I know that support for the teacher in an inclusive classroom is a key element in it being successful. I was wondering if any teachers actually do receive support and training before their classroom becomes inclusive, or if many are left without any support or training to fend for themselves? What kind of things are going on in schools to make this transition easier for teachers? :D
The reality is that modern education has a strong ‘sink or swim’ component to it. Our schools are sadly needed to be places of judgement. Our society does not truly believe that everyone can or should be successful. If every child in every school were successful, we’d sadly say that standards aren’t high enough and we’d yank them up until we had some kids failing again.
If sink or swim is the order of the day - and as a teacher I think it is - that what purpose would training teachers for successful inclusion serve? Teachers are given little support and less training as the sad but unspoken intention is that some students must fail. We are simply not interested as a society in having all our students be successful in school.