The problems with disproportionate representation, in my opinion, still is concerned with applying stigmatizing labels and also inequalities based upon race,SES, and color.People today are still being looked down on based upon their race and cultural heritage. Even if you have an education or come from a family of high economic influence and education, society still views the world as black and white and rich and poor. The racial inequalites and stigmatizing labels have been causing turmoil even when I was in school back in the 1970's and the 1980's and children today are still being exposed to negative attitudes that is causing emotional havoc and turmoil which leads into our educational system.
According to the textbook, Education for All: Critical Issues in the Education and Youth with Disabilities by Jimenez and Graf; "evidence that per pupil expenditures in schools attended by low-SES students of color are lower, and these schools are less likely to offer advanced courses and other supplemental services for their students" (Jimenez and Graf 2008 p142). I was disturbed when I read that statement because everyone should be valued as equals especially when it comes to the education of our children. I feel that social media and also media in general has a huge impact on the views of our children and how they see others and their world.
I am not an educator but I was employed as a Therapeutic Staff Support Worker within various different school systems. According to the textbook: Education for All: Critical Issues in the Education of Children and Youth with Disabilities; author has stated: "the role of educators is not solely to teach families how "to do school" but rather to get to know the families and take time to build the social relationships needed to create meaningful links between a child's home life and what happens in the classroom" (Moll,1999) &(Jimenez and Graf2008 p148)I have witnessed a few of my clients being stigmatized due to the lower socioeconomic background of their family and not receive the educational assistance that they so deeply needed. I was truly always advocating for my clients but because I was not employed by the school system that I was working out of and hired through an outside source my advocating for the client and their family did not have much of a standing.
In conclusion, I feel that looking at the student with a disability without a label or racial stigma is important to locating appropriate tools and accommodations/recommendations that will help him/her to become successful in a least restrictive environment mainstreamed into inclusive general education classrooms. You want to get to know the child's history and not apply negative judgement based upon visual appearances. It is also important to maintain open communication and dialogue with the family and get to know them as well. Everyone needs to work together as one equal team and it only takes one person to cause emotional turmoil within the education of that student.All students no matter their race, SES level, cultural heritage, and disability deserve a well rounded education to become successful in their future goals and admirations.It is up to us as teachers and also outside professionals to guide them and get them to their goals of success.
You were spot on when you said that we have to look at a student with a disability without a label or racial stigma and that we need to know their history. Unfortunately there are instances where teachers do not take the time to get to know the student’s family or history. For example, last school year there was a child who had behavioral problems that affected his learning in the general classroom. His behaviors and outbursts stemmed from students bullying him about his father. The teacher actually failed to know that his father had been shot and murdered in 2011. She didn’t know his aunt, other than from the phone calls that she made to her, that were always negative and about his “bad” attitude that was not conducive to her learning environment. It actually broke my heart to witness this but it opened my eyes up to what was truly happening in the system. He couldn’t possibly received the education that he deserved because the teacher and school staff weren’t willing to take the time to understand the situation fully in order to, as you stated, “locate appropriate tools and accommodations/recommendations that will help him/her to become successful.”
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