My major is Elementary Education and Special Education. Even though I am a Special Ed major, I have found that in taking the SPED 330 Discrimination and Oppression against People with Disabilities, my views and beliefs have changed greatly. I realize that I have not taken the time to learn the history of special education and how hard people with disabilities have worked and still work to overcome discrimination and inequality. I had never even thought of people with disabilities as being discriminated against. I think this is probably because I have never truly seen just what they go through to live independent lives.
By having knowledge of disability history I know that I am now more prepared to become a teacher with students that have disabilities. I am now aware of the discrimination that I may come into contact with and how to empower my students on their way to becoming independent adults. As a teacher, I need to be able to recognize my student’s differences in their beliefs and practices. By considering these differences and being respectful of them, I am opening up my classroom to a better learning environment. Students need to be taught that everyone has different values and beliefs and that these values and beliefs should be respected. In teaching students, I need to help them examine the differences of others and the effects of discrimination on those who are treated unequally. By creating an awareness of discrimination in our students, we will be creating a generation that is empowering others for the good of all and not a generation that puts others down because of differences.
I also believe that our differences bring insight that help to benefit the field of education and that will ultimately bring about better change for the good of our students and those who are discriminated against. I am excited to use my new knowledge in my future classroom and to better help my students by learning about their different cultures, values, and beliefs and being an example to my students of an excepting and respectful teacher.
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