I am a third year pre-service teacher and I still have the same question about special education. When does the needs of the class outweigh the needs of the child with a disability? Mr. Bush has stated that he wants ” no child left behind.” Is this a plausible idea or just jargon? I do not want to sound cruel or mean in any way, I only want to know if there is a limit to those that can be effectively educated in an inclusive classroom. My wife teaches at a local high school and has a second period class with 22 students, 13 of which have either an IEP or a 504 plan. She is the only teacher in the classroom, and has a lot of trouble teaching effecetively to all the students. It seems that those that do not need “help” are not receiving the education they deserve. When does the right of the individual go too far and har mthe education of the rest of the class?
Re: individual vs. class
Most of the accommodations the teachers use with ESE kids on 504s and IEPs could benefit the ENTIRE class.
In answer to your question of ‘no child left behind’, I think it’s just jargon. How can it be that no child will be left behind?
Think about this. If a teacher in my school gives all As and Bs to their students, they get in trouble. The principal says there have to be some Cs, Ds, and Fs or the As and Bs mean nothing. If that’s so, that aren’t I leaving some students behind??
If there always has to be failure for success to be believable, won’t there always be children who are left behind?
That’s why I think the phrase is political jargon.