Should Schools Stop Labeling Kids?

Question

I ttly think they should because for some kids labels are hurting them not helping them and as for me I've been labeled as "special ed." but I show a lot of characteristics of a gifted person and I'm very intelligent. I also know there is a lot of gifted people who hate being labeled as "gifted" so tell me what the h**l is wrong with schools? Please excuse my language but I am very upset about schools labeling kids.

Answer 1

It is good in most cases because the people that need help can get it. the gifted and talented people can be challenged more

Answer 2

This is a controversial and difficult question that is being researched right now.  Your experiences present one side of the argument: "Labeled students are treated differently according to their label and find it difficult to escape the confounds implied by that label." In other words, you are intelligent and gifted, and yet, because of some other reason are labeled "special ed." The "special ed" label implies to your peers (or even teachers) that you have a learning disability or are less "smart" as other children (and this may be the opposite situation in your case).  

The other side of the argument is: "Labeling students is a pragmatic method for understanding students' unique needs as well as individual modifications and accommodations." Therefore, as a "special ed" student you are entitled to alterations to the curriculum (more time needed to take a test or write a paper, or even different assignments) that fit your unique needs (IEP).

The "labeling" that I think is of most concern to you is actually an unintended SOCIAL consequence that results from the institution's actions to assist in your academic success. Because the school institution treats you differently, you are labeled by your peers in the social world at your school. And you are right... This is not fair!

At this point, labeling is an unfortunate consequence of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). Its the law that requires schools to give unique kids special services. Like most laws, however, unintended and unfortunate consequences are almost inevitable. (this supports the "That which governs best, governs least" approach to politics, and you are victim of the "big government" approach... sorry but yes, the schools are subject to a ton of politics).

To answer your question, if schools were to stop labeling students, they would have to stop accommodating and modifying the curriculum for the "special needs" of unique students.

Its a trade off: academic success at the expense of labeling, or no additional assistance without "institutionalized" labeling (students will always label and ridicule each other... "freak, dummy," etc. which are another type of social label).

So does being labeled "special ed"  mitigate a potential peer labeling as a "dummy"?  In other words, are "special ed" students able to avoid other social labels as a result of their institutionalized label? (just an example, I don't know enough about your situation to make it applicable to you personally, sorry)

One thing you can be sure of, when you get out of high school, the institutionalized labeling stops. You will almost never see these people again (I know it doesn't seem possible but its true). Hopefully, you received something beneficial from the educational considerations that unfortunately caused your "special ed" label, and that those benefits out weighed the stress and frustration caused by your label (I know that it doesn't seem that way right now :(    

The best thing to do in your situation, is to be the exception to the stigma resulting from the "special ed" label. You know that you are smart, don't let what other people think influence you or your choices. You know that you can go to college and will succeed. Know that your label wont follow you to college even if you sign up for services (even then no one will know).

Answer 3

they should label the need-not the kid

Answer 4

Labeling kids does not happen in my country (i am from Argentina) It is a way to control and to restrict kids to certain places in society, and it is has a terrible effect in kids minds and behavour, even if they are labeled as gifted. You should not give that much importance, you should trust in yourself and in your abilities, and everything will be allright.

Answer 5

Yes. Schools should stop labeling students due to the fact that labels can hurt a person.

***PRO***

An official label can enable a person to get needed specialized services.  

***CON***

Labels can socially hurt a person.

Answer 6

Yes schools should stop labeling children. Each person is an individual and no two people are the same.

Answer 7

Personally I hate labels, as they can be detrimental, to the child and often some people have "preconceived idea's" about a persons behaviour and or intelligence, but unfortunately many people are not eligible for support within the classroom etc with out a label such dyslexia or other recognized learning disability.

I know someone who knew something was not right with their child, the school felt there was something wrong, but couldn't/wouldn't offer any classroom support unless diagnosed with a disability/disorder, once the the child was given a "label" the child was given a teachers aide and offered other support services. But the child was bullied for being different.

Catch 22 darned if you do and darned if you don't!

Both my daughter and I are dyslexic, (my daughter also has ADHD and ODD), but we had very little support (well I didn't, because I did not know until my daughter was diagnosed).

I refused point blank to let her teachers know about the ADHD and ODD due to preconceived ideas, when or if they ever did find out they were not overly surprised, as they recognized some traits of ADHD & ODD, and they were pleased that she was not naughty or disruptive while in class, unless she'd had eaten or drank something she should not have had, such as red cordial. Only one teacher ever treated her differently after finding out she had ADHD & ODD, and they got a serve in a half of me.

However having dyslexia did not stop either of us gaining qualifications. My daughter is a qualified Disability support worker, and after being an advocate for my daughter, I became a Youth & Disability support worker, having seen children like my daughter struggle with little or no support, I wanted to be sure children with LD's were treated fairly and not "differently or indifferently" as often my daughter was prior to diagnosis.

Never the less I still hate labels but they do serve a purpose at times.

Answer 8

I got a solution, how about putting both the gifted and the special needs cases in there own seperate schools,away from the usual peer pressure that goes on in regular high schools.

Answer 9

I agree. Do you know they told Winston Churchill he was stupid and should just drop out of school? It's amazing how wrong they are. Because then he turned around and became one of the best Prim Ministers of Great Britain.

Answer 10

you could certainly be right about the names you are referring to.  however, children with special needs whether they are extra help for some sort of disability or special challenges for children who are above average, there certainly needs to be a differentiation.  these separations are only for the good of all students.  years and years ago these programs did not exist and many children fell through the cracks.  many could have benefited from some extra help in order to further their education and to insure their success.  i have seen it both ways and as far as the labeling, children and teens are going to find something about everyone to pick at.  it is just the nature of some young people.  so if they are going to be picked at it might as well be while the school is doing everything humanly possible to make sure all kids get a good education.  hope this helped you to understand that it is for a very well intentioned purpose.  but you may be on to something about the names of these programs.

Answer 11

I agree with melnthis,Label the need not the kid.

I had LD I was labled slow,underacheiver,not

likely to succeed,even close to being uneducable.

In my time the help was not there.

Answer 12

The need and the child come hand in hand. You don't address  the so called  weak area on a strong child who doesn't require the help.

Some think to hide the learning disability is the way to go, why? The only one who is hurting is you. It is what it is. We are all better off knowing our weaknesses, remember you are only as strong as your weakest link.  If you come to honest truth with yourself, you will be more open to the fact that you need help. Let the help come to you.  I've met few so many of my peers who repeatedly changed careers throughout their life still struggling in their 50s bouncing from jobs to jobs, who  told me that they wished their parents took them to a diagnostician and got the help they needed in school as a child. They ended up struggling alone, feeling sad and hopeless.

What's more disgraceful? A label says you need help? Or simply suck at every subject and be regarded as a lousy student, and later a  useless human being? Think about it. I'd rather choose the label and get the help, and move on successfully later in life.

Answer 13

I think it's sensible, the kids who are in Gifted and Talented do activities that help them learn and are able to do quicker courses so sometimes it is good.

Answer 14

"The Classroom Revisited," Psychology Today, July/August 2002. Copyright © 2002 by Psychology Today. Reproduced by permission.

Pediatrician Mel Levine is the director of the Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He is also the founder of All Kinds of Minds, an organization that advocates an optimistic approach toward helping children with learning difficulties. In the following selection, Levine describes his program's philosophy in an interview with Carin Gorrell, senior editor of Psychology Today. In Levine's view, the educational system needs to stop the negative process of labeling children as having certain learning disabilities. These labels encourage educators to focus only on a child's problems, he argues. Instead, Levine believes that each child's unique strengths and weaknesses should be evaluated in a holistic manner, with the goal of developing an individualized learning plan based on the child's aptitudes and capabilities.

Mel Levine, M.D., doesn't believe in a one-size-fits-all education. Instead, the Harvard-educated physician and education expert is challenging parents and teachers to develop individual management plans that are unique to each child's personal struggles. A pediatrics professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and director of the university's Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning, Levine is also founder of All Kinds of Minds. This not-for-profit organization studies eight neurodevelopmental constructs that affect learning—attention, language, memory, neuromotor function, spacial ordering, temporal-sequential ordering, higher-order cognition and social cognition. Using the program's findings, Levine is working to nix negative labels and help educators and families overcome children's learning, developmental and behavioral hurdles with a more optimistic approach. Here, he speaks with Psychology Today Senior Editor Carin Gorrell about his brain-based methodology.

The above section is an excerpt from a magazine (Psychology Today) which I located in a subscription database called Opposing Viewpoints.  You may have access to this or other periodical databases through your local library Web site.

Answer 15

I will speak from my personal experience. One of my kids was labeled in order to get the special ED specialists to assist him in subjects he was weak at, also it gave him more chances at a subject he found challenging. He worked extremely hard seeing all the help and privileges given. That was years ago, now he is a senior in high school, earning a 3.8 GPA, he was able to catch up on writing which used to his toughest subject with the help of after school teacher. He is well on his way to college this summer prepared.

Labels on students  are by law  discreet, and the files are kept in the school district, they don't get transferred unless we as a parent sign our consent.

Labels in a way protect a disabled child from discrimination, rough environment. Schools by law will need to comply with the child's extra need. The child who is labeled should still be in an inclusive environment, not in an isolated or pull-out setting. My child was always placed with the academically achieving  classes, surrounded by good students. You as parent can make certain demands and call a meeting whenever necessary.

Looking back, I resisted the labeling hard at first. Luckily I had the support of a psychologist friend of mine. She made me  realize the pride was only MY issue, I simply couldn't ignore that I alone wouldn't be able to win  this battle in helping my child adapt in this life. Once he was labeled as needing help, I had the whole school system behind me, not only he had the empathy of the staffs, he was given better placements so he could focus better.  It was the best decision I ever made.

I realize it is those children who are never properly identified for their disability, who are improperly placed with no additional help are falling through the cracks in today's educational system, that hurts them much more than labeling.  

I always wish the parents could drop  the pride, have the child's disability identified, he/she  will be able to better cope with the world that is becoming increasingly challenging. Don't stand in the way of your child's otherwise alright future. Sometimes our pride is our fierce enemy.

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

— Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945),

first inaugural address, March 4, 1933

Answer 16

I think the labels are necessary to make sure that the child is given appropriate learning tools. The labels allow every instructor and staff to know the abilities of each child and respond better to their needs.

Answer 17

totally agree with you labels are very hurtful because it is often degrading. Now at school if someone calls another kid retarded then they get yelled at. but yet teacher/schools label all the time so yes schools should stop labeling

Answer 18

It is necessary to place them in appropriate learning situations.

Answer 19

I think one problem is that schools are required by law to identify students that have any learning problems and must write and IEP or a 504 plan.  Then they MUST follow that plan or the school could get sued.  I think because of this schools are so paranoid about getting everyone identified and making sure teachers know every student that needs special accomodations

Answer 20

i can see that your very upset, and i would be as well... ofcourse schools shouldnt label kids... some kids can really be offended to the point that they want to return to school and hurt the people that were consistently hurting them...schools have issues these days. . . .but  thats just how life is now