The Silent Minority - An Examination Surrounding the Rejection of

• Main Author: Kolesar, Daniel
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Södertörns högskola, Lärarutbildningen 2007
• Subjects: Inclusion; segregation; compensation; integration; disability; cooperation; equality; democracy,; Education; Pedagogik
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-1177

On March 28, 2007, at a national conference concerning Special Education in Norrköping Jan Björklund, School Minister for the Alliance Party of Sweden announced that the previous Government's proposal for changes to the existing Special Education System would be rejected. This proposal known as “Quality and Cooperation – Education for Children, Youths and Adults with Disabilities” (Kvalitet och samverkan – om utbildning för barn, unga och vuxna med utvecklingsstörning)was based upon a four year study done by the Carlbeck Committee aimed at a general overhaul of the Special Education System and focusing in particular on bringing Special Education into closer contact with the normal Education System. This decision was met with shock and amazement from the conference members, and following the conference from members of the Swedish Downs Syndrome Association as well as FUB – "The Swedish National Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability", and researchers in the field of Disability Studies. The decision, according to them, moves in the opposite direction to the international movement towards a more inclusive perspective on education. This study examines “For Us Together”, the document upon which the rejected proposal was based upon, interviews from the individuals engaged in the Special Education field, and “More Knowledge - A Modern Educational Proposal” a proposal from the Alliance government regarding changes to the Educational System. This information is then filtered through the Pedagogical theories of Peder Haug, A Norwegian Researcher, found in Pedagogical Dilemma – Special Education.” The aim of the study is to shed light upon, and eventually speculate upon the reasons for this decision, as well it's possible consequences. The conclusions reached involve issues such as: The Educational System's obligation to provide the tools necessary to live and succeed in Society; a raising of the national consciousness concerning Sweden's tendency towards Compensatory Special Educational solutions; the possibility of future advancements in Special Education towards a satisfactory treatment of all involved.