Condition Critical—Key Principles for Equitable and Inclusive Education

Book excerpt: This important book provides a unique merging of disability studies, critical multiculturalism, and social justice advocacy to develop both the knowledge base and the essential insights for understanding and implementing fully inclusive education. Although inclusion is often viewed in schools as primarily serving students with disabilities, this volume expands the definition to include students with a broad range of traditionally marginalized differences (including but not limited to disabilities, cultural/linguistic/racial background, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and class). Chapters provide 12 key principles important to developing and applying a critical perspective toward educating diverse students and promoting equity and inclusion. Book Features: Personal stories that make concepts accessible to new and pre-service teachers. Application exercises ideal for courses and professional development workshops. Highlight boxes that raise additional questions for discussion and debate. Interactive, multimodal instructional activities to use with many kinds of learners. Additional activities and resources available online at www.tcpress.com. Contributors: Subini Annamma, Laura Atkinson, David J. Connor, Elizabeth Z. Dejewski, David Feingold, Ana Maria García, Kathryn Henn-Reinke, Jodell Heroux, Kathleen Kotel, Elizabeth B. Kozleski, Valerie Owen, Susan Peters, Julie Ramirez, Maryl A. Randel, Janet Sauer, Stacey N. Skoning, Graciela Slesaransky-Poe, Robin M. Smith, Jeannie Zeitli “A powerful call to challenge rigid school practices that attempt to sort and level students. This extremely clear guide helps us move from critique to action, interweaving difficult matters of income disparity, language and religious marginalization, racism, and gender expression and identity. The authors inspire us to engage in the hard work of justice- and equity-oriented pedagogy and to do so collectively, with humor and with passion.” —Celia Oyler, professor of education, Teachers College, Columbia University “Condition Critical offers a critical framework for valuing and responding to student differences grounded in an expansive view of social justice, equity, access, and excellence. Accessible and engaging, each chapter skillfully weaves together first-person narratives, opportunities for self-reflection, and practical examples of key classroom practices. The result is a thoughtful and inspiring book that does more than critique the status quo, it points the way to transforming classrooms and schools for all.” —Beth Ferri, associate professor, School of Education, Syracuse University