The History of Special Education: From Isolation to Integration

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Summary: a masters student at Iowa State University
Review: I am working on my thesis on The History of Special Education. I found this book very useful. I was able to locate primary and secondary sources from the complete reference section. The historical detail was very useful. I wish there had been more detail about the twentieth century. I would have liked to have seen more detailed information regarding WWI to present.

Rating:
Summary: a masters student at Iowa State University
Review: I am working on my thesis on The History of Special Education. I found this book very useful. I was able to locate primary and secondary sources from the complete reference section. The historical detail was very useful. I wish there had been more detail about the twentieth century. I would have liked to have seen more detailed information regarding WWI to present.

Rating:
Summary: An extensive discussion of widespread philosophical beliefs
Review: The History Of Special Education: From Isolation To Integration by Margret A. Winzer is an astutely presented, coherently organized, and comprehensive discourse of how Western and North American society has regarded, treated, and educated the disabled and mentally retarded from before the eighteenth century down to the modern day. Offering an extensive discussion of widespread philosophical beliefs, scientific learning, the rise and fall of eugenics theory, the evolution of institutions and practices, and so much more, The History Of Special Education is both an excellent study text and a detailed historical resource recommended for anyone seeking to learn more of the background of the special education field -- especially those seeking to enhance their knowledge of a possible career in the field. A seminal 463-page work which includes both a Subject Index and an Author Index, The History Of Special Education is a welcome and highly recommended addition to Education History reference collection.

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Summary: Superb reference book!
Review: This book is one of the best written and researched books on education that I've had the good luck to come across. Winzer did a phenomenol job on what could be a dry subject. She also provides a great bibliography section which can further be used for references and research. I came across this book while doing research on deaf education and eugenics in the U.S. Not only does she have all the information that I had previously seen in books on the eugenics movement, but she provides more details and further references that the other books did not provide. The struggle for educational equality for those with disabilities has been a long, ongoing battle. It is not yet finished, since educational equity is still elusive for those of us with disabilities. The same attitudinal problems which those people of different races have encountered, are even more engrained in society for those with disabilities. The idea of having a disability, whether physical, mental, or emotional and behavioral is still equated with the concept that we are intellectually deficient as well as being less abled in hearing, sight, mobility, etc. Even teachers and professors continue to put educational barriers in front of those with disabilities, and educational ethics has a long way to go for this particular group due to financial and political concerns in school districts and throughout social/political systems in the world. It is only through good educational books such as Winzer has written that we can change the problems that people with disabilities face in education and employment, and equal opportunities. It is of utmost importance that educators of all kinds throughout the universities require that this book be read as part of regular educational requirements. Karen L. Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh