How to Incorporate Inclusive Education

PBS has a great general overview regarding Inclusive Education. Its basic elements seem very simple in theory: each deserves the same learning opportunities in the classroom. Yet, implementing this concept into the classroom is a very difficult task. A teacher is responsible for the development of each student and each student learns in a different manner. Thus, a teacher needs to be extremely adaptable in the classroom. He or she has to know how each student learns and have the proper repertoire to incorporate it. So, how do you create an inclusive learning environment?

• Scholastic emphasizes eliminating potential distractions. Keeping your students focused can be a difficult task so Scholastic suggests a great tool: an agenda. It's a simple thing to do, and it may seem obvious, but a strict schedule can go a long way. If the students can see what they're going to do everyday they can remain on task. Also, during the beginning of each class the teacher can simply review what they're going to do before the class starts. That way, each student understands and is able to understand.
• As Wilfred Montgomery states, a diverse curriculum can go a long way. Students should be exposed to as many perspectives as possible and a variety of books, topics, and activities is an easy way to do this. Activities like group reading assignments allow students to engage with other students about various cultures in a structured environment. If the activities are planned properly the students can learn so much through simple interaction.
• Faculty Focus stresses dutiful management. Everything you do to create an inclusive classroom can be undermined if you are not managing it properly. You need to continually engage the students, assess you methods, and be able to critique them. Obviously, you are going to face some issues but as long as you are well prepared, and maintain a calm demeanor, your class will not erupt into chaos.

It's important to remember that, like teaching methods, these are just tools. Not everything you try will work in the classroom. But, as long as you are trying, assessing, and critiquing you are on the right path. Every child deserves to be taught in an inclusive environment. They deserve to learn about culture and the purpose of perspectives. Without perspective, all they are going to learn are pieces of information. The inclusive environment promotes discussion and analysis and I hope my classrooms will be able to evoke the ideal inclusive classroom.

Social Reconstruction

The most worthwhile classroom experiences involve analysis. Teaching the basic, background, information is essential but it is ultimately meaningless if the students are not thinking critically about an issue. As a future English teacher I have a great opportunity to not only teach multicultural education, but how those perspectives can affect an individual experience and society in general. But, how can a teacher constructively "challenge[s] social inequality...to reconstructure educational institutions in ways that will change society?" (McNergney 54)

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is not only a great novel, but it is a great tool for teaching multicultural education as well. It explores colonialism in 19th century Africa through through the eyes of Okonkwo, a Umofian leader. Using this novel as a base, a classroom can explore the issues of assimilation through both history and culture today. Achebe immerses you into the mind of Okonkwo, allowing you to understand the Umofian culture and the culture clash that occurs once the Christian missionaries arrive. By reading Achebe's novel, students can understand the conflict that many foreign students have to face: holding on to your own culture while you are being coerced to lose it.
For far too long American schools have relied on literature that is written by white males. Of course, these texts are important and some schools are adopting to the multicultural approach, but classic literature needs to stop being a crutch. Issues like assimilation are perhaps more important in today's culture than the concept of revenge or love. In order to change the social inequality and restructure our educational institutions, schools need to make an effort to constantly incorporate a more diverse curriculum. There are a plethora of novels that deal with more impactful issues than what most schools are teaching today. Understanding perspective, especially in literature, is what allows us to grow and develop into more socially conscious individuals. Without perspective, we are limited to ignorant views and gross prejudices. When I teach I hope to incorporate this theme into all of my lessons. A narrow perspective only breeds injustices, and hopefully, through awareness and critical thinking, our students can strive to become more thoughtful and challenge social inequality.

McNergney, Robert F., Joanne M. McNergney. "Eduation: The Practice and Professional Teaching". Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2009. Print.

Columbus Day?

Most of us have been taught that fairy tale Columbus story and it has been stuck in our minds ever since. Of course, or at least I hope, we have all felt that shock when we realize how falsified the story actually is. Sure, it is a catchy tale but it is quite shocking to realize that we are still teaching our children this story.

As a Caucasian, it is sometimes sickening to comprehend what my ancestors have done. We tricked, killed, and manipulated purely for the sake of ignorance---and, that ignorance is still very apparent today. Thus, we owe it to our children to tell them the real story, not the one that makes Europeans look like pure-minded explorers. We were fearful and reactionary and, consequently, we lumped them into a singular group and created stereotypes. As June Sark Heinrich states: "There were no 'Indians' before the Europeans came to America". In fact, there are hardly any left today and we all know why: "We suffered the excesses of 'civilization' such as murder, pillage, rape..." (Harjo). If we, as Americans, have the gall to make Columbus Day a national holiday---for discovering something that already exists---we at least should give them the best version of the truth. That we raped and eradicated Native Americans, that we pillaged their land and animals, and that we do our best to forget all of the horrors that we committed. We teach our children about the holocaust at a young age; there is no reason to sugarcoat the atrocities our ancestors committed. Therefore, I have an alternative proposal. We should not commemorate this day for Columbus; instead, we should honor our Native Americans and celebrate their traditions and culture. Thus, our children can learn why we should have this holiday, become more cultured, and ultimately develop into better people.