Getting the stories straight: allowing different voices to tell
an 'effective history' of special education law in the United
States Authors: Lanear, John; Frattura, Elise Source: Education
and the Law, Volume 19, Number 2, June 2007 , pp. 87-109(23)
Abstract:Traditional historical narratives can serve to mask
injustices that exist beneath a celebratory surface of
statistics, legislative enactments, and judicial decision-making
that may present an impression of continuous progress. With this
understanding, this article adopts a framework applying
Foucault's distinction between 'traditional' and 'effective'
history to examine the legal foundations of special education in
the United States. The ultimate goal of this article is to
challenge the assumption that 'societies follow a developmental
pathway, away from superstition, prejudice and cruelty, and in
the direction of greater enlightenment and humanity.' The
comparison of 'traditional' and 'effective' historical
narratives is necessary to illustrate some bas