Talking Point #9

"Citizenship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome" by Christopher Kleiwer

I think that what Kleiwer is trying to say is that children with down syndrome should not be separated from the rest of the general school popullation in order for them to feel more accepted in society. If a person is excluded from the general public, they feel neglected and are also treated as such from everyone else when they go out.

1.) "The presence of a thoughtful mind has been linked to patterns of behavioral and communicative conformity associated with competence in logical-mathematical thinking and linguistic skills. "

This quote puzzles me. If a person with this type of mind has all these skills, like some kids with down syndrome, then why are they in remedial classes or classes that are separate from the rest of society and such.


2.)"the manner in which a child conceptualizes the world ~ does not exist first in an objective fashion apart from the child as a rigid boundary within which his Or her thoughts must fit. Rather, the mind is forever dynamic, emerging through the multiple relationships formed and re-formed between children and their surroundings."

This quote is important because it reinforces my argument that children should be exposed to the general school population in order to benefit not only the children with down syndrome but also the children with no disabilities. This way, the children with no disabilities can actually get a taste of what the world is really like since they are guarded for most of there early life.


3.) "School citizenship requires that students not be categorized and separated based on presumed defect."

This quote also puzzles me. I feel that this quote is important because it contradicts what the entire school system is doing everywhere, day in and day out.



The last quote that i put up really bothered me. If we are not to categorize students based on a "defect" then what the hell are we doing with the children with special needs in our school systems. Shouldnt they have rights just as much as any other "normal" student.