International Association of Educators   |  ISSN: 2834-7919   |  e-ISSN: 1554-5210
International Journal of Progressive Education
International Association of Educators

Original article | International Journal of Progressive Education 2012, Vol. 8(2) 102-121

Communication Disorders and the inclusion of newcomer African refugees in rural primary schools of British Columbia, Canada

Lantana M. Usman

pp. 102 - 121   |  Manu. Number: ijpe.2012.056

Published online: June 15, 2012  |   Number of Views: 80  |  Number of Download: 394

Save PDF

Abstract

In Canadian public primary schools, newcomer West African refugees like other ethnic immigrant students are a visible minority group, often referred as Linguistic and Culturally Different (LCD) students. In the province of British Columbia, newcomer immigrant students are subjected to a battery of tests, as soon as they enroll in the primary public school system. These tests are the provincial Standardized Assessment Tests (SAT) and classroom Teacher Assessment of Learning (TAL) that aim at obtaining data for diagnostic purposes of students‘ learning and teaching purposes. Specific to LCD refugee and immigrant students, they are also assessed on English Language Communication Proficiency (oral and written), Social Skills amongst others, regardless of the degree of proficiency in English language as members of the Anglo-phone Commonwealth countries whose curriculum and medium of instruction is British related. More often, the African immigrants and refugee students of the Anglo-phone African countries are most times diagnosed with English Language Communication Disorders (ELCDs), which has been questioned by some Canadian researchers of Learning Disabilities (LDs) and  Multicultural Education (ME), especially with regards to the cultural compatibility of the assessment process/diagnostic tools, and criteria used to assess these LCD refugee  and immigrant students. The article discusses the above discourse, with the support of findings of a qualitative ethnographic research findings and related literature.

Keywords: Communication Disorders; Primary Education, Learning Disabilities; Multicultural Education, Refugees, Canada

How to Cite this Article?

APA 6th edition
Usman, L.M. (2012). Communication Disorders and the inclusion of newcomer African refugees in rural primary schools of British Columbia, Canada . International Journal of Progressive Education, 8(2), 102-121.

Harvard
Usman, L. (2012). Communication Disorders and the inclusion of newcomer African refugees in rural primary schools of British Columbia, Canada . International Journal of Progressive Education, 8(2), pp. 102-121.

Chicago 16th edition
Usman, Lantana M. (2012). "Communication Disorders and the inclusion of newcomer African refugees in rural primary schools of British Columbia, Canada ". International Journal of Progressive Education 8 (2):102-121.

References
  1. Adger, C. T., Wolfram, W., & Christian, D. (2007). Dialects in schools and communities. (2nd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. [Google Scholar]
  2. Andrews, J., & Lupart, J. (2000). The inclusive classroom. Educating exceptional children. Scarborough, ON: Nelson Thompson Learning. [Google Scholar]
  3. Ashworth, M. (1975). Results and issues from a national survey of ESL programs. In Wolfgang (Eds.), Education of immigrant students: Issues and answers. (pp. 84-94).Toronto: OISE press. [Google Scholar]
  4. Ashworth, M. (1978). Immigrant children and Canadian schools. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart Ltd. [Google Scholar]
  5. Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. [Google Scholar]
  6. Barakett, J. & Cleghorn, A. (2000). Sociology of education: An introductory view from Canada. Scarborough, ON: Prentice Hall Allyn & Bacon. [Google Scholar]
  7. Birnbaum, W. B. (2008). English Language Learners with disabilities. A resource guide for educators. Edwin Mellen Press. [Google Scholar]
  8. BLAC, (1994). Experiences elsewhere related to the educational needs of black learners in Nova Scotia. Halifax: Black Learners Academy Committee. [Google Scholar]
  9. British Columbia Ministry of Education, (1997). Language education policy. Retrieved November 10,             2006,      from www.bced.gov.bc.ca/policy/policies/language_educ.htm. [Google Scholar]
  10. British Columbia Ministry of Education, ( 2004). Diversity in BC schools. A framework. Retrieved Dec            2,      2006,     from www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sco/resources.htm [Google Scholar]
  11. British Columbia Ministry of Education, (2006). 2005/2006 Summary of key information. Retrieved May 20, 2006, from www.bced.gov.bc.ca/reporting [Google Scholar]
  12. British Columbia Multicultural Advisory Council, (2005). Strategic framework for action: A strategy to stimulate joint action on multiculturalism and the elimination of racism in British Columbia. Submitted to Honorable Murray Coell, Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women‘s Services. Retrieved Dec 4, 2006, from www.ag.gov.bc.ca/sam/framework/pdf/framework.pdf [Google Scholar]
  13. Citizen and Immigration Canada, (2004). Refugee policy. Retrieved June 27, 2004 from www.cic.gc/refugees [Google Scholar]
  14. Crain, W. (2000). Theories of development. Concepts and applications. (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. [Google Scholar]
  15. Creswell, W. J. (2005). Educational research. Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. (2nd. ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. [Google Scholar]
  16. Dei, G.J.S. (1996a). Listening to voices: Developing pedagogy of change from the narrative of African-Canadian students and parents. In K. S. Brethwaite & C. [Google Scholar]
  17. E. James (Ed.), Educating African Canadians (pp. 32-57). Toronto: James Lorimer & Co. [Google Scholar]
  18. Dei, G.J.S. (1996b). Black African Canadian students‘ perspectives on school racism. In M. J. Alladin (Ed.). Racism in Canadian schools. (pp. 42-57). Toronto: Harcourt Brace. [Google Scholar]
  19. Delpit, L., & Dowdy, K. J. (2002). The skin that we speak. Thoughts on language and culture in the classroom. New York: New Press. [Google Scholar]
  20. Delpit, L. (2006). Other people‘s children: Cultural conflict in the classroom. (2nd ed.) New York: The New Press. [Google Scholar]
  21. DeVito, A., J., Shimoni, R., & Clark, D. (2008). Messages. Building interpersonal communication skills.  (3rd ed.). Toronto: Pearson. [Google Scholar]
  22. Dirks, E. G. (1977). Canada‘s refugee policy: Indifference or opportunism? McGill- Queen‘s University Press. [Google Scholar]
  23. D'Oyley, R. V., & Carl, E. J. (1998). Re/visioning: Canadian perspectives on the education of Africans in the late 20th century. North York, Ont.: Captus Press. [Google Scholar]
  24. Fafunwa, A. B. (1987). Education in the mother tongue: A Nigerian experience. Journal of African Studies.  4(2), 285 – 299. [Google Scholar]
  25. Fafunwa, A. B. (1978). For African Children the Village Community Is One Big Family of Teachers: The UNESCO Courier. May 1978.  pp. 11 – 15. [Google Scholar]
  26. Foster, L. (1994). Immigration, education, and the family. In A. Howard, B. Allan, B. Meyer, & L. Foster, (Eds.),  Immigration and refugee policy. (pp.548-611). Toronto: University of Toronto Press. [Google Scholar]
  27. Frieberg, L. K. (1997). Communication disorders in children. Educating exceptional children. (9th ed.). Sluice Dock, Connecticut: Dushkin Publishing, Brown & Benchmark publishers. [Google Scholar]
  28. Gollnick, M. D. & Chinn, C. P. (2009). Multicultural education in a pluralistic society. Upper saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Pearson. [Google Scholar]
  29. Harry, B. & Klinger, J. (2006). Why are so many minority students in special education? Teachers College Press, New York. [Google Scholar]
  30. Hoffman, D. (2006). Dissent politics and the war in Sierra Leone. Africa Today. 52: 3-22. [Google Scholar]
  31. Holstein, J. & Gubrium, J. (1997). Active interviewing. In D. Silverman (Ed.). Qualitative research: Theory, method and practice. (pp.113-129). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. [Google Scholar]
  32. Hutchinson, L. N. (2007). Inclusion of exceptional learners in Canadian schools: A practical handbook for teachers. Toronto: Prentice Hall. [Google Scholar]
  33. Hunt, N, & Marshall, K. (2005). Exceptional children and youth. An introduction to special education (4th ed.). Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. [Google Scholar]
  34. Kirk, A.S., Gallagher, J.J, & Anastasiow, J. N. (2003). Educating exceptional children. (10th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. [Google Scholar]
  35. Katz, L. L. (1999). In pursuit of multicultural curriculum. Independent School 58(2), 31 [Google Scholar]
  36. Kissen, T. R., & Carr, P. R. (1997). Different perception of race in education: racial minority and white teachers. Toronto: Canadian Journal of Education .Winter 22 (1), 67. [Google Scholar]
  37. Learning Disabilities Association of Canada. (2002): Official definition of learning disabilities. Retrieved June 10, 2003 from www.Idac-taac.ca/english/Idac.htm [Google Scholar]
  38. McIntosh, K. (2000). Evaluation and testing for immigrant student at the start of 21st century. March 5, 2000. www.cesc.ca/pceradocs/2000/00DOyley_etal_e.pdf [Google Scholar]
  39. McKibbin, R. C. (1995). Distinguishing Languages differences from Language Disorders in Linguistically and Culturally diverse students. Multicultural Education, National Association of Multicultural Education. Summer, 12-16. [Google Scholar]
  40. Meier, R. D. (2004). The young child‘s memory for words. Developing first and second language and literacy. New York: Teachers College Press. [Google Scholar]
  41. Ogbu, J. U., & Matute-Bianchi, M. E. (1986). Understanding socio-cultural factors: Knowledge, identity, and social adjustment. In J. U. Ogbu, & M. E. Matute- Bianch (Eds.), Beyond language: Social and cultural factors in schooling language minority students (pp. 73-142). Sacramento, CA: State Department of Education, Bilingual Education Office. [Google Scholar]
  42. Rader, D. (2003). New kid in school. Using literature to help children in transition. New York: Teachers College Press. [Google Scholar]
  43. Razack, S. (1998). Looking white people in the eye: Gender, race, and culture in the classrooms. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. [Google Scholar]
  44. Razack, S. (1993). Story-telling for social change. Gender and Education, 5(1), 55- 70. [Google Scholar]
  45. Rockhill, K., & Tomic, P. (1995). Situating ESL between speech and silence. (pp 209-229). In J. Gaskell, & J. Willinsky (Eds.), Gender In/forms curriculum: From enrichment to transformation. New York: Teachers College Press: [Google Scholar]
  46. Samovar, L. A., Porter, R.E. & McDaniel, E. R. (2006). Communication between cultures. (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. [Google Scholar]
  47. Samuda, J. R. (1995). Assessing the abilities of minority students within a multiethnic milieu. In W. L. Roberts & A. C. Rodney (Eds.). Contemporary Canadian education issues. (pp. 290-305) Toronto: Nelson Canada. [Google Scholar]
  48. Schultz, A. (1973). Collected papers. The problem of social reality. (Vol.1). The Hague. Martinus Nijhoff. [Google Scholar]
  49. Stotsky, S. (2002). Loosing our language. How multicultural classroom instruction is undermining our children‘s ability to read, write and reason. San Francisco: Encounter books. [Google Scholar]
  50. Thiong'o, N. (1986). Decolonizing the mind: The politics of language in African literature. London, UK: Heinemann Educational Books [Google Scholar]
  51. Trumbull, E. (2001). Bridging cultures between home and school. A guide for teachers. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum Associates. [Google Scholar]
  52. van der Geest, S. (2001). The politics of age and gerontocracy in Africa. Ethnographies of the past and memories of the present. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. [Google Scholar]
  53. Vygotsky, L. S. (1956). Thoughts and language (Trans: A Kazulin). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1986. [Google Scholar]
  54. Vygotsky, L. S. (1931). The history and development of the higher mental functions (M.Cole trans). Excerpt in M. Cole, V. John-Steiner, S. Scribner, & E. Souberman (Eds.), L. S. Vygotsky: Mind in society. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1978, chap.5. [Google Scholar]
  55. Winton, H. M. (1989). The role of standardized testing in the admission of minority students. In E. W.Ward, & M. M. Cross (Eds.), Key issues in minority education: Research, directions and practical implications. (p. 155-170). Centre for Research on Minority Education. Norman, OK: The University of Oklahoma. [Google Scholar]
  56. Winzer, M. (2002). Children with exceptionalities in Canadian classrooms. (6th ed.). Toronto: Prentice Hall. [Google Scholar]
  57. Wolfgang, A. (1975). Education of immigrant students. Issues and answers. Toronto: OISE. [Google Scholar]
  58. Young, S. C. & Young A. G. Jr. (2001). Predictors of mainstream teacher‘s attitudes toward ESL students. TESOL Quarterly Vol. 35 (1), 22-24. [Google Scholar]
Download
Metric
History
Related

Volume 8 Issue 2

June 2012

All Articles

International Journal of Progressive Education

International Association of Educators.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License.
Privacy policy     |     Terms of Use     |     Use of Cookies
Creative Commons Lisansı
© 2012 - 2024 - THDSoft e-Journal Management System.