Despite the clarifications in IDEA, the issue of inclusion and special education is a controversial one; one that parents, districts, and even courts cannot seem to agree on. These articles discuss special education inclusion and gives cases representing both sides. Please read Ken Marlborough’s explanation of special education inclusion here . Also, please read at least the introduction, two court decisions (preferably 1 or 2 plus 4 or 5), and the research and conclusion sections of this article .
As you read, please consider these three questions:
1. What do you think of the “inclusionists” claim “that segregated programs are detrimental to students and do not meet the original goals for special education”?
2. How was the approach by Success For All different than that of the inclusionists? Which argument to you agree with?
3. Do you think cost should be a factor?
As a group, we think that those we dubbed “inclusionists” tend to be biased and are not focused on the education of the child with the disabilities. For example, Marlborough’s concluding sentence is: “Thus schools can create a cooperative learning environment and promote socialization.” Is socialization the main goal here? No! At the same time, we do think that the parent’s opinion should be regarded highly as long as it is balanced by the opinion of the student assistance team – with all having the learning of the student as first priority.
Concerning cost of inclusive versus non-inclusive settings, we think that this can be a big issue. Looking at the court cases, the courts’ responses do not always favor just one side. Recognizing the importance of managing expenses and the limitations of schools, we recommend that cost be considered, but it should not be the deciding factor.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I personally feel that the claim that segregated programs are detrimental to students is incorrect. At the very least, I do not think that a claim like that can be made without some research and facts to back it up. Marlborough's article seemed like a simple list of his opinions to me, and I absolutely disagree that inclusion is right for every student. Although socialization is a vital part of a student's education, especially those students with special needs, I think that socialization can absolutly occur within a self-contained classroom, and that inclusion is not the only or even always the best option for some students. I thought that the approach of Success for All was very interesting since it aimed to prevent reading disabilities before they happened, instead of waiting for a child to fall behind before identifying them. I think that programs like this are very helpful. I also think that the Success for All program is different from the "inclusionist" point of view because it backs up its claims with data and evidence, which made it much easier for me to see their points. Finally, although it would be ideal if cost was never an issue when it comes to providing a quality education for a child, it invariably is. Schools have to work within their budgets, and that will always be a consideration that administration has to make when deciding on student placement.
ReplyDeleteI think that segregated programs are not detrimental to students.I also think that the inclusionissts are not focused on the education of the child and tend to be biased. I think that when placing a child, they need to do research and make sure everyone that is involved with that student has an input and their opinion is taken into consideration. The child needs to be in the least restrictive environment possible. If that means they get to only be in a regular classroom for one subject then so be it. I personally feel that inclusion is detrimental to students, because it allows regular education students get to know kids from the special education class. They get to know each other so students can be more comfortable being around a student with disabilities. If students with disabilities are never in inclusion, then they don't get the experience that they need to be around kids their age without disabilities. It benefits both groups of people in a great way. I feel that cost should never be an issue when it comes to education, especially with kids with disabilities. I feel that education gets the short end of the stick with money and we need to start spending money where it is needed. Education is so important, and money should be spent to educate, so this country can grow. By spending a little more money on a child with disabilities, we can change their whole life. An example is buying a communication device for a student that can't speak. This gives them the opportunity to have a voice and do things they never were able to. I don't think we should take that opportunity away from a child just because we don't have the budget. Money in my opinion shouldn't be an option, as long as they are using it to benefit the students and use it wisely.
ReplyDeleteThere are always limits to everything; extremes at both ends. I believe you cannot have full inclusion and you also cannot have no inclusion at all. I also think that sometimes people forget about the people in the general education classes and students with very mild learning disabilities and the fact that students with disabilities can be a hindrance and a distraction in class; the teachers and helpers in the classroom with the students will also be a huge distraction to the learning environment. Also, I do not think that the children with disabilities cannot learn much of anything practical and useful as he is sitting in a general education classroom without any need or drive to learn. Inclusion means that the child be in the general education classroom to the maximum extent appropriate, but for who? The child with a disability or the children in the general education classroom? Children are not equal and needed to be treated as such. It is not a matter of whether the teacher is a “good” teacher or not, she cannot meet all the needs of all individuals. People who believe that idea should teach for a day.
ReplyDeleteThe first consideration needs to be the child's learning. The parents, teacher, and IEP team need to decide what the most important things for the child to learn are--academics, social skills, functional skills, etc., and then decide placement based on those goals. Placement itself is not the end, but a means to the end. Students should be placed wherever they can most effectively learn whatever is the most important thing for them to learn. When in doubt (when more than one placement could work), they should go with the most inclusive option.
ReplyDeleteI will state that I believe inclusion to be incredibly valuable to students with disabilities, their peers, families, and communities. Those without disabilities can learn to be less selfish, more loving, and more temperate from interacting with individuals with special needs. Everyone's social skills improve. Only when the IEP team can state why services can not be effectively given in the general ed classroom should a student be moved to a separate classroom. Special or general ed teachers should never put their own convenience or preference ahead of the students' best interests.
At times I feel that inclusionists are not realistic. It is easy to sit on the side and make decisions to how things should work or to how they should be run when you are not the one working directly with the students. In reality the main focus should be on the students. We shouldn’t have to worry about funding or ways we can save money, the focus needs to be on the students at all times.
ReplyDeleteAs we know students needs and disabilities vary from student to student. When teaching a classroom with a variety of students with disabilities and non-disabilities it creates a challenge for the teacher. I don’t think it matters whether or not you’re a good teacher. It is always a challenge. Furthermore, I strongly believe that it needs to be an IEPs team decision whether a student is placed in an inclusion of full inclusion setting. It depends on the student whether or not inclusion or full inclusion would be necessary, so I don’t think that we can say that we should always put students in inclusion or full inclusion settings. I also agree with Michelle. Maybe sometimes are focus is only on students with disabilities are not with the students who don’t have disabilities. I think that the focus should be on all types of students when placing students in inclusion settings.
Inclusionaists aren't taking in the entire picture. Yes, we want the students to be included in the General Education classroom as much as possible, BUT we want them to be in a place where they can succeed and learn. General Education classrooms are not always the best place to do this. The students with more severe disabilities will be left int he dust, and they are not learning well, or even the things they should learn. We don't want the students to feel as if they are constantly failing.
ReplyDeleteUnfortuantely, no matter how much we say if shouldn't be a factor, cost always is. I personally don't want to may more money for taxes, but schools should get as much moeny as they need to educate the people of the country. If that entails redistributing funds or better money management, that is for the schools to decide. Each student should go to the classroom where they can learn in the best way possible. That is the best way to help those students with disabilities.
I agree with the preceding comments that the focus should be on the students and what is in their best interest. Pull-out services are not best for everyone. Full inclusion is not best for everyone. I agree with Corinne that the placement should be based on what is most important for the student to learn. Is it academics, social skills or functional life skills?
ReplyDeleteIf the goal is to have all students, as much as possible, in a general education class, you still have to provide services. I am imagining a classroom of 30 students. Maybe 8 of them have special needs ranging from mild/moderate to severe. There is the General Ed. teacher and a Special Ed. teacher co-teaching and a para-educator in the class too. One of your students is deaf so there is an interpreter in the class room too. One of the students is severely handicapped that they are in a wheelchair, needs g-tube feedings and 504 services so there is an aide for that too. The Occupational therapist comes in the class to check on the handwriting skills of a few of the students while they are taking notes or during independent work time and works with them. Depending on how big the classroom is, that is one busy and crowded room full of distractions. I don't know how any learning is going to get done.
Sadly, education does come down to costs and money does play a factor. Does the school have the money to pay for more teachers to have co-teaching in all subjects? Does the school have the money to pay for AAC devices? Does the school have the money to pay for programs, field trips and supplies?
I just think there are too many factors to make a statement that one setting is appropriate for all students.
I think that inclusion is great if it is done in the right manner. When the special ed teacher, general ed. teacher, and other specialists work together to help meet the students needs, inclusion can be a smooth process. However, if they don't work together, inclusion can be a very difficult, and sometimes unreasonable choice. The general ed. teacher feels overwhelmed because she has not received the training that the special ed. teacher has.
ReplyDeleteI have also heard some negative things from parents with children with disabilities who are put into the general education classroom. Their children just sit there as the other students do projects that are "outside" of their intellectual ability. The curriculum is not adapted to meet their needs, and the child is not learning anything.
So, to conclude, as I said before, there are both positive and negative aspects of inclusion, but if teachers collaborate together, this can be a very beneficial process.
To me, inclusion seems like the ultimate goal. The reason there is special education is to help students reach their learning potential. Of course, there are some cases where the disability may be too severe to be effective in a general education classroom. For example, those with physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and adapted PE may not have time to be in a general education class. Those are just examples of services recieved but many students with severe disabilities do need services that pull them away from a general education classroom. They need to be taught on a level they understand, a level where they can learn and grow. So, although inclusion is wonderful, it is also just not realistic sometimes. It depends upon each student's needs and intellectual ability.
ReplyDeleteI think that the inclusionists are more focused on equality rather than what is best for each individual student in the long run. True, we eventually want special needs individuals being able to interact with their every day peers, but there’s a place and time for that and it needs to come when the student is most ready for it. Like I said, the inclusionists do not seem to be focused on individual students rather than the student population as a whole. The indlucsionists are uninformed, unrealistic, and a little biased in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do believe that inclusion could be a good thing. It does promote cooperation with daily peers that helps prepare special needs individuals for the real world. A lot of different factors need to be taken into account when it comes to inclusion. Sometimes the general education teacher might not be able to handle a special needs student in his/her classroom. Maybe the special need student learns better in smaller group settings. Things like this need to be taken into consideration. In a general education classroom, the curriculum is not adapted to meet the needs of a special needs student. I feel strongly that inclusion should be an option, but the student, parents, special education teacher, and other professionals need to sit down and weigh all the pros and cons of inclusion before a decision is made.
I actually did my research paper on mainstreaming last semester in my Advanced Writing class. You just can't make a blanket statement about who should be mainstreamed into general education classrooms, who should be involved in full-on inclusion, etc. It truly is on a case-to-case basis. However, I also strongly believe that students should be placed in the LRE possible- they need to be in the most general setting they can be. There are definitely benefits to a self-contained classroom- I know, i work in one. But I don't think it's good for students to spend 100% percent of their day in that setting. I have 2 students in my classroom right now who just transferred to PGHS this year. They both were previously attending Dan Peterson, which is a school for those with severe disabilities. I had the opportunity to work as a paraeducator over the summer in the exact classroom these 2 students were in. The change I have seen is truly amazing. Students model the behavior they see, and if students are spending the majority of their time with students who have several inappropriate behaviors, that's what they are going to pick up on. These 2 students are both pretty severe, and I would never have thought they would have done as well as they have at PGHS. They are seeing many more examples of appropriate behavior and they are slowly but surely becoming more independent and self-reliant. They want to be like everyone else, and at PGHS where the majority of students do not have disabilities, they have several models of appropriate behavior. I truly don't think this would have happened had they stayed at Dan Peterson. I am not discrediting Dan Peterson at all, but I am saying that we shouldn't put a cap on students' learning- raise your expectations- you'll be amazed what your students can do when you push them. Make them reach their potential. I really don't think this can happen when they are only in a self-contained classroom; however I also think it's important that they spend SOME time in the self-contained classroom so that they can learn functional and academic skills they just wouldn't be able to learn in the general education classroom. Of course, each student is so different and will require differing amounts of time in the self-contained classroom- like I said, we just can't make a blanket statement. I do recognize that cost plays a big factor, because there needs to be appropriate support in the general education classroom. But I think ultimately, each student is different and is going to have unique needs, but that whenever possible, they should have as much exposure as possible to the least restrictive environment possible.
ReplyDeleteTo include or not to include….that is the question, (or law suit). I was impressed with the first article by Ken Marlbourough and his objective informative view about inclusion in the classroom. He shared the purpose of the decision of IDEA and the law of LRE, then explained arguments on either side as to whether students with disabilities are receiving enough accommodations in participating with the main stream classes.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the issue with the “inclusionist’s and the “success for All seems to be an issue tht is blown out of proportion. We all at one point get so caught up in a cause for a special reason and for such things, we forget about logic. I believe there are certain circumstances with different children who may do well all day in a main stream class. However, I also have seen when some of our children with disabilities do very well if they can possibly find one or two certain classes in which they can learn and grow from.
I don’t believe forcing them into complete mainstream is the right answerer for all students. It is like forcing a square peg, into a round hole. Not having your student in the mainstream every day, sometimes it seems they may not succeed, but they will, with hard work at school and lots of love at home.
I believe that the inclusionist’s point of view was very biased. The student’s educational needs need to be the priority when deciding where to place a child. In some cases, inclusion may be the answer, while in other cases, it may not be. Also, I think it is important that the welfare of the other children in a general education classroom is considered as well. Having a child with disabilities in a general education classroom will affect the other students, and that needs to be taken into account. Ultimately, the welfare of all children should be considered, but I do not think inclusion is necessarily a negative thing that hinders learning. It simply depends on the situation of each student. I feel that the statement that “segregated programs are detrimental to students and do not meet the original goals for special education” is a very broad statement that cannot possibly be applied to every student. In general I disagree with this statement. As far as money is concerned, it is unfortunate that it must be considered, but that is reality. However, I do believe that most court and school systems will attempt to come up with the best solution for each student with the budget that is available.
ReplyDeleteI can see why this issue is very controversial! There are many sides to look at in a case like this, but the one that should matter the most is that of the child. We have a responsibility as teachers to place a student in the least restrictive environment where they will reach their maximum capacity and overall success. I do think that the inclusionists point is biased. I feel that in some cases the least restrictive environment is in a self-contained classroom. That is where the student will learn the best and succeed the most. Although feeling part of the school is very important, being in the general ed classroom is not the only way to achieve that goal. A student can attend many activities put on by the school (pep rallies, sporting events, etc.) to feel a part of the school community. Don't get me wrong I think that inclusion can be a positive thing that can help a student's behavior because of their interaction with their peers, but falling behind even more just to feel included in the school does not seem like the smartest idea to me. I can understand a parent's concern with their child being "titled" or "labeled" for not being in the general ed classroom and not wanting that, but to reach their optimum capacity that may be what is essential. We need to make sure we are doing what is best for the child! However each situation is different and needs to be looked at in that way. And of course cost/money always is a factor in anything.
ReplyDeleteEducation should be focused around whatever will be most beneficial to the student. This varies from student to student, which is why we call the curriculums we develop for the INDIVIDUALIZED education programs.
ReplyDeleteWith this in mind, inclusion is ideally what we would like to hope for with every child. We want all students to be able to function at a typical level and interact appropriately with their peers in the end--that is the purpose of special education. However, blindly putting every child in an inclusion program regardless of their abilities is neglecting the needs of individuals for the sake of the ideal. It would be like baptizing an entire city of people because that is what we hope everyone will do someday, even though half of them have never read the Book of Mormon. I think we should work to give every child what he or she needs as an individual first and, when we're unsure, err on the side of inclusion and less restriction.
I agree with Brittany and Ashley that inclusion is the goal for all students. I volunteer in a behavior unit and they're all doing their best to get back into the mainstream classroom--it's what keeps them motivated. However, the students' academic abilities need to be kept in consideration. Should a 9-year-old with a mental age of 18 months be in a curriculum-based (mainstream) fourth grade classroom? Certainly not: this student should be more concerned with learning to feed himself than with times tables, and would be better suited in a contained unit.
ReplyDeleteBut should this student be included in school activities, such as fundraisers and field days? Of course. Socially, students with disabilities should be included whenever possible--both for their benefit and for the benefit of their peers.
As special educators, individual students are our main focus. I think individual is the key word here. We are learning to adapt to the student’s learning needs. Our goal is to help a student reach his/her full potential (at least help them get in that direction). It is not to put a child in the general education classroom just because inclusion can be a good option. Let me clarify, good option for SOME students, but not all. Some students cannot succeed in the general education classroom even with the use of supplements and aides. If they are not learning and making progress, then why are they going to school? As everyone knows, cost is an issue in education. It should not be, but sadly it is and we can’t get around that. If a student is just sitting in a classroom doing nothing, we are wasting tax payers money, but say we use that money within a special education classroom and provide a student with a way to communicate. Wow! What a difference between failing/sitting around and doing nothing opposed to learning to communicate and function independently. That is where money should be spent. The least restrictive environment is not always the general education classroom. It depends on the child. Once again, the key word is individual.
ReplyDeleteI think that the placement of students needs to be based on each of their individual needs. Some individuals will do better in a general education classroom, and other students need to be in a self-contained classroom for the student to have the most success possible. I like the way that the Success for All was very beneficial in the fact that they tried to prevent reading problems rather than trying to help the students after they have already gotten behind. Parents should also be included in this decision making process. Some parents want their children in the general education classroom, and others do not. Either way IEP teams should work to place the students in the place that would be most beneficial for the student.
ReplyDeleteI believe that each child has unique needs and Inclusion as much as possible should be our goal. Also, under the law the students need to be least restrictive environment of an educational setting. If the general classrooms are not restricting to the student’s educational performance, then I believe that as much inclusion as possible is best. It depends on each case, on what the family feels is right for the child and how the child is able to perform in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI can remember in High School when I was a peer tutor and would be telling other classmates in my classes about how much fun it was or what I learned from the students. They said they never even saw them and didn’t know there were special education classes on campus! And talking to old friends from High School I would mention my major and why I went into it and heard the same thing: they said they never even knew we had had programs at our school. How unfortunate.
I think that there should be more us than “our” program, “their” program in schools. It’s such a great opportunity for kids in general education classrooms to be aware of other students with disabilities as well as those students to be able to model after the general classrooms. There are cases where self-inclusive classrooms are needed (the severe program) but there has to be a way to help include them in the population. PE? Art? Activities? We just need to look at them individually and see what’s best for their education.
I think when inclusion becomes such an extreme it's not helpful for the student. I think this because the child must interact with other children and other adults other than their parents, siblings, and teachers. We definitly need to see what is the best for the child, I agree with Katie on that. However, how can a child learn to generalize social skills if they never meet other people?
ReplyDeletei think that inclusion is different for every child. i feel that it depends on whether the general education class where the inclusion will take place is least restrictive for the child. I feel that if a student can participate and learn in certain classes within the general education then they should definetly have the chance to participate but if the envirement is not good for the student and if the student is not able to learn in those classes then that is not the least restrictive envirement and inclusion should not take place
ReplyDeleteI have always had mixed feelings about the inclusionist issue. While I have seen instances where inclusion has been nothing but positive for a child, I have also seen some inclusionary situations in which it was not beneficial for the student. I think that this issue is much like any other in special education, it needs to be individualized for every student. Special Ed. is all about making accommodations for each individual. Inclusion should be no different. For some students, inclusion is the best option. For others it could be a disaster. I think that parents, teachers and legislators should be wary of making blank statements regarding inclusion.
ReplyDeleteI think that inclusion is an individual issue as well, which is why parents, districts, and courts can't seem to agree on it. I think the ultimate goal is to help each child reach their learning potential, but I think special education classrooms are there just for that reason. Some children can progress towards that learning potential in the special education classroom and would fall away from it in a general education classroom. It's true that blanket statements shouldn't be made on this issue. I like what Naomi said about giving all needed services in a general education classroom... It is absolutely impossible! There are so many ways to socialize. I know that when I was in elementary school we were buddies with a special education class and would do things with them all the time.
ReplyDeleteInclusion, in my experience, can be successful and positive every time, if people truly cared about and contritbuted to the success of it. Segregated classrooms aren't necessarily detrimental to the education of students, though. They can actually be educating the students in a least restrictive way, as they aren't shoved in the back of the classroom and treated like their in a day care. In any case, students should be included in socializing with and feeling loved by all students. So it is definitely detrimental to just segregate them all day in a unit.
ReplyDeleteThe whole philosophy of the field of special education is that each student is individual: this also must mean then that their level of inclusion and type of inclusion is individual. So, both sides of the argument are correct in different ways. Inclusionists must consider that some students truly will not benefit from some kinds of inclusion, or any inclusion at all. But those that do not want inclusion at all should consider all of the well-documented success in including students with disabilities as they are able to see appropriate behaviors modeled and socialize with those around them.
No! Cost should not be an issue. Our tax dollars go to so much stuff that is useless and ridiculous. Let's put more of that money into helping those that really need the help. I don't want to pay for people to be killing each other anymore--I'd like to pay for people to be loved and treated in a way that they can truly fulfill their potential to be educated!.
I think that whether I agree with or not that cost could be an issue, the fact that staying in a budget will always be an issue. I dont think that people should expect some type of catalac experience all the time. It shouldnt be an issue but it will always be. I dont think that not having inclusion would be detrimental. I beleive that sometimes the least restrictive environment for some will be the most restrictive. I dont think that all are fit to be intergrated. I think we need to consider how they can participate the most but we need to make sure that where ever they go its the most beneficial. I think for some it is great and the least restrictive. We just need to review what is being done in the classroom now and how its affecting the kids.
ReplyDeleteObviously I am for inclusion just like everyone else. I think that it def is an ultimate goal that we as teachers and parents at least for the most part are working toward. Are there going to be hold ups and obsticles for sure, but inclusion is def the way to go. I the world today there are always going to be problems but as long as we continue to work towards what we want and believe it's not going to happen and evne then there will be some problems. When it comes to special education it seems that money is a big problem of whether or not teachers and the school board is willing to put forth time and effort is unfortunate that this is what are society is based of, money. Will this probably always or continue to be a big problem, yes. It's sad but it's reality. Inclusion is good thing to have and I'm completely for it and as teachers and parents we should continue to reach this goal and not give up.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of the comments, that inclusion like our students, are individual. I have a lot of faith in the inclusion process. I think it can be very important and rewarding for a student. It is important to interact with peers and to be included. Cost definitly should not be an issue but it is. This is an individual issue all around. There are many circumstances surrounding each student. Some may benefit from being included in a gen. classroom and some may not.
ReplyDeleteEveryone needs to feel like they are being included because we like in a perfected society where we can't leave anybody out, even animals and insects. On the other hand we try to leave out God, there's no possible way that God can be included in anything we do. I say we include the individual in what applies to their needs most. Should we apply this inclusion principle to our colleges and universities now? Shoule we open every door to every person, just because our society holds this perfectionistic mind set? Something's got to give.
ReplyDelete