How come educators refer inclusion and mainstreaming the same thing when it is different?

Question

Mainstreaming is the practice of educating students with special needs in regular classes during specific time periods based on their skills.

Here is the link: http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/Mainstreaming.html

Inclusion is the practice of educating students with special needs in regular classes for all or nearly all of the day instead of in special education classes.

Here is the link: http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861620664/inclusion.html

Answer 1

For most people, semantics isn't as important as it is for Webster and you. ;-)

It doesn't matter what it is called because the IEP should have laid out in steps what exactly the school is doing as far as least restrictive environment. Each child should be included to the extent that they can, whether it's for a full day (which would have driven my severely autistic child insane) or if it is for specific time periods. It should be need-driven, not ideal based.

Answer 2

So what has happened to you recently which makes you want to bring this up everyday? Ya might as well tell us!

Answer 3

They are used interchangably because to a person teaching a regular ed classroom, the effect is the same. The child is in the regular ed classroom with the teacher. Generally, once a child is mainstreamed, it feels like inclusion.

Answer 4

neither should be done....!!!!!!

have a special school for each....

having special need children in classes with "normal" kids is just taking away an education for the normal kids.

Answer 5

It is used interchangeably because of misinformation.  It is certainly not the same thing.  Mainstreaming basically means that the child with special needs is "just visiting" the general ed class.  Inclusion means they are there for the greatest extent of the day possible and they are a full-fledged member of the classroom community.

Answer 6

In my school the difference is with inclusion their is a special education teacher in the classroom.  I had a student who was mainstreamed for math only and he had no help from an inclusion teacher.