Prof. Liu Hsin Chun of the Department of Education, Teachers College, National Chiayi University, offers a general education course titled “World Civilization and Contemporary Society.” By creating a globally oriented learning platform through cross-cultural exchange and international cooperation, the course focuses on exploring the evolution of civilizations and social issues. The course is funded by Eurasia Foundation (from Asia) through the project “World Civilization and Contemporary Society Lecture.” By inviting overseas scholars and introducing diverse perspectives, it enables students to engage with different cultural contexts and social challenges while cultivating critical thinking and global competence, thus showcasing NCYU’s strong capacity for innovation in general education.
On September 30 at Education Hall on the Minsyong campus, Prof. Fred Spooner from the University of North Carolina (UNC) was invited to give a lecture on “Education and Human Rights Development for People with Disabilities in the United States.” The talk reviewed the historical evolution of education for individuals with disabilities in the U.S. An internationally recognized authority in special education, Prof. Spooner has long been dedicated to advancing the educational rights and social participation of individuals with severe disabilities. He noted that there was widespread misunderstanding and exclusion of persons with disabilities in early societies, even leading to extreme practices like “trepanation.” However, beginning in the 1970s, a series of landmark court rulings gradually established the legal foundation for the education of individuals with disabilities. This led to the enactment of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), marking a significant shift from exclusion to equal educational rights. Prof. Spooner emphasized that these education acts not only transformed institutional systems but also reshaped societal attitudes toward people with disabilities, making education a crucial arena for realizing human rights.
At the same time, Prof. Spooner cautioned the faculty and students in attendance that recent U.S. policy proposals – such as Project 2025 – could weaken doctoral training subsidies and medical support, posing potential threats to the development of special education and the educational rights of people with disabilities. He called on the education community and society at large to continue to pay attention and work together to safeguard educational equity and human rights.
The lecture was marked by lively interaction, as students actively posed questions and showed great concern for educational human rights and social issues. Many students shared that the lecture deepened their understanding of the history and system of special education and inspired them to reflect on educational equity and social justice.
Photo 1: NCYU faculty and students with UNC Prof. Fred Spooner.
Photo 2: Prof. Hsi-I Chen introduces UNC Prof. Fred Spooner (left).