A Modest Proposal in Four Parts

Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Paul 's Cathedral, Lond on, wrote a famous essay that I invoke now. In A Modest Proposal , Swift ( 1729) satirically suggested that, for more Irish to live longer during a curren t famine, adults should eat their newborn s, thus feedin g the more able while prevent ing a popul ation grow th that would exacerbate the famine. I, too, wish to make a modest proposal, to j ustify it historically, and to relate it to contemp orary and future issues in special education. Unlike Sw ift, I am serious, not satirical. Unlike Sw ift, I do not address a problem of physical famine but, instead, a problem of hunger for a more product ive system of education for all students. And, aga in unlike Swift, I do not expect my proposal to be acted upon, although I believe it has the merit of challenging a conventional approach in education, which is that general education pol icy should affect , but not be much affec ted by, special education policy (West & Whit by, 2008 ).