Contemporary Education Issues - Literature review Example

? Contemporary Education Issues Grade 23 November, Contents Contents 2 Introduction 3 Methodology 3 Overview 4 Results 6 Analysis 6 Recommendations 7 Conclusion 8 References 10 Introduction In the modern education system, there exist a myriad of issues affecting the system. These issues range from the pupils to the system itself. There arises the need to address the issues concerning education with the aim of achieving a better education system (Wilmshurst, L., & Brue, A. W., 2010). Parental choice has become one of the leading issues of contemporary education. It can be defined as allowing parents the choice of care for their children from a provider whom the parents want. It further allows parents to choose a program out of the numerous programs offered by the institutions. In recent times, this issue has become a debate even in the national assembly. The issue has been scrutinized and become a paramount concern for the care providers in the education system. The concern about this issue for institution mainly lies in the results of the pupils. Parents are also concerned about the subjects their children may study if no parental choice is allowed. The schools on the other hand feel that results may be affected if a parent chooses a program not desired by the child. This report takes a deep analysis of the effects of parental choice in both theory and practice. The existing discrepancies form the main point of focus of this research. Methodology This research seeks to find the differences displayed in the theory and practice of parental choice. The parental choice program in schools has been emphasized by the government. This emphasis does not give a limit of the extent to which parental choice needs to be allowed a factor that leads to different schools implementing the program with limitations(Turnbull, Ron 2002). The schools come up with a modified way of integrating parental choice since they have other issues concerning the program. The research takes a look at the proposals by different organizations involved in the education sector. The report analyses how the program should be implemented, and the expected results of the program. This forms the theoretical aspect of the program. This report then takes a look at available information on the various ways through which the program has been adopted in schools (Snyder, L. & Mitchell, T. 2006). It seeks to establish the extent to which desired results have been achieved through parental choice program. This report uses the example of the education reform act of 1988 as a point of reference into the application of parental choice. The government report on support and aspiration of 2010 has been used for the purpose of reviewing the issues of parental choice. Overview This research focuses on the educational needs of children with conditions that require distinctive attention. It seeks to improve the welfare of these children as well as children who lag behind in their studies. The report focuses on the plight of both physically and mentally challenged persons (O'Brien, Ruth. 2001). It is based on the view that, children with special needs can be ideal for research on the level to which parental choice should be allowed even in children with disabilities or special educational requirements. Parental choice has been highly recommended by many people in regards to children with disabilities. This can be attributed to the notion that physically challenged people are not well informed. This review seeks to establish how the proposed programs of the government report are going to be actualized. It aims to compare the application of these proposed programs in the actual establishments offering special education. Parental choice may seem to be of substantial assistance to children with special needs than it is. A lot of emphasis has been made, and this has led to the development of the stereotype. The report aims at establishing whether the proposed parental choice and support to children with special needs, carries the much weight that the report accords it. This report aims at establishing how the parental choice has been applied in the target population of people. The class of persons with physical, special needs may not always mean that they have to get assistance in all the other things which they engage in. This report can provide an excellent base for trying to compare the effects of applying parental choice in education of children. There exist different thoughts concerning the level to which parental choice should determine the education granted to a child. Though parents have vested interests in the education of their children, parental choice should not be used as a manipulative tool. This report has specifically been chosen for review because it provides for parental choice for a marginalized group. For a long time, the notion that children with special needs need assistance in all things they do has been held as true. The effects of application of parental choice on their education as highlighted in this report may demystify that common stereotype. This shall significantly enhance the knowledge possessed by other people concerning the physically and mentally challenged children. It shall also help people understand the challenges faced by people with disabilities. The findings of this research can be of assistance to parents who have children with special needs. This research shall also be an essential guide to caretakers of these physically and mentally challenged children (Barnes, C. and Mercer, G., 2010). According to Stephen Gibbons’ research on the impact of parental choice, the performance of children in school can not be determined by parental choice. The case of children performing well in school does not show any relationship with the level of parental choice impacted. Results The report aims at identifying ways through which the lives of young persons born with physical challenges can improve. It seeks to use education and provision of information to parents concerning the challenges faced by the disabled, to improve knowledge by the parents on these challenges (David Johnstone, 2001). When parents are in possession of such information, the report states that they shall be able to make improved parental choices for their children. The provisions of this report also seek to give parents more control over the lives of their children through empowering them with information. The question of how much power is vested on the parental choice for this category of persons shall be nullified by this element. The council for disabled children is one of the organizations subject to the intervention in this report. This council has played an impressive role in providing a different perspective of the report and highlighting issues not reported in the context of the report. In its report quoted by transition information network (TIN) 2011, p 2, the defining of the participation age seems to be contradicting with other aspects. Increasing the age under which parental choice shall apply, lacks consideration of the age. While the report indicates that this effort aims at preparing children for adulthood, some of the target group individuals are adults and do not fall in the category of children. Analysis The report offers a compelling element in providing for parental choice on disabled persons. This is done through the proposed raising of the participation age for those in need of parental care up to the age of 25. This can be said to be a positive thing as it shall prepare these persons for adulthood. It gives them the opportunity to be able to take care of themselves as adults. The report does not, however, discuss the initiation of a program for these people to participate in their own care. It fails to provide guidelines on how these children would be involved in making decisions concerning their welfare once they become mature. While including people over the age of 18 in parental choice prepares them for adulthood, it infringes on the right for them to make their own decisions as adults (Jorgensen, C.M. 1998). The report also appears to support some of the things which have constrained disabled people for years. The people over the age of 16 have a right to equal opportunities. This right has not been catered for in the report. Recommendations Although this report highlights issues affecting the young disabled persons, there are few areas that may require some improvements. When implementing these proposals, the government should also put into consideration the other acts which provide persons with disabilities rights to other things (Bagenstos, Samuel 2009). An example would be the right to equal opportunities; it does not have any exemptions. The right to equal opportunity does not exempt anybody from being offered a chance. In implementing parental choice program, the right for these people to make personal choices may be infringed. This may translate to the person lacking the opportunity which he/she may have desired to have. The government should also consider other ways of improving the lives of these young people other than medical solutions. This can be done through the use of societal aspects like raising awareness of the plight of these people. This would minimize the stereotypes which exist among people and improve the relationship between them and the disabled young people. These stereotypes have been known to immensely affect the mental status of these individuals. The stigmatization caused by stereotyping makes the individuals to feel unwanted in many societies. Working with the community, would help the community understand these persons, and inherently accept them as normal members of the community. The group of individuals over the age of 16 included in the parental choice program should be offered different training. The aim of including this group was to induct them into adulthood. These individuals should be accorded special treatment because they are adults as stipulated by the law. Parental choice cannot be imposed on adults, and if it occurs, a special policy needs to be formulated to cater for that. Conclusion The report on support and aspiration has offered an insight in to several challenges faced by disabled people. The report specifically raises the issues which face physically challenged children and youths. The message passed by the report identifies this group of students to have the potential that all other students have. Policy makers are challenged by the result of the report to take action, and ensure the physically challenged students receive equal treatment as the rest of the population. These students have ambitions, and aspirations they would wish to achieve in life. The report identifies that by being neglected; this group of students fails to reach their aspirations. It states that these individuals need to be offered extra care than what has been offered up to the time of its publication. Parental choice has been described by the report as a possible remedy to the existing issue of indecisiveness by these physically challenged individuals. References Bagenstos, Samuel 2009. Law and the Contradictions of the Disability Rights Movement. New Haven: Yale University Press. Barnes, C. and Mercer, G., 2010. Exploring disability [2nd edition]. Cambridge, Polity Press. David Johnstone, 2001. An Introduction to Disability Studies. Jorgensen, C.M. 1998. Restructuring high school for all students: Taking inclusion to the next level. Baltimore: Paul H. Brooks Publishing co. O'Brien, Ruth. 2001. Crippled Justice: The History of Modern Disability Policy in the Workplace. University Of Chicago Press. Snyder, L. & Mitchell, T. 2006. Rise in number of pupils with special educational needs. The Guardian. Transition information network, 2010. Support and aspirations: A New Approach to Special Educational and disability. London: Stationery Office. Turnbull, Ron 2002. Exceptional Lives: Special Education in Today's Schools. New Jersey: Merrill Prentice Hall. Wilmshurst, L., & Brue, A. W., 2010. The complete guide to special education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Read More