Winters-+Reading+Response+9

Stephanie Winters Winters- Reading Responses

=== In the first reading of //The Short Bus// by Jonathan Mooney our group read to page 67. I really like this book so far. The author tells the story on a level that makes it easy for the reader to follow. He tells personal stories about the situations that he came encounter with when he was younger. He was a student in special education and never really understood why. The school district he was in placed him in this class with no much explanation or help. His mother was confused with the situation and often felt that the teachers talked down to her. This is one of the major things that I have been learning in the different classes I have been taking on Special Education. My teachers stress the importance of making the family feel comfortable and understand the situation. Teachers and people who will be working with students with special needs must be understanding and caring. Unfortunately Mooney did not have these type of people in his life. He came in contact with many people who treated him unfairly and were rude to him. Towards the middle of the section that we read, Mooney is on a journey across the states in a short bus. This short bus is an important feature that is going to be seen throughout the book. A short bus is a symbol that often represents special education. We associate people with special needs with a short bus. Why do people tend to do this? I think that many people in the past did not know much about people with special needs. These students were often kept in separate classrooms and schools. This prevented people from ever gaining a better understanding of disabilities. Therefore when people thought of special education they associated it with the objects that are used in special education. A short bus became one of the well-known symbols for special education. Mooney also shows throughout the book that the labels that have been placed on him as a child still stick with him. When he was thinking about proposing to his wife, he was hesitant and wasn't sure if he deserved to have someone like her. This is something important to think about when working with children with special needs. A label placed on a young child at a young age or a negative comment made to them can stick with them throughout their life. People should be mindful of what they say and think about the person and not their disabilities. I really like that Mooney has began to overcome these labels and wrote a book telling his story. It is interesting to think about the things that were said to him and the ways that it affected him. Getting an insiders view on this topic is beneficial to anyone who will be working in the field of education. ===