Kliewer: Citizinship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome

1.) "Shayne, however, did not see Isaac, or any of her students, as defective. In her classroom, which contained 6 students clinically identified as disabled (3 with Down syndrome, including Isaac) and 10 students considered nondisabled..."
I think this quote is powerful. It shows how a teacher should treat students with and without disabilities. It is important to treat them equally. Each student is different even if they do not have a disability and this needs to be recognized. All students interact and learn differently, therefore the classroom needs to be flexible or the students will not be able to keep up. I love how the teacher in this classroom is so open minded about the students. I will aim to be like this when I become a teacher.

2.)“According to Shayne, the notion of Down syndrome often obscures our ability to recognize the child as a child.  She or he becomes a walking pathological syndrome, a mobile defect on the loose.”
This is another quote I found powerful, especially "our ability to recognize a child as a child." I think we need to learn to treat every student equally to give them a chance. If we automatically treat them different others will to and this will not help the way they feel. Also if we treat them differently they may not try to achieve goals because they are babied and almost told it is fine if they give up. No matter what differences people have, we are all human and need to be treated that way. Treating students with a disease or disability as a disease or disability can, in no way, make them comfortable.    

3.)"Community is not a location within circled wagons configured to keep out those charged with having the differences that matter. It is instead a web of dynamic, constantly shifting relationships that encompass the individual with Down Syndrome and all other human beings. To eliminate a single person through any form of banishment, no matter how benevolent the logic, reduces the web and makes the community a less democratic, and less rich place."
 This quote is important because it shows how important communities are. It points out how people with and without disabilities make up a community. By talking about banishing a person from the community for whatever reason makes the community, less of a community. This is saying that everyone needs to be treated fairly in to community for it to stick together. Communities are constantly changing because of the people in them. It is important to accept all changes going on in order to keep the community together.