Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities · 1985 · 77 citations · 0 references
Teacher-student RelationPeer RelationshipEducationEarly Childhood EducationSchool ProgramPsychologySocial SciencesDevelopmental PsychologySocioemotional DevelopmentExceptional ChildrenFamily InteractionHuman DevelopmentSocial-emotional DevelopmentEarly Childhood ExperiencePeer LearningPersonal RelationshipChild PsychologySocial SkillsSchool PsychologyIntermediate SchoolSocial DevelopmentAdolescent LearningChild DevelopmentSociologyInterpersonal RelationshipsDaily Experiences
The close and caring relationship between two people known as a friendship requires shared experiences in order to develop and grow, and children who go to school together have the opportunity to develop relationships as well as skills. This essay about the friendship between Shawntell and Tanya, who attend intermediate school together, raises an important question: No matter what a school program has to offer, if it prevents children like Tanya and Shawntell from sharing daily experiences and becoming friends, is “special” good enough?