This short film can be watched here: Educating Peter (1992)
Excuse the rant.
Right around with this film was made, a major push for inclusion in the classroom was being made by advocates throughout the United States. With amendments to IDEA in 1997, this because the standard. This film shows a student with Downs Syndrome being mainstreamed in a classroom. Peter seems like a kind hearted child, and in this situation there seemed to be some benefits once Peter was able to acclimate.
While I think the idea of inclusion is certainly a good idea for the child who has a disability, and provides a chance to learn compassion, patience, and understanding for the other students, the reality in today's classroom is nothing like this. In today's real world, peer planning is not the answer.
The problem today is that a classroom in 2026 may have two students like Peter in one classroom---or, on rare occasions, maybe even three. On top of that, the rest of the class is nowhere near the support group that the class shown in this video is. The class is also much larger. Imagine Peter's class with two students like Peter. Then add 4 kids that are severe behavior problems--but have no physical or mental challenges. Then another of 10 of the kids are occasional behavior problems and can be set off when the classroom environment breaks down. Add another 8 kids in the class (there can be some overlap) where the kids have an extremely difficult home life, sometimes come in hungry, and have no support for behavior or academics or behavior at home. So, in today's average class--2 Peters, 4 severe behavior issues, 10 behavior issues, and 7 or 8 kids like the support kids in this class. Expecting one teacher to manage this situation is unfair and completely unreasonable. Add to that severe budget cuts, lack of administrative support, and a completely changing level of support from parents, and you have today's teacher situation. And there's more!! Add in the idea of charter schools and school voucher programs and things get worse. Those charter and private school won't take most student's like Peter, claiming they don't have the framework or resources to accommodate him. So now, in the Public Schools you have a higher ratio of student's like Peter to the rest of the school population and the issue compounds.
The graphic at the end of this video reads that about 60,000 student like Peter are attending regular classes. In 2026, the number was 4.2 million for K-12 (so maybe a little under half, or 2 million for K-5).
(One more thing to consider, from the teacher point of view...think of Peter in 5th grade with the same, or much worse behavior issues, compounded by screen addiction and unsupportive, but highly demanding parents. Now make Peter 5'8", 190 pounds, and able to lift a full teacher desk. Put him in the class, without support of a petite female teacher. This was the situation at my school, in ONE class, last year).
There is an answer, but it is not one that modern America is willing to consider. Providing a, trained, in class aid for each student or even group of 3 in a mainstreamed class would likely solve 80% of the issues. That would be hugely expensive--so it isn't going to happen.
This is a video that had a point to make, and in 1992 perhaps it was relevant. Bet, the times they have a-changed.
To be fair, this program was great for Peter. There was a follow up video made showing his progress and eventual graduation as a productive member of society. But, this does not take away from my rant. Throughout his school journey, Peter was in a highly supportive environment, where the other kids were part of the answer and not part of the overall problem. The video of Peter's continued journey, click here: Graduating Peter (2001)
This film won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject in 1993.
This film is part of my attempt to watch all of the Academy Award winning short documentary films. The full list of Academy Award Winning Short Documentary films can be found here: Best Documentary Short Film - Academy Award Winners
