NCJ Number
59600
Journal
Exceptional Children Volume: 45 Issue: 7 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 566-571
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
INCARCERATED YOUTH, THE NECESSITY FOR THE EDUCATION OF THIS SPECIAL GROUP, AND THE ROLE THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION CAN TAKE TO ASSURE EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM IS THE FOCUS OF THIS ESSAY.
Abstract
WITH THE PASSAGE OF PUBLIC LAW 94-142, SPECIAL EDUACTION WAS CAST INTO A POSITION OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP TO HELP ALL GROUPS OF SPECIAL YOUTH. THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EDUCATION OF INCARCERATED CHILDREN AND YOUTH IS STATED TO BE ONE OF THE MORE COMPLEX PROBLEMS SPECIAL EDUCATION MUST FACE. WAYS MUST BE FOUND TO BUILD INTEREST IN THE NEED FOR APPROPRIATELY FUNDED SERVICES TO THESE YOUTH, AND PARTICULARLY FOR THE INCREASING NUMBER WHO HAVE DEMONSTRABLE HANDICAPS. A NUMBER OF CRITICAL ISSUES MUST BE ADDRESSED IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT THIS TASK. ONE IS THE MATTER OF THE CONFUSED AN OVERLAPPING AUTHORITY FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE INCARCERATED. LEGAL, SOCIAL WELFARE, AND EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS MUST CARRY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONE OR MORE ASPECTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S EXISTENCE AND THE LOCUS OF PROFESSIONAL AUTHORITY MUST BE DETERMINED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION TAKE THE LEAD ON QUESTIONS OF COMPETENCE AND EXPERTISE IN THIS REGARD. A SECOND CRITICAL ISSUE IS THE AVAILABILITY OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT DATA. SPECIAL EDUCATION'S CAPACITY TO ESTIMATE THE EXTENT OF NEED IS CRUCIAL IF SPECIAL EDUCATION IS TO SEEK OUT PROPER LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR NEW AND IMPROVED SERVICES. A THIRD ISSUE CONCERNS THE ORGANIZATION OF AVAILABLE DATA OF WHICH THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT AND WHICH IS LARGELY UNORGANIZED AND SCATTERED THROUGHOUT VARIOUS DISCIPLINES. THE DYNAMICS OF INCARCERATION MUST BE STUDIED WITH EMPHASIS ON THE SERIOUS COVERT AND OVERT PREJUDICE, BIGOTRY, AND ECONOMIC BIAS THAT ARE PART OF THESE DYNAMICS. FINALLY, CRITICAL FACTORS ABOUT THE REHABILITATION PROCESS, WHETHER IT INCLUDES TRAINING, TREATMENT, OR EDUCATION, MUST BE CONSIDERED. IN CONCLUSION, THE ESSAY ASSERTS THAT, IF SPECIAL EDUCATION CAN FIND A WAY TO RELEASE THE LATENT TALENT FOR LEARNING FOUND AMONG INCARCERATED YOUTH, IT WILL PERHAPS BE ABLE TO MEET THE MANDATE OF PUBLIC LAW 94-142. REFERENCES AND ADDITIONAL READINGS ARE APPENDED. (MJW)