"Citizenship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome" Reflection

Christopher Kliewer writes about the struggles children with down syndrome face in a classroom and within their communities. He talks about how teachers have to learn to adapt, and not just focus on what a child can't do. Kids learn and express themselves in all different ways, and that does not make them wrong because they are not doing it the traditional way, and that goes for any kid not just those with down syndrome. He also talks about the different school environments that some children have encountered and what they have done to either help or hinder the child. He mentions Isaac, a young boy in a class that is completely accepting of him and he has grown and prospered tremendously. But then there are other cases where children do not feel like they are a part of their community, like John, and ultimately it hurts them. When John moved to a new town that accepted and included him, he flourished. Classrooms and communities need to be more open to the idea of inclusion, so that it can benefit everyone. All children are capable of remarkable things, we just have to give them the opportunities to try.
     This video explains it all in my opinion. It talks about the benefits of an inclusion classroom, and the benefits of inclusion in a community. He mentions that a kids need to feel as though they belong to the community they live in, they learn to form relationships and develop as a person this way. But at the center of a community is the local school, and that is the most important factor. He explains the various studies done to prove that inclusion classrooms benefit everyone, and even what could happen when kids are separated based on their abilities. Having kids of all different backgrounds, abilities, genders, etc. help them to grow, learn acceptance, and foster a sense of belonging. One interesting thing he mentioned was that kids who are in a class with other children who are considered "special education" tend to do even better because they work with these kids to help them with the work, and in return they become more engaged with the lesson themselves. Overall, inclusion classrooms prove to be in everyone's best interest, and more schools should be aiming to promote them. He says that we should teach our kids that this is a part of life, and to embrace and accept it.