What are some issues regarding "labeling" in special education?

Question

Thank you.

Answer 1

No special likes to be called "r****d"

Answer 2

As someone who was in a special ed program in school, these labels that get placed on the student because of being in special ed classes will follow the student for the rest of their lives. I can say this with a certain because my 20th year high school reunion is coming up this summer, and I'm still haunted by these labels that got branded on me by my teachers and classmates. To this date I detest the word "retarded" with a very strong and fierce passion. If a person wants to p**s me off and become my worst enemy that is by far the quickest way to do it.

Labeling students can lead to low self-esteem, anger issues, high levels of stress, not counting anxiety and other issues that can later rise with labeling these students. I'm living proof.

Answer 3

Bear121's answers are really good, but just a few more points from the student's perspective:

-A label means you're different than you peers

-A label means there is something 'wrong' with you

-A label mean's you'll always be different, even when you grow up

-For some teachers, the label means you are no longer you, you are just the LD kid in her class

-Labels aren't kept secret; all the adults in the school know you have it, regardless of if they need to know

-When all the adults who know of said label refer to you to the other adults as 'Victoria the LD students in my class' and the other kids hear this, they interpret it as you being 'weird' and thus feel obliged to point that out ot you, numerous times

-Sometimes that label doesn't only follow you around school, sometimes you'll hear you parents say things like 'Coach, my child is LD and is slow sometimes. Please be patient with her' and then said Coach tells Assistant Coach, who then tells his child who tells everyone on the team

-People will tell students (especially missinformed mainstream teachers) that because you have LD or other labels, you will never succeed in life.

-People expect the 'normal' students to succeed, but they expect the labeled kids to fail and are surprised when they don't

For me, and my friends who have other various labels at school, the label has been a very negative thing. It follows us everywhere. It has been the source of much bullying, from peers and adults alike. Mind you, there are also many positive aspects to having labels like:

-You are given the help you need to succeed

-The well informed people are very understanding

-You get accomodations so that the playing field is leveled

-You know that there is a reason for which you are struggling, and is therefor not your fault; just your problem

Answer 4

lableign can be good or bad,

weather yo are a kid or adlt *sorry my key baord leters are not sorkign good and can spell as i have a few disbalitys

a person can do and be knoen for a good thign for yrs and they are labeld for it,

or a person can do and be known for a bad thing and be label for it,

look at me as soon as peopl now i have a problom or a disbaty or on ow/odsp then i feel liek sh*t and belive me i get teared liek c**p on the net and in person by lets say ex gove peopl thing liek this then i becoem defensive and hay this is who i am treat e liek a hmin not st soem case, i knwo thi s also cose when i have a problom with soem one or thing iget soem ones else in it and boy peopl will chnage there tne fast,

for isses, well how peopl treat yo

Answer 5

Generally, people do not understand the labels.

Strangely enough, it is mostly regular ed teachers that do not understand. They think LD students are "slow" while true learning disabled children are average to above average. I once had a group of 5 fourth grade boys with IQs ranging from 128 to 150 and above most of their teachers. Or, they are unfamiliar with the autism spectrum from severe to mild &/or from very slow to very bright.

Labels are only important in grades pre-K-12. The label allows them to have regular classroom acommodations and modifications. Beyond primary and secondary school years, no one uses labels.

Answer 6

Labels follow a student througout their school career.

Students are often labeled without the proper testing.  

Labeling can often be biased.  There is an over representation of African American males in the special education classroom.

Tests given to identify students as LDS ADHD or other labels are often culturally biased.

Labeling pigeon holes the potential of students.

Labeling gives future teachers lower expectations of a students ability.

Overall, labeling is a good idea when it is used sparingly, responsibly, and solely to benefit the child's education.  Other than that, it hinders the students ability to move forward in the school system.

Answer 7

no

Answer 8

labeling could be based on a child's developmental skills. Back in the 60s they labeled me as retardation which at the age of 4 I couldn't speak. All it was is shyness. I did developed a speech problem as I began school so they called me developmentally slow. I would say having bad grades would put a student into a special education class cuz they would be cognitive developmentally slow. A student in a wheelchair may be placed in a Special Education class if they feel they cannot tend to themselves during class but I've seen many manage without Sp. Ed classes. One of my high school classmate became the Valedictorian and he was wheelchair bound. These days they call any child with a learning disability mentially challenged. It makes them seem more smarter and shows them respect compare to the old version of retardation or down syndrome.

Answer 9

No. haha. just kidding.

One thing is an overall problem, not just in special education. If you put a label on someone, especially a negative one, there is potential for a self-fulfilling prophesy. Basicaly if ya call a kid dumb, he/she may just never try and accept that he/she is dumb.

Answer 10

limitation - to what others or even you might think there potential will be

Answer 11

I am a Special Education Teacher, so I'm personally aware of a few issues regarding "labeling" in my field.

For the student- the label "Special Ed" can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, and performance in school may worsen as the student internalizes a feeling of lower self-worth as a result of their special ed placement.

For the school staff- a particular student's disability may become a label as it is often seen before the teacher even meets the child. Expectations and standards for that child may be made on the basis of the label rather than on the individual characteristics of the student. These preconceptions may limit the child and their experiences in the school system.

Another issue is the labeling of minority students as "Special Eduation"- specifically, African Americans. Special Education has often been criticized for over-identifying minority students as Special Ed.