Absurdities and Realities of Special Education

Absurdities and Realities of Special Education: The University of Vermont Center for Digital Initiatives Collection is a complete set of all of the cartoons created by Michael Giangreco with the assistance of the artist Kevin Ruelle. This includes a total of 335 cartoons from four previously published books and searchable CD that went "out of print" in 2019 and a few newer cartoons. Michael Giangreco created the original ideas, text, and sketches for each cartoon and Kevin Ruelle redrew the sketches. The cartoons in the first three books all were originally in black and white. That was a conscious decision, both for aesthetic and practical reasons. The cartoons were designed to be easily copied on to overhead transparencies for display in classes, workshops, and other learning environments. A group called Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) requested permission to use one of the cartoons on the cover of their magazine and subsequently colorized it. Prompted by Giangreco’s colleagues associated with ALLFIE, Giangreco and Ruelle began to colorize the rest of the images. In this complete digital collection, we have included a total of 335 different digital images; including the 315 different cartoons from the four earlier books, 12 cartoons that were on the CD only, and eight that were not included in any of the previously published books or CD. Cartoons from the early books have found their way on to the pages of many newsletters disseminated by schools, parent groups, disability advocacy organizations, and professional associations. They have appeared in books, manuals, and journals; a few were even published in a law journal. The cartoons have been used extensively as projected slides or within learning activities in college classes, at conferences, in workshops, and at other meetings. Parents have framed cartoons that closely reflected their own experiences and hung them in their homes or offices. Other parents have used them in meetings with professionals to help get their points across. They have been given as gifts to people who "get it" and handed out as door prizes. The Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights used them as part of "Disability Awareness Day" at the Vermont legislature. The cartoons can be used in innumerable creative ways.

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Showing 1 - 4 of 4 Records

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2 1999 1 1998 1 2000
Miniature of Cheap Imitations
Cheap Imitations
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    • Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
    • Date Created: 1999
    • Description: The cartoon shows four panels arranged in a square pattern, two-by-two. The top left frame shows a one way arrow sign pointing to the right. On the sign it says "Math One-Way" at the bottom of the frame it says "Math One-Way." In the top frame on the right is a scene with trees and a large arch over a road made with tree branches. Across the top to the arch is the word "Math" at the bottom of the frame it says "Math out of the way" The lower left frame has a wood post with arrows nailed to it pointing in different directions and each arrow has the word "Math" printed on it. At the bottom of the frame it says "Math, which way?" The lower right frame has a man on stage singing, "I did math myyy waaay!!" At the bottom of the frame it says, "Math my way." The tag line reads, "A popular math program spawns cheap imitations."
    • Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Flying by the Seat of Your Pants
    Miniature of Fear of Formulas
    Fear of Formulas
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      • Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
      • Date Created: 1999
      • Description: The cartoon shows a man watching TV. The man on the TV is saying "A new national study revealed that a majority of the nation's special education teachers choose their college major to avoid taking advanced math classes." The man watching the TV's thought bubble says "And all this time I thought I was the only one." The tag line reads "Having never advanced past math 101 (math in everyday life), Fred is comforted by the realization that he was not alone in his fear of formulas."
      • Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Flying by the Seat of Your Pants
      Miniature of Desperate Measures
      Desperate Measures
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        • Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
        • Date Created: 2000
        • Description: The cartoon shows a panel with a banner at the top that says, "Math Standards" bordered on the top and bottom with a variety of math symbols. On the left of the panel is a ruler saying, "So, you're willing to do whatever it takes to meet the standards?" Next to the ruler at the bottom middle of the panel is a measuring cup who is saying, "Just name it we'll do it." and on the right side of the panel is a set square saying, "Please, we'll do anything you say." The tag line reads, "Desperate Measures."
        • Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Teaching Old Logs New Tricks
        Miniature of Let me help you with that!
        Let me help you with that!
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          • Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
          • Date Created: 1998
          • Description: This cartoon shows a paraprofessional and student seated together at a table with no other students. The paraprofessional is happily working on a class project cutting materials with scissors as she says, Let me help you with that!" The student, with a disappointed look on her face and none of the materials available to her says, "But when do I get a turn?" The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After only two months as a teacher assistant, Gladys finds her spelling has improved, math skills are honed, and she has discovered she has artistic ability."
          • Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Ants in His Pants