Unit 1: ICW Ch 7 and 8

What arguments of fact and definition did you notice in your space?

Well, my space is a classroom. There are about 9 kids there on a good day and only 6 were there when I observed. One thing that sets this classroom, and this school, apart from others is that it is for special needs children. This leads to an argument of definition in what exactly qualifies as special needs. Are children with special needs only those kids who are in wheelchairs with cerebral palsy or can the child simply not be able to use speech? These children all have Downs Syndrome. They can walk and interact in their own way, but most of them cannot use speech. The majority of them do know sign language, but this doesn't help much when the teachers can't interpret what they are trying to say. One thing that would make a child designated as special needs as these kdis are is that they cannot go to the bathroom alone. They all wear diapers or pull-ups and need assistance, more so than an 'average' child. The kids also need help eating. They are getting a lot better, but it is quite common to have a child overturn their tray if the teachers are distracted or make some other big mess like spilling their drink. I believe that what qualifies a child as 'special needs' is whether or not that child can function in a normal environment without too much supervision.

An argument of fact is that there are normally 9 kids in the room, but there were only 6. One child was ill and two kids are considered 'normal' and go to a different school on certain days.