I’m a graduate student at Drexel University who’s writing an article that considers some of the issues surrounding inclusion. It’s not intended for publication, merely for a journalism course. I plan to interview parents, teachers, and administators to get different points of view. Would any parents care to share your experiences of inclusion with me? The IDEA provides that states receiving funding must “ensure that children with disabilities are educated in classrooms with nondisabled children to the maximum extent possible.” Is that happening at your school? How and how not? Why and why not? What are the benefits and difficulties? How does your child feel about inclusion?
If you’d care to share your experiences, please send me e-mail at [email protected].
Re: Need Background for Article on Inclusion
I have seen it work and have seen it fail. Where I have seen it work the school and teachers taught to the levels of of every student by grouping students according to needs sometimes in the same classroom. Even non LD kids have issues where they learn better by some methods and and some kids catch on to certain topics faster than others. This is not just a LD issue. The staff was very receptive to using what works rather than doing everything the same way for everybody. Work was modified to the needs of the students. There were strong support from instructional aids although not necessarily certified teachers. Teachers were scheduled to give one hour after school extra study session for anyone who needed help. In other words there were good teaching methods for everybody. Homework was expected and the teachers didn’t care if parents helped or a student group effort as long as learning was occuring. In many LD only classrooms, the instructions are more dumbed down that tailored to the specific problems of individual children. Expectation are generally low. I have seen one special ed teacher trying to teach ten children at once with an assortment of LD, mild retardation, behavior problems with no supports. At least in the mainstream classroom other students can serve as role models for behavior and the higher expectations might benefit some. Where I have seen it fail is by teacher and administrative resistance to varying teaching style, varying the way it has been done before, expecting the same work from all students, and the attitude of “why can’t kids who have problems just be in a different classroom:, resentment over not having all star pupils, because if all your students are honor level it means you are a great teacher doesn’t it? Attitude is very key. My feeling is teachers and administrators with these attitudes are not making the best potential of most of their students, not just failing the LD students.
Just My Opinion - We have had years of “Inclusion” in Michigan. It does not work. Kids are included (jammed with 25 kids) in classrooms where the courseware doesn’t fit the needs of LD kids (ex. Everyday Math a language based program for SPL kids). The teachers don’t fit much better…they refuse to specially treat or teach three kids out of 25 in a special way. It is not what they wanted to do in the first place or they’d be spec ed teachers to use their phrasing. The kids don’t fit..they have social and emotional needs that are often destructively impacted by a inflexible system and process. The testing doesn’t fit…lots of standardize testing that can not be given fairly or acturately.
What a mess. Michigan ranks in the bottom with scores dropping from 40% to 3-7% by 11th grade in most areas. Check out the state’s special website to see the disaster in more detail. They are trying to provide even less inclass support due to expense control next year.