# Are there kids who absolutly cannot be educated? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 17, 2013, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-kids-who-absolutly-cannot-be-educated/647494 "2013-01-17T10:15:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-kids-who-absolutly-cannot-be-educated/647494/81 "2013-02-01T12:48:07Z")
> [@whynot](#): > > ok, if you can find me even **one single case** of a child with lissencephaly being educated in a mainstream classroom with public education funds, i’ll buy you a cookie. > > Eta: Actually, i may have to take that offer back, as wikipedia indicates that some minor forms of lissencephaly show “near-normal development and intelligence.” so just goes to show that neither you nor i should be the ones making these decisions, and we certainly shouldn’t be judging them on diagnosis alone. Exactly. And probably not long ago, everyone thought that they could too. ---
**Author:** ![Hannah\_W](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/76d3ee/32.png) [@Hannah\_W](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hannah_W)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-kids-who-absolutly-cannot-be-educated/647494/82 "2013-02-05T05:23:39Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > There are some children who are considered “uneducable” but “trainable.” I know this saying and I agree with it. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-kids-who-absolutly-cannot-be-educated/647494/83 "2013-02-05T13:45:38Z")
> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#): > > [And even those that have been institutionalized and unable to communicate, are learning and communicated AFTER they leave the institution.](http://www.hulu.com/watch/337446) > Warning: You will be actually watching a full length film on hulu, but it is worthwhile and relevant to this thread. > > “More Like You Than Not.” Yes, thank you for noting that. In many cases, the inability to educate these people, or our lack of willingness to try hard enough, was the CAUSE of their “inability” to learn. If you write them off and don’t try, they have a zero percent chance. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. Yet we blamed them. Thanks for the video. I’ll add this link for the benefit of the thread: > **[Mason LIFE | Mason LIFE](https://masonlife.gmu.edu/)** > > Mason LIFE. 30 or 40 years ago, people would have laughed at this idea. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-kids-who-absolutly-cannot-be-educated/647494/84 "2013-02-05T13:46:49Z")
> [@Hannah\_W](#): > > I know this saying and I agree with it. These terms are completely out of date and no longer used. The idea that you can put people in two boxes like this has been rejected for people with disabilities, just as it has been for regular education. It’s more complicated than this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-kids-who-absolutly-cannot-be-educated/647494.md?page=4)