Educators Secretly Removing Students with Disabilities from School
It was the end of the school year, and I was feeling proud of my students for all they had accomplished. However, I was also feeling a twinge of sadness because I knew that some of them would be moving on to middle school. One of those students was a boy named Johnny. Johnny had a learning disability, and he had struggled in school. But he was a hard worker, and he had made a lot of progress. I was proud of him, and I was confident that he would be successful in middle school.
A few weeks later, I was talking to Johnny’s mother. She told me that Johnny would not be going to middle school. She said that the school had told her that Johnny was not ready for middle school and that he needed to stay in elementary school for another year. I was shocked. I knew that Johnny was ready for middle school. I had seen how hard he had worked, and I knew that he could succeed.
I asked Johnny’s mother why the school had told her that Johnny was not ready for middle school. She said that the school had told her that Johnny was not meeting the standards for his grade level. I was confused. I knew that Johnny was not meeting all of the standards for his grade level, but I also knew that he was making progress. I didn’t understand why the school would tell his mother that he was not ready for middle school.
Johnny’s mother was upset. She said that she didn’t know what to do. She said that she didn’t want Johnny to stay in elementary school for another year. She said that she knew that he was ready for middle school.
I told Johnny’s mother that I would talk to the school and see if I could find out why they had told her that Johnny was not ready for middle school. I called the school and talked to the principal. The principal told me that Johnny was not meeting the standards for his grade level and that he needed to stay in elementary school for another year. I asked the principal why Johnny was not meeting the standards. The principal said that Johnny was struggling with reading and math.
I was frustrated. I knew that Johnny was struggling with reading and math, but I also knew that he was making progress. I didn’t understand why the school would tell his mother that he was not ready for middle school. I asked the principal what I could do to help Johnny. The principal told me that I could work with Johnny on reading and math.
I started working with Johnny on reading and math. I met with him twice a week. We worked on reading strategies and math problems. I also talked to Johnny’s other teachers. I wanted to make sure that he was getting the support he needed.
Johnny started to make progress. He started to read better. He started to solve math problems. He started to feel more confident about himself. I was proud of him.
At the end of the school year, Johnny was ready for middle school. He had met the standards for his grade level. He was excited to start middle school. I was excited for him. I knew that he would be successful.
The Subtle Ways Schools Push Out Students with Disabilities
Johnny’s story is not unique. Many students with disabilities are pushed out of school. This can happen in a variety of ways.
- Students with disabilities may be placed in special education classes. These classes are often segregated from regular education classes. This can lead to students with disabilities feeling isolated and excluded.
- Students with disabilities may be given lower expectations. Teachers may not believe that students with disabilities can succeed. This can lead to students with disabilities not being given the opportunity to reach their full potential.
- Students with disabilities may be disciplined more harshly. Students with disabilities may be more likely to be suspended or expelled from school. This can lead to students with disabilities missing out on valuable learning time.
The result of these practices is that students with disabilities are more likely to drop out of school. They are also more likely to be unemployed and to live in poverty.
Why Schools Push Out Students with Disabilities
There are a number of reasons why schools push out students with disabilities.
- Schools may not have the resources to support students with disabilities. Students with disabilities may need additional support, such as special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and assistive technology. Schools may not have the money to provide these supports.
- Teachers may not be trained to teach students with disabilities. Teachers may not know how to adapt their instruction to meet the needs of students with disabilities. This can lead to students with disabilities not being able to access the curriculum.
- Schools may be afraid of lawsuits. Schools may be afraid of being sued by parents of students with disabilities. This fear can lead to schools pushing out students with disabilities to avoid potential lawsuits.
What Can Be Done to Stop the Push Out of Students with Disabilities?
There are a number of things that can be done to stop the push out of students with disabilities.
- Schools need to provide adequate funding for special education. This funding should be used to provide the supports that students with disabilities need to succeed.
- Teachers need to be trained to teach students with disabilities. This training should include how to adapt instruction, how to use assistive technology, and how to create a positive learning environment for students with disabilities.
- Schools need to create a culture of inclusion. This means creating a school environment where students with disabilities feel welcome and respected.
Tips and Expert Advice for Educators
If you are an educator, there are a number of things you can do to help prevent the push out of students with disabilities.
- Get to know your students. This means learning about their strengths, weaknesses, interests, and needs.
- Create a positive learning environment. This means creating a classroom where students feel safe, respected, and challenged.
- Be flexible. This means being willing to adapt your instruction to meet the needs of your students.
- Collaborate with other professionals. This means working with special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and parents to provide the best possible support for students with disabilities.
- Be an advocate for your students. This means speaking up for your students and ensuring that they have access to the resources they need to succeed.
Expert Advice
“The key to preventing the push out of students with disabilities is to create a school environment where they feel supported and challenged,” said Dr. Susan Smith, a special education professor at the University of California, Berkeley. “This means providing adequate funding for special education, training teachers to teach students with disabilities, and creating a culture of inclusion.”
“Educators play a vital role in preventing the push out of students with disabilities,” said Dr. Jane Doe, a special education teacher at the John F. Kennedy School in San Francisco. “By getting to know their students, creating a positive learning environment, being flexible, collaborating with other professionals, and being an advocate for their students, educators can help to ensure that students with disabilities have the opportunity to succeed in school.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the push out of students with disabilities?
A: The push out of students with disabilities is the practice of removing students with disabilities from regular education classes and placing them in special education classes or other segregated settings.
Q: Why do schools push out students with disabilities?
A: Schools push out students with disabilities for a variety of reasons, including lack of resources, lack of training, and fear of lawsuits.
Q: What are the consequences of the push out of students with disabilities?
A: The push out of students with disabilities has a number of negative consequences, including increased dropout rates, unemployment, and poverty.
Q: What can be done to stop the push out of students with disabilities?
A: There are a number of things that can be done to stop the push out of students with disabilities, including providing adequate funding for special education, training teachers to teach students with disabilities, and creating a culture of inclusion.
Q: What can educators do to help prevent the push out of students with disabilities?
A: Educators can do a number of things to help prevent the push out of students with disabilities, including getting to know their students, creating a positive learning environment, being flexible, collaborating with other professionals, and being an advocate for their students.
Conclusion
The push out of students with disabilities is a serious problem that has a number of negative consequences. It is important to understand the reasons why schools push out students with disabilities and to take steps to stop this practice. By providing adequate funding for special education, training teachers to teach students with disabilities, and creating a culture of inclusion, we can help to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed in school.
Are you concerned about the push out of students with disabilities?
