Madison Martin

EDU 472

Dr. Wargo

5 October 2022

Hospitality is a concept that Christianity is founded upon. The idea of hospitality means

welcoming a stranger with open arms and an open heart. In education, hospitality is an idea that

may help when struggling with inclusion. As the idea of inclusion has changed over time,

teachers, parents, and students themselves have struggled with it. Hospitality, at least according

to Anderson, is a possible solution.

In the general education classroom, students with disabilities are sometimes seen as

aliens or strangers to the class. They may look, sound, act, and think differently than what the

teacher and other students are used to. However, that does not mean that they should be

alienated. They are people, just like any other student. As Christian teachers, it is our job to be a

welcoming host to these “visitors from a faraway land.” It is incredibly hard to be productive in

an environment that is not welcoming. Being hospitable towards our students with disabilities

allows them to thrive to their fullest potential. Genesis 1:27 tells us that humanity has been

created in the image of God; every single person who walks on this Earth has been lovingly

created the way that God intended, as we learn in Psalm 139. The students with disabilities that

we may encounter are perfectly and wonderfully formed, and hospitality is a simple way to show

that we respect both that fact and the student in general. Hospitality towards our students looks

like providing them with the love and respect that will help them achieve social, academic and

behavioral goals. Hospitality towards students with disabilities specifically looks like providing
them as well with the opportunity to feel like a whole member of the classroom community

rather than that stranger from the faraway land of special education.

Although I have not been placed specifically in an inclusion classroom for my

observations, I have been blessed to have the opportunity to wind up in the inclusion classroom

many times. I have seen Anderson’s six elements of Biblical hospitality in action. The first

element he discusses is breaking barriers and building bridges. This involves the teacher acting

as the Biblical “host” of the classroom. She should work to make each student feel like a revered

guest and not a burden. Her goal should be to build bridges between students and allow them to

break through social barriers. I see an example of this in my current cooperating teacher. She

makes an effort to greet each student individually and ask them about their days. She fosters

good discussion between students, even though sometimes it may not pertain to her lesson. The

students in her class have a sense of camaraderie that allows everyone to feel welcome and

valued. Although it is obvious who the inclusion students are, their peers do not treat them

differently. Because of the teacher’s warmth and inclusion of all, the students adopt these natures

in their own ways.

The second element of hospitality is providing a welcoming environment. This means

that your students should recognize each person’s worth, not only to the teacher or academically,

but as human beings. I saw this exhibited at the Christian school where I observed my freshman

year. The teacher took the time to pray for each student and their studies and encouraged them to

pray for their peers.

The third element is providing modification and accommodations for their students. It is

important that this is not seen as a burden. Accommodations and modifications are simply tools

that allow all students to succeed, not extra work for the teacher. In another district, I observed a
special education teacher who read every written assignment aloud for a student who struggled to

read and write.She did this kindly and eagerly, instead of complaining about the extra work it

made for her. She did what she had to do to help her student succeed, which is what providing

accommodations with hospitality in mind entails.

The fourth element is friendships and reciprocity. This means fostering true friendships

between students with disabilities and typical students. Anderson warns to stay away from the

“helper/helper” relationship that typically occurs in this situation. Instead, we should teach our

students to truly value and respect each other. This was also demonstrated in the Christian school

where I observed. Students with disabilities and typical students formed true, lasting bonds

where it was obvious that there was mutual respect. They would go to each other’s sporting

events, support them with their class work, and pray for each other.

The fifth element is teacher growth. It is an incredibly important part of being an

educator! Regardless of your subject matter, as educators we should always be willing to learn.

This means doing our own research, but also attending classes to further our education. In the

special education realm, teacher growth allows teachers to best serve their students. Information

is always changing about special education, and education in general. I see this tenet being used

by another teacher I am currently working with. She always has a new book about education on

her desk, or tells me about an education article she read or seminar she attended. She is always

learning new ways to meet her students’ needs.

The sixth and final element that is essential to creating a hospitable classroom

environment is kindness. This is the simplest element, but it can also sometimes be the hardest.

Many students respond to our kindness with hostility. They have been treated so unkindly that

they cannot conceive that anyone would truly be kind to them, no strings attach. These students
act defensively as a mechanism to protect themselves. Simply being kind and teaching our

students to be kind to one another can make a huge difference in inclusion. Hospitality cannot

take place if kindness is not present. I am so grateful that every classroom I have observed has

been a place where kindness is cultivated. Each teacher that I have worked with has been loving

and understanding. The students that I have met have been friendly and welcoming. A culture of

kindness truly can make or break a classroom.

I am very grateful that I have had many experiences with hospitality in the special

education setting. In high school, there were many students with special needs who I interacted

with almost daily. My school was very small, and most students were nothing but kind to the

students with disabilities. I remember specifically in my senior year, there was a special lunch

area opened as a positive incentive for maintaining grades. Our students with special needs were

all exceptional students, and were given the privilege to eat there. They were the most popular

students in that lunch area without a doubt. My friends and I welcomed them and looked forward

to getting to spend our lunch with them. When I graduated, my very special friend Arica came to

my graduation ceremony. She and I both cried when she told me she would miss seeing her best

in class every day. The special education teachers were valued and respected by the staff and

students, which also helped create the environment of hospitality.

Overall, Anderson’s article describes how hospitality can create a positive background

when working with inclusion. Inclusion can be s tough and touchy subject in todays society. By

building a classroom founded on kindness, welcoming, mutual respect, and the desire to learn,

we are teaching our students how to be hospitable. As Christians, the idea of hospitality should

be familiar. It should be an instinct for us to be hospitable people in every aspect of our lives.
Students in an inclusion setting struggle for many reasons, but creating a positive learning

environment is something simple that we can do to help them achieve their goals.