Culture and Special Education, Essay Example

The article by Bailey and Betts examines the placement of Aboriginal and disadvantaged students and the present difficulties.  Focusing on the educator’s procedures for teaching and interacting with these students, these types of students tend to be less successful.  Bailey and Betts identify why this occurs and how it may be able to change.

The writers point to historical reasons for these concerns.  As the article focuses on Canadian Aboriginals, misconceptions, misrepresentations, and other oversights that those of dominant cultures make, as they are the oppressors, according to the article.  Focusing on the impairment of these mistaken effects, Bailey and Betts point to their role in the cause of special education.

The social and political causes are also highlighted.  Pointing to the integration of all into society, the article sees education as reducing learners to safe levels in order to mesh into society.  This successful goal is seen to be politicized, where schools carry out racism, in both classic and progressive forms.

The article finally sees science as another prominent cause.  Special education practice is seen to be dominated by biological and environmental factors from models of abnormality.  Within this, those who are aboriginal are seen to be biologically disposed to a certain disorder, which depends on environmental factors as well.

The article offers a number of solutions from the role of an educator.  The article preaches patience and encouragement.  Educators should be able to overcome racism, labels, and use their minds to overcome these and other barriers inherent in the situation. With this the article sees change as possible.