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.
Showing 91 - 100 of 228 Records
Meet the Standards
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- Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
- Date Created: 1999
- Description: The cartoon shows Mr. Moody (administrator) standing with a line of students behind him and a couple with a baby, Mr. and Mrs. Standard, in front of them. Mr. Moody says "Suzy, I'd like you to meet Mr. Standard, his wife, Mrs. Standard and their little baby Standard- They're new in town." The tag line reads "Confused by a state education directive, Mr. Moody arranges for every student in his school to meet the Standards."
- Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Flying by the Seat of Your Pants
Whine Cellar
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- Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
- Date Created: 1999
- Description: The cartoon shows Mr. Moody and a woman going down the stairs into the cellar. There are wood barrels in the foreground of the frame and one of the barrels has a mouse and cheese on it. Mr. Moody says "Let's talk down here." The tag line reads "Mr. Moody escorts a disgruntled employee to the school's newly established Whine Cellar."
- Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Flying by the Seat of Your Pants
Don't Take the Bait! (trap host)
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- Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
- Date Created: 2000
- Description: The cartoon shows five mouse traps. Each trap has a different label where the bait would be placed: (a) "In regular class 2 hours per day," (b) "Separated in the classroom," (c) "Teacher as host only" and this one has a person's finger getting snapped in the trap, (d) "Everything is special," and (e) "Paraprofessional is really in charge." The tag line reads, "Avoid the traps of quasi-inclusion: Don't take the bait!"
- Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Teaching Old Logs New Tricks
Lesson League
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- Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
- Date Created: 2000
- Description: The cartoon shows a classroom with a teacher standing at the chalkboard in front of a class of kids. One of the kids in the front row is holding up a tape recorder and asks, "Mrs. Johnson, is it OK if I tape today's lesson?" Mrs. Johnson replies, "This lesson is intended for the private use of my class. Any rebroadcast or other use of this lesson without the express written consent of the national teacher lesson league is strictly prohibited." The tag line reads, "Simple accommodations in the age of litigation."
- Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Teaching Old Logs New Tricks
Fanning The Flames
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- Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
- Date Created: 2000
- Description: The cartoon shows an outdoor scene with a bridge over a gully and three people standing on it. There are two people under the bridge building a small fire. One of the people on the bridge says, "Are you warm or is it just me?" One of the people under the bridge says, "It's got to be hot, but not too hot." The tag line reads, "Fanning the flames of change: Lighting a fire under people without burning your bridges."
- Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Teaching Old Logs New Tricks
Head in the Clouds
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- Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
- Date Created: 1999
- Description: The cartoon shows two people standing at the top of a mountain overlooking a town with their heads in the clouds. The tag line reads, "Inclusive Education: Proving you can dream with your head in the clouds and still have your feet on the ground."
- Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Flying by the Seat of Your Pants
Placement Problem #32
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- Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
- Date Created: 1999
- Description: The cartoon shows a classroom of students with one very large older boy sitting with all the other younger children. The tag lines reads "Placement problem #32: Functioning level rather than chronological age."
- Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Flying by the Seat of Your Pants
Eyes in the Back of the Head
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- Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
- Date Created: 1999
- Description: The cartoon shows a teacher writing on the blackboard in front of a class full of students. One of the students in the front row is making a goofy face at the rest of the class. Without looking behind her, the teacher says, "I saw that." The tag line reads "Students conduct a scientifically controlled experiment to verify that teachers really do have eyes in the back of their heads."
- Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Flying by the Seat of Your Pants
High Anxiety
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- Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
- Date Created: 2000
- Description: The cartoon shows a circus tent with a high wire stretched across the center. On one end of the wire is a platform with a sign on it with the word, "Vision" in big letters. On the other end of the wire is another platform with two men standing there. One man is holding a balancing pole with a bag of money on each end (he is nervous and says, "gulp" the other man standing behind him on the ladder says, "That's the plan. Now go for it." The Ring Master on the ground says, "...And without a net..." The tag line reads, "Unless you have the skills, it's high anxiety."
- Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Teaching Old Logs New Tricks
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