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 31 - 40 of 100 Records
Different Values and Eras
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- Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
- Date Created: 2000
- Description: The cartoon shows two men. The man on the left is dressed in colonial era clothing waving a wooden ruler. He says, "That student needs a trip to the woodshed!" The man on the right has long hair is wearing paisley shirt with bell bottom pants and is holding his fingers in a peace sign. He says, "Chill man, we need to do something nonviolent." The tag line reads, "School staff find it challenging to develop a coherent behavior plan when their practices are reflective of different values and eras."
- Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Teaching Old Logs New Tricks
Trick Question
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- Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
- Date Created: 2000
- Description: The cartoon shows Mr. Moody (a school principal) meeting with a mother. She is saying, "We're trying to decide which school district is best for our daughter. So we want to know what you have: Inclusion? Inclusive Education? Or Full Inclusion?" Mr. Moody replies, "Ohhhh...I get it! It's a trick question right?!?" The tag line reads, "Mr. Moody continues to be befuddled by the lack of clear definition."
- Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Teaching Old Logs New Tricks
It's a Jungle Out There!
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- Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
- Date Created: 2000
- Description: The cartoon shows a sign in the front of a classroom room that says, "Welcome to first-year teacher orientation!" A group of first-year are teachers sitting at tables facing a man dressed in safari clothes, pith helmet, high boots, canteen on his shoulder, and a walking stick who is saying, "People, the jungle is a place of great beauty, but also presents many hazards for the uninitiated. You must learn to become one with the jungle and all its inhabitants." One of the new teachers is leaning over to the person next to him and saying, "Does he always dress in character and talk in metaphors?" The person replies, "I don't know, I'm just glad he didn't dress as Tarzan!" The tag line reads, "It's a jungle out there!"
- Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Teaching Old Logs New Tricks
American Elvis Research Association
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- Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
- Date Created: 2000
- Description: The cartoon shows an Elvis Impersonator in a star-spangled jumpsuit on a stage talking to a crowd of people. On the back wall of the stage is a sign that reads, "American Elvis Research Association" stacked vertically so the first letter of each word creates the acronym AERA. Elvis impersonator is saying into a microphone "Since the King's death the number of Elvis impersonators has increased exponentially. By the year 2005, one in four school-aged children will be Elvis impersonators and over half by 2010. Schools must be prepared. Thank you. Thank you very much." The tag line reads, "Faulty Research Logic." A acknowledgement tag line the left reads, "Inspired by Michael Hock and Cathy Quinn."
- Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Teaching Old Logs New Tricks
Hazards
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- Creator: Giangreco, Michael F., 1956-.
- Date Created: 2000
- Description: The cartoon shows a golf course with people playing in all different areas. A player is in a water hazard labeled "Staffing." Another player is a sand trap labeled, "Funding." A third player is stuck in a patch of tall grass labeled, "Service Coordinator." Another is stuck among the trees, labeled "Bureaucracy," and is trying to hit toward the 18th hole. The tag line reads, "The hazards of transition planning are par for the course."
- Parent Collections: Absurdities and Realities of Special Education, Teaching Old Logs New Tricks
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
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