How does Richard D. Lavoie define and explain fairness in the classroom?
Richard D. Lavoie indicates that by providing each student with what they need, only then is fairness exercised. He, nonetheless, discounts the idea that treating children in a similar fashion amounts to fairness. Despite being in command of situations, it is implied that children still define what the parents and major stakeholders in the domain of education think regarding fairness. According to majority of the children fairness occurs when they get an equal share, which explains why the aforementioned individuals think that this is the case ( Brown & Duguid, 2017 ). He offers an example of how learning disability students are constantly processing questions whereas the rest of the class already has answers ( Lavoie, 2006 ). This is an indication that they require specialized attention.
It is apparent that different children have differing needs. This is why; Richard indicates that children are disconcerted with the idea of impaired children being offered preferential treatment. They also want to receive such kind of treatment from their teachers. Going by the definition of fairness, it becomes evident that whenever a child`s need has been satisfied, then it can be implied that they have been treated fairly. Fairness does not, therefore, imply that all the children get the same, it only means that they get what they require ( Lavoie, 2006 ).
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2. What advice does Lavoie offer to parents regarding fairness?
Lavoie advices parents to ignore the common perception that fairness occurs whenever people are treated equally; Instead, they should focus on satisfying their children`s needs and serve them fairly ( Lavoie, 2006 ). In this case, it is expected for parents to reward their children in equal measure. Each of them should be accorded a gift that is as significant as that of the other child. Treating people fairly is what actually results in the definition of fairness. Children ought to be treated in different ways. This is due to the fact that it is impossible for all of them to have similar preferences. There comes a time when there is a single person within the family with a lot of needs that seek to be fulfilled ( Lavoie, 2006 ). How fast the parents react to such wants determines their extent of fairness towards the child.
3. What does Lavoie say about assumptions, and why does he discuss them?
According to Lavoie, teachers are not allowed to make assumptions regarding students within their classrooms to imply that they take what they require. Students with learning disabilities for instance, require more attention compared to the rest of the students. It has been observed that whenever they answer wrongly they are reprimanded yet no encouragement is offered to them whenever they answer correctly ( Lavoie, 2006 ). This leaves them wondering why they should even care to answer questions in class, and hence serves to alienate them from the rest of the students. The teachers are hence not justified to think of disability student as being equal to others in class.
4. What are three key concepts from the video that were especially meaningful to you?
The three major concepts which appear most meaningful to me are: Tension, anxiety and frustration ( Brown & Duguid, 2017 ). This specifically relates to the feelings which students, especially those with learning disabilities are accustomed to. These are bound to reflect the moods displayed by such students. For instance, anxiety is well depicted in the aforementioned example whereby the students with learning disabilities take long to process questions compared to other students in class. Richard emphasizes on the importance of teachers asking impaired students only those questions which they know they are in a position of answering in order to boost their confidence.
How will they affect your professional teaching practice?
Having viewed the movie, it is apparent that Richard is indeed an education expert. His elaboration of facts makes it to appear easy for someone to be in a position of dealing with students that exhibit learning disabilities. One only needs to comprehend the real meaning of fairness and then they will be able to deal with all students. In this case, one gets to realize needs relating to disabled children and how they can be addressed.
To sum it all up, I found Richard`s way of dealing with the young people to be fascinating. He is able to educate not only the teachers, but also the parents and other people in the society. The video is quite intriguing in relation its elaboration on how to deal with disability students. Besides this, it is now apparent that in order to deal with such children one ought to understand the meaning of fairness. Implying that children do not warrant equal treatment but rather, when each of their needs is catered for, then fairness can be attained. This is that an important movie that is bound to change people`s perceptions towards impaired children and ensure they are well understood, for the better good.
References
Brown, J. S., & Duguid, P. (2017). The Social Life of Information: Updated, with a New Preface . Harvard Business Review Press.
Lavoie, R. (2006). It's so much work to be your friend: Helping the child with learning disabilities find social success . Simon and Schuster.
