{"id":1269,"date":"2018-08-30T15:00:05","date_gmt":"2018-08-30T20:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.mlc-wels.edu\/wels-educator\/?p=1269"},"modified":"2018-08-29T09:47:46","modified_gmt":"2018-08-29T14:47:46","slug":"labeling-your-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.mlc-wels.edu\/wels-educator\/2018\/08\/30\/labeling-your-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Labeling Your Students"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Written by\u00a0Kimberly Rehbaum<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>This article was originally published in 2015. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Let us know what you think. <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Can you share an experience (no names, please) when labeling a student resulted in benefits for the student\u2019s learning? <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Can you share an experience when labeling hurt a student? <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>In your experience, do the advantages of labeling a student outweigh the disadvantages?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The process of labeling is currently one of the most controversial topics in the field of special education. Should students be labeled with such disabilities as autism, ADHD, IDD, and EBD? According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), in order to receive public government funding for special education, students must have a label. Some educators believe these labels have more disadvantages than benefits, but I am led to believe that labeling leads to accommodations that will enable students to succeed in academics and understand their specific abilities.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><strong>Disadvantages of Labeling Students<br \/>\n<\/strong>One of the main reasons for complaint is that with a label comes a negative connotation leading to low self-esteem. Some people believe that students with learning disabilities tend to look at their disability as an excuse for poor grades. They know they are disabled and as a result, they put minimum effort into classes that seem difficult to them. This becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. In essence, the students cease being individuals and become a label.<\/p>\n<p>Rather than waiting to see students\u2019 strengths and weaknesses, some educators may categorize them based on their labels. As a result, they expect that the students will automatically struggle in school and other areas of life. Oswalt (2008) supported this idea in her article\u00a0<em>Criticisms of Disability Labeling<\/em>: \u201cThe use of such labels may also inadvertently push well-meaning families and teachers to lower their expectations of a child once labeled with a disability\u201d (p. 1).<\/p>\n<p>One last disadvantage of labeling may be the mislabeling of students. Students who are slow to mature or to develop cognitively as young children may need special intervention in order to catch up with their peers. Unfortunately, cognitive delays may be misinterpreted and labeled as disorders. If the labels are not removed while the children are still young, they may grow up believing that they are disabled and therefore may not reach their full academic potential.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Advantages of Labeling Students<\/strong><br \/>\nUnderstandably, for these reasons many parents and educators are opposed to the process of labeling, but without the labels, the students will still have the disabilities and will need the same accommodations and specialized education. Kauffman (2010) compared the negative connotation of labels to the unfavorable associations surrounding the word cancer: \u201cThe stigma of cancer has abated because people were encouraged to confront it for what it is, treat it, and prevent it\u201d (p. 196). Educators can help students become aware of their disabilities by offering classes such as social skills and study skills.<\/p>\n<p>A second factor of labeling benefits both the labeled individual and peers. Rather than being called\u00a0<em>disabled,\u00a0<\/em>the labels show them they are\u00a0<em>differently-abled.<\/em>\u00a0The labels help students understand themselves and who they are. The label is not saying, \u201cYou cannot succeed.\u201d It is saying, \u201cThere is a different way for you to succeed.\u201d In the same way, these labels can help peers understand their classmates with disabilities. In fact, Oswalt (2008) asserted, \u201cSometimes children will be more comfortable and more welcoming to a child with disabilities when they can learn about and understand what makes their peer differently-abled. Thus, labels help children to comfortably talk about how they are different from each other, and how they are the same\u201d (p. 1).<\/p>\n<p>A more obvious benefit of labeling is that labels allow the students to be educated by teachers who are specially licensed and trained to teach students with specific disabilities. Special education teachers like April Lewandowski have taken classes in writing individualized education plans (IEPs) that fit the needs of each child. Lewandowski believed that this is one of the most positive aspects of labeling. These IEPs contain specific goals for each individual\u2019s education. The special education teachers keep track of these goals and keep a record of their students\u2019 progress. They have also studied the characteristics of the disabilities and know the special accommodations required for each one of their students. When questions do arise about the various disabilities, these teachers know other people within the same discipline that can help them answer their questions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Labeling in WELS Schools<\/strong><br \/>\nWhether or not the WELS adopts a labeling system in Lutheran elementary schools, one thing is certain:\u00a0 Each student is a chosen child of God, specially formed and molded individually by our perfect Creator and bought with the blood of Christ. With this comes a unique set of challenges and abilities. As ministers of the gospel, \u201clet us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds\u201d (Hebrews 10:24). In order to carry out our ministry to all people, Martin Luther College now has a special education program to prepare teachers who understand the uses of labeling. Soon these teachers will be qualified to instruct students with numerous disabilities. Christ\u2019s love compels us to teach our students both academics and the truths of God\u2019s Word in the most appropriate way possible. Therefore, it is imperative that we consider various options of assessment as we faithfully carry out our calling.<\/p>\n<p><em>Kimberly Rehbaum (\u201918) is currently serving as an ECC Teacher at Zion LES\u2014Egg Harbor WI.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>References<br \/>\n<\/strong>Heward, W. (2006).\u00a0<em>Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education<\/em>\u00a0(Eighth ed., pp. 13-16). Merrill: Pearson Education.<\/p>\n<p>Kaufman, W.L. (2010)\u00a0<em>Labeling and Eligibility for Special Education<\/em>, Retrieved from\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.education.com\/reference\/article\/labeling-eligibility-special-education\/\">http:\/\/www.education.com\/reference\/article\/labeling-eligibility-special-education\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Oswalt, A. (2008).\u00a0<em>Criticisms of Disability Labeling<\/em>. 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Let us know what you think. Can you share an experience (no names, please) when labeling a student resulted in benefits for the student\u2019s learning? 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