enough to keep up with the demand. So, my music classroom, as well as special ed, band, and plastic arts, were all located outside in portables. Sadly, this seems to be the case everywhere: music, art, and special education programs are the first to get moved outside. I guess it wasn’t just a Florida issue. Nestor.
Club 166
Apr 10, 2008 at 3:55 pm
The thing is, that while some of the people might be actually thinking of excluding and segregating these children, many others just weren’t thinking of all, which is really sad.
Because if they had been, they would realize that some of the most important lessons that these children might learn were to be had in the halls between classes.
Let’s hope the school listens now.
Joe
Regan
Apr 10, 2008 at 4:02 pm
“…a letter was sent home to parents stating a decision will be made on the location of the autism class in June AFTER looking at what OTHER programs might need space in the building..” (my emphasis).
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Maybe it’s me, but I would think that this program would get some priority in space allocation within the program. The typical 5th graders might think it was “cool” to get away from the little guys, but for the intent and spirit of inclusion as well as social and practical reasons of safety, I think it is important for the special education students to be within the heart of the school.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Apr 10, 2008 at 4:05 pm
From the time I was in kindergarten to 4th grade my entire school was portables—-new development in California.
Your comment, Nestor, makes me think of how music and art, and library, are referred to as “specials”—-so “special” that some think they are not even needed!
I can see how administrators et al. may not even have been thinking at all about excluding and segregating—-really sad, but all the more reason to have the portables brought to everyone’s attention. I have become very attuned to where Charlie’s class is located and to what’s near it, or not.
Melody
Apr 10, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I was in a portable for my 8th grade English. The library was in a portable as well. So was the elementary psychologist’s office. I agree, though, that when you’re talking about a group of students who have been traditionally excluded from many things, particularly in the school arena, that it’s not just a physical difference of location. It takes on a symbolic meaning of “them over there” - especially if the portables are significantly separated from the rest of campus.
Marla
Apr 10, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I am always amazed where they squeeze classes and therapies in. M had many OT and PT lessons in small closet areas or right in busy, loud hallways. I would be speaking up as well. I know I did when I witnessed these very busy or uncomftorable therapy sessions M was in.
Shari
Apr 10, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I think what really amazes me about this story is that nobody thought that there was anything wrong with the move. The difficult pill to swallow is that this sends a very bad message to the other children at the school.
In our state, there is much talk about, “Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships.” Well, for my son, the school-wide relationships and thoughtful relevance of content presentation is what helps him open-up to peacefully accepting the challenge of accessing more rigorous content.
Stories, like the one that you posted today, Kristina, remind me of why we (as a collective group of families and caring educators) can never let up our guard. The minute we do, some of the rights of our students are lost.
Patience
Apr 11, 2008 at 12:40 am
My middle school, for unknown reasons, housed 3rd-8th grade. It was a pair of buildings designed to hold about 1/3 of the students who attended, so much of the available land was taken up with portables. I had 3rd grade, and then a few of classes once I was in 7th and 8th and moving between classes (to prepare us for high school periods), in the trailers. I distinctly remember that the special ed class was always in one. Always. They were so separate from the rest of us, as if we would catch it. I hadn’t thought of that in years. It still makes me sad.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Apr 11, 2008 at 2:38 am
@Shari,
It’s a need to be constantly aware and vigilant about the small, big and medium things, yes? At a previous school, the OT’s “room” was a nook off to the side of the stage in the lunchroom.
FXSmom
Apr 11, 2008 at 10:56 am
Matty’s class is right next to the nurses office which is on the other side of the main school offices. So anyone that comes in can see and hear his D-Level class…and they all love it; from the kids, to the teachers, to the visitors. Colorado has been known to not “understand” their special ed kids needs and it still seems to be failing :(
wskrz
Apr 11, 2008 at 11:07 am
Colorado is one of the lowest ranked states in the country for funding education, unfortunately. And it’s circumstances like this, both as a parent and as a parent in Colorado, that annoy me.
Luckily, we live in a good school district here in CO where they’re good with taking care of their special needs kids. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve said, “Man. It’s a good thing we moved to a good district” when we moved a few years ago. It shouldn’t be relative to what district you live in though. It should be a standard “good” all across the state.
These kids should be in the school to encourage socialization between them and the other children in the school for the benefit of both sides. Isolating them in a portable away from the rest of the school potentially sets up a social divide between the typical kids and the atypical kids that can be carried over for years to come in the form of stereotypes and misunderstandings.
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