Mead High School responds to concerns surrounding the inclusion of special needs students in PE classes
Special needs students and their parents speak out against being excluded in their PE classes
Lindsey Zanini (’23) is a special needs student who enjoys playing tennis, her favorite sport.
Everyone can agree that being left out is wrong and disheartening, yet within Mead High School, this has increasingly become a problem for students with special needs. While the school makes sure to give as many opportunities to these students as possible, these efforts haven’t reached the PE classrooms.
Lindsey Zanini (‘23) absolutely loves to play sports, especially tennis, and she felt cast down when she and many other special education students were excluded from the rest of their PE class. According to Lindsey Zanini, in fear that they would be hurt in the normal activities, the special needs kids would be sent elsewhere to play alternative sports while the rest of the class participated in the normal curriculum. Lindsey Zanini’s mother, Melanie Zanini, said, “She told me that they were saying that she might fall, or she might get [hit by a ball].”
Lindsey Zanini’s mother, Melanie Zanini, was outraged when her daughter told her about the discrimination occuring in her PE class. “Mead is an inclusive school and that was why I was like, ‘Wait, are you sure this is happening?’” she says.
According to Melanie Zanini, a lack of communication between paras (Special Education teachers), teachers, and parents is to blame. “Her teacher didn’t realize it was happening, and honestly, if I hadn’t heard from another para, I wouldn’t have even known either,” she said.
In an attempt to make PE classes more fair for special needs students, Melanie Zanini reached out to the district and Mead’s principal, Rachael Ayers. According to Ayers, the school is working on hiring another part-time special education teacher. “We’re in the process of hiring a half-time teacher, reallocating how classes are designed, shifting supports unified PE course at MHS, and we are receiving additional support from the district.”
There is hope for special needs students as Mead High School strives to improve their special education program. “I do think we have a great program here, and I feel like the staff is very attentive to their needs, and I know they work so hard, and the student body, I have to say, is very inclusive. It’s amazing to go to games, and everybody is very caring, and so I feel overall very good about it,” says Melanie Zanini.
Thanks to Lindsey and Melanie Zanini and the school district, the situation has been addressed, and hopefully, any future situations will be prevented. With these improvements, Mead High School will continue to be a supportive and inclusive place for students with special needs.
Your donation will support the student journalists of Mead High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.
Audrey enjoys writing, reading, singing, cats, and science. She is involved with GSA, vocal lessons, theatre, philosophy, and volunteering at the Longmont Humane Society. This year, she is looking forward to writing and sharing articles about our schools.
You can contact her at [email protected]
Detroit alden • Mar 22, 2022 at 4:05 pm
Hello all: So this is more of a Rant than anything! You see back in 1982 through say? the first quarter of 1985 I was a student at Mead Sr
High. Through those years I’m Proud to admit ?I held a B Average at least but that’s not the point. You see I was in what they then called Special ed as well as one of my older brothers and several others who turned out to be great childhood friends. Sadly I have lost contact with All of my friends from that time I moved away some 30+ years ago. The thing is? I believe that our little group dubbed special ed did not quite get a Fair chance at a meaningful starting education as I believe being isolated from regular/normal classes was more detrimental than helpful? Its a sad fact that Yes special needs students did require more attention than non special need However if treated equale? Special need excell just as well as anyone of that I am sure. I have only just recently learned this fact. But that still is not the point. It is however factual. The point is? Our names are Not mentioned in any of your alumni lists from 1982 through 1985. What brings this about now 37 years later is that upon my search for friends from that time through your year books I find none of them listed. It is disheartening So it feels we were not even there. More? I have never been invited to any reunions im not sure any of us have? I do commend the system now for how far schools, teachers and peers of these special need students have progressed now in accepting special needs people Thank you.
Ty Tatham • Feb 4, 2020 at 12:05 pm
The safety of any student is of paramount concern in all PE classes. Games are modified, rules are modified, equipment is modified to address this for all students. Depending on what units were being played in the class modification is not that uncommon. We don’t play tackle football, we don’t use hard softball’s, softer golf balls, etc. . We play small sided games, 3- 5 per team, to increase participation and decrease the probability of injury. While the PE department is always open to improvement, I don’t feel the situation was fully understood as a special needs teacher, para-educator or PE teacher was interviewed to offer their view. Both the PE and Special needs department collaborate constantly to help ensure our students are included in PE properly and safely.
Brenna Scheffelmaer • Jan 24, 2020 at 11:01 am
This is a very concerning subject that would be great when addressed. I’m glad mead is working on it.
Nicole Peters • Jan 24, 2020 at 11:00 am
This will probably help a lot of the special needs students feel happier and more included, so this sounds like a great idea!
haley slemp • Jan 24, 2020 at 10:59 am
I’m glad that mead is working to help out the special so that they are included more.
Ambria • Jan 24, 2020 at 10:56 am
It would be great to see everyone be able to enjoy their classes, no matter what their specific needs are.
Maya Thompson • Jan 24, 2020 at 10:52 am
This gives a good insight to the inclusion in this school! Thank you.
Sunny • Jan 24, 2020 at 10:50 am
I want to see another article interviewing the paras and students in the class. 🙂
Amber Vanzant • Dec 30, 2019 at 11:44 pm
I would love to see the point of view of the PE teachers and paras represented in this article. There is a lot more to this situation than is represented here. Mead High is a very inclusive school and just won a national award because of that.
Alexander Olson • Dec 12, 2019 at 9:15 pm
This is very concerning to hear about. I’m glad Mead is taking steps to address the issue.