Absurdities and Realities of Special Education
Collection Overview
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...
Show moreAbsurdities 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.
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- Title
- Pumped Up
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
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The cartoon shows a woman lifting weights on a barbell. The tag line reads "Mrs. Hart gets pumped up about teaching a full range of students, because even though it's hard work, the results really show."
- Title
- Recycling
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
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The cartoon shows two educators talking in front of a filing cabinet. The woman says "Tom's IEP is due soon. What should we do?" The man responds "No sweat. I've saved every IEP I've ever written over the past 15 years. Pick one and we'll go from there." The tag line reads, "Recycling Gone Bad."
- Title
- Rock and a Hard Place
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows an administrator, dressed in a suit, being squished between a brick wall and a giant boulder. There is a sign on the wall that says, "Board of Education" and three arms, coming in from the left side of the panel, pushing the boulder into the man. There is writing on each of the...
Show moreThe cartoon shows an administrator, dressed in a suit, being squished between a brick wall and a giant boulder. There is a sign on the wall that says, "Board of Education" and three arms, coming in from the left side of the panel, pushing the boulder into the man. There is writing on each of the three arms which read, "Parents," "Teachers," and "Advocates." The tag line reads, "School administrators often find themselves between a rock and a hard place."
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- Title
- Rocket Science
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon shows a teacher at a chalkboard where he has written a long, complicated equation next to a drawing of a rocket. He says to his colleague, "Here's my plan to include James in a regular class -- it's based on a NASA model." His colleague replies, "It doesn't have to be so complicated....
Show moreThis cartoon shows a teacher at a chalkboard where he has written a long, complicated equation next to a drawing of a rocket. He says to his colleague, "Here's my plan to include James in a regular class -- it's based on a NASA model." His colleague replies, "It doesn't have to be so complicated." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Frank learns that inclusion doesn't have to be rocket science."
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- Title
- Secret Wish
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
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The cartoon shows a woman sitting on Santa's lap with a Christmas tree gifts in the background. There are children waiting in line to sit on Santa's lap too. Santa says, "You're a bit old for this, but go ahead and tell me your secret wish." The woman responds, "I'd like my child to have a...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a woman sitting on Santa's lap with a Christmas tree gifts in the background. There are children waiting in line to sit on Santa's lap too. Santa says, "You're a bit old for this, but go ahead and tell me your secret wish." The woman responds, "I'd like my child to have a teacher who is welcoming, inspires a love of learning, and sees the value in every child." The tag line reads, "Mary Beth's secret wish is shared by parents the world over." The tag line on the left reads, "Inspired by Mary Beth Doyle."
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- Title
- Self-Reflection
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon show a teacher looking at himself in a full length mirror. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After spending 10 minutes each afternoon in front of a full-length mirror, Alan still isn't sure why self-reflection is so important to good teaching."
- Title
- Student Judges
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
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The cartoon shows four students sitting at a long table with a banner on the front of the table that says "Student Judges." The student on the far left is holding a score card that reads "7.5" the other three students are not fully showing their cards. There is a teacher standing in front of the...
Show moreThe cartoon shows four students sitting at a long table with a banner on the front of the table that says "Student Judges." The student on the far left is holding a score card that reads "7.5" the other three students are not fully showing their cards. There is a teacher standing in front of the table with legs crossed, hand on his left hip right arm up in the air like he is doing a jig with an apple on his head. The tagline reads "After a full week of testing, students decide to turn the tables and judge their teachers."
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- Title
- Subtle Reminder
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
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The cartoon shows a classroom with kids sitting at their desks and an Elephant in the corner of the room with a sign on its trunk that says "Remember to include my child!!" The teacher saying "I don't see an elephant in the room…do you?" and another person in the room says "No...I don't either......
Show moreThe cartoon shows a classroom with kids sitting at their desks and an Elephant in the corner of the room with a sign on its trunk that says "Remember to include my child!!" The teacher saying "I don't see an elephant in the room…do you?" and another person in the room says "No...I don't either..." The tag line reads "After meetings, phone calls, and letters had failed, one parent tried a subtle reminder."
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- Title
- Superwoman
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon shows a teacher at her clothes closet and selecting a Superwoman costume (with the classic red S). The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After having successfully taught students with a wide range of characteristics, Ms. Miller decided to adjust her wardrobe to match her teaching...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a teacher at her clothes closet and selecting a Superwoman costume (with the classic red S). The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After having successfully taught students with a wide range of characteristics, Ms. Miller decided to adjust her wardrobe to match her teaching confidence."
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- Title
- Supplies
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. In the top panel a smiling teacher greets a student who is wearing a backpack and says, "Hi Jimmy, welcome to the first day of school. I'm glad you brought your backpack with your supplies." In the second panel the same teacher now with a worried...
Show moreThis cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. In the top panel a smiling teacher greets a student who is wearing a backpack and says, "Hi Jimmy, welcome to the first day of school. I'm glad you brought your backpack with your supplies." In the second panel the same teacher now with a worried expression on her face greets a student with a disability and her mother who is pulling a long wagon filled high with all kinds of special equipment. The teacher says, "Hi Janie, Welcome to the first day of school. I see you've brought your supplies." Her mother says, "We'll bring the rest tomorrow." The tag line for the cartoon reads, "Mrs. Fine wonders if it is too late to request a larger classroom."
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- Title
- Teacher Shortage
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
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The cartoon shows a woman in a red dress standing in a spotlight with film crew around her. She is holding an apple and a script. In the lower left corner a director is holding a clapboard and saying, "Quiet on the set. Teacher Recruitment - Take 3. ACTION!" The woman says, "I'm not a teacher,...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a woman in a red dress standing in a spotlight with film crew around her. She is holding an apple and a script. In the lower left corner a director is holding a clapboard and saying, "Quiet on the set. Teacher Recruitment - Take 3. ACTION!" The woman says, "I'm not a teacher, but I play one at school, you can too." The tag line reads, "Unemployed actors are recruited to fill the national teacher shortage."
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- Title
- Teaching Spectrum Disorder
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
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The cartoon shows two parents sitting holding hands across a table from two educators, a man and a woman. The father is saying, "What have you learned from your evaluation? Why is Sam having such difficulty learning?" To which the woman educator says, "The good news is that Sam doesn't have...
Show moreThe cartoon shows two parents sitting holding hands across a table from two educators, a man and a woman. The father is saying, "What have you learned from your evaluation? Why is Sam having such difficulty learning?" To which the woman educator says, "The good news is that Sam doesn't have learning disabilities! The bad news is his teacher has "Pervasive Developmental Teaching Delays." The tag line reads, "Sam's teacher is diagnosed with a 'Teaching Spectrum Disorder'."
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- Title
- Terrorless Learning
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
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The cartoon shows three children sitting at a table working together. In the foreground are a man and a woman. The man says, "Max seems to be interacting with the other kids so much better lately." The woman replies, "We've begun to understand his behavior. He has responded well to positive...
Show moreThe cartoon shows three children sitting at a table working together. In the foreground are a man and a woman. The man says, "Max seems to be interacting with the other kids so much better lately." The woman replies, "We've begun to understand his behavior. He has responded well to positive behavioral supports." The tag line reads, "Terrorless Learning."
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- Title
- Theory of Relativity
- Date Created
- 2010-2013
- Description
-
This cartoon has four panels arranged in a square pattern. Each square is labeled for a different School (A, B, C & D) and shows a different person speaking for each school. In the middle of the cartoon (where the interior corners of the squares meet) is a small rectangle overlapping a bit on to...
Show moreThis cartoon has four panels arranged in a square pattern. Each square is labeled for a different School (A, B, C & D) and shows a different person speaking for each school. In the middle of the cartoon (where the interior corners of the squares meet) is a small rectangle overlapping a bit on to all four squares that says, "Ratio of parapros to students with disabilities." In School A the ratio of parapros is 1:2, in School B it is 1:4, in School C it is 1:6, and School D it is 1:10. Despite the different ratios, the different people associated with each school all say the exact same thing (that is repeated in each of the four squares), "We are just getting by with the parapro resources we have. We couldn't possibly function with any less." The tag line under the cartoon. reads, "The Other Theory of Relativity."
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- Title
- This is a Test
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a classroom with students at desks and a teacher at the front of the class. In the upper right corner is a loud speaker announcing, "This is a test! For the next 16 years we will be conducting a test of the Emergency Educational System. In case of an actual educational emergency...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a classroom with students at desks and a teacher at the front of the class. In the upper right corner is a loud speaker announcing, "This is a test! For the next 16 years we will be conducting a test of the Emergency Educational System. In case of an actual educational emergency, you would have been directed where to go to school in your area." The tag line reads, "Remember, this is only a test!"
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- Title
- Trial by Fire
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows the door to the principal's office with a sign that reads, "Do not disturb. Interview in progress." Just in front of the door is a ring of fire and in front of the ring of fire are burning coals on the floor. A woman is standing by the coals holding a file. There are three...
Show moreThe cartoon shows the door to the principal's office with a sign that reads, "Do not disturb. Interview in progress." Just in front of the door is a ring of fire and in front of the ring of fire are burning coals on the floor. A woman is standing by the coals holding a file. There are three people sitting at a table waiting and one woman, looking nervous and making the sound "Gulp!" as she walks toward the coals with her shoes in her hand. The woman holding the file says, "Right this way! The principal will see you now." The tag line reads, "Prospective employees go through a trial by fire to help determine their suitability for the realities of public school."
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- Title
- Unintended Distractions
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoons shows a full class being taught in a large group by the teacher, except for one student with a disability who is working in a one-to-one format with a paraprofessional in the back of the large group, facing away from the teacher. Some students in the teacher's large group who are...
Show moreThis cartoons shows a full class being taught in a large group by the teacher, except for one student with a disability who is working in a one-to-one format with a paraprofessional in the back of the large group, facing away from the teacher. Some students in the teacher's large group who are closest to the paraprofessional and student with a disability turn toward them. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Unintended Distractions."
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- Title
- Waiver Clinic
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a man sitting on a bed in a doctors office. A nurse is standing next to him taking his pulse. She says to the man, "Great!" You have a pulse! You're just the kind of person we're looking for!" The tag line reads, "Emergency teacher certification waiver clinic."
- Title
- Word Problems
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a document labeled, "Mediation Exam." It reads, "27. During a one-hour meeting, if a parent speaks about her child's educational needs at 120 words per minute and a professional listens to 83 of those words per minute while simultaneously scanning 6 pages of the students file,...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a document labeled, "Mediation Exam." It reads, "27. During a one-hour meeting, if a parent speaks about her child's educational needs at 120 words per minute and a professional listens to 83 of those words per minute while simultaneously scanning 6 pages of the students file, how many years will if take for them to understand each other?" There is a hand with a pencil coming from the right side of the panel getting ready to write in the answer. The tag line reads, "Word Problems."
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