Inclusion classrooms, what is your opinion?

Question

I'd like to know everyone's opinion on inclusion in a regular classroom. Are you for or against an inclusive classroom, and why? What would be the pros and cons to inclusion?

Thank you all in advance.

Answer 1

OH this is "right up my alley"

I work in special education, inclusion classrooms.

The only down side I have seen in 5 years is with the students who have problems where they NEED to get away from the over stimulization in the regular education classroom.

Otherwise, not many even realize it is a sped classroom. Everyone is treated equally. The students with IEP's have special needs and resources available. But no one notices, when everyone is free to ask for extra help.

Also, with two "teachers" in the classroom, it helps maintain order when necessary.

This allows for more small group work, and one on one time with the students....a benefit for any student/child.

Back to the ones who do need time out of the structured setting. A little more accommodations is needed in the NCLB Act. There are students who are able to learn the work, but do need more time than the rigid school year to do it.

There are also students who in years gone by would have been in a separated self contained classroom with just a few students. These students DO BENEFIT from the inclusion rooms, but also need the down time that being brought out of the regular ed classroom and into a separate room for a little while each day.

This individual "pull out time" is being taken away from students.

Just as challenge students need a different agenda than strictly classroom time, inclusion students can benefit from an hour a day or so just to get out and have things "fed" to them on their levels and needs.

forgive typos.... spell check not working and I want to get this posted for you.

Answer 2

I think this question has gotten out of hand... I've seen it and heard it asked a million times. The nature of special education allows you to place the child on an individual basis. You have many choices for appropriate placement, but each decision is individualized. There is a range of placement that falls between inclusion and self-contained.

No one has to choose one or the other. You can have a student be in a regular class for some classes and in another for others if it is appropriate... It is not all or nothing. Place kids appropriately is really the best route. Know your options and strentghs and weaknesses of your kids, and place them accordingly.

So, my opinion on inclusion is... I am for it if it is appropriate for the child and meets the needs of the child. I am against it if it doesn't. I know the child has a right to Least Restricted Environment...

As a school, though, we need to be mindful of the regular education students in that classroom. It should not take away from their time. Make sure both populations are having their academic needs met.

So, my question to you is... Why do people still ask this question. To me, the answer is clear... Put the kid in the most appropriate, least-restricted environment needed to meet his needs. Provide the modifications (e.g., aide) in order to assist and not distract other students.

Answer 3

My opinion is the sentence for her classmates.

Answer 4

I have worked with autistic children in both inclusion classrooms and autism specific classrooms.  The child in the autism specific class loved school and felt totally accepted by all his peers and teachers.  He did very well accademically because he felt no pressure to fit in and he progressed well through school.

The boy who was in mainstream inclusion class hated school and was constantly bullied.  He found it hard to fit in and therefore his marks and grades fell.  He also felt "misunderstood" by his teachers.

However!  The child in autism specific class could not even get on a bus himself as he had very little experience of non autistic social settings.  the child in mainstream could go on the bus do his mum's weekly shop and chat happily to anyone he met on the way.

Answer 5

I work in a self contained 12-1-1 special ed classroom.  I think that inclusion can be  avery good thing depending on the child and the setting.  For example I ahve a boy in my class whose level is so far above everyone elses.  I am working twords maintstreaming him but i am looking to try to get him into an inclusion class.  There he can get the support he needs but also the work will be closer to his level and be a little more chalanging for him.