Is mainstreaming working for children with special needs?

Question

I think mainstreaming is HORRIBLE. Inclusion should be the preferred practice. Colleges aren't mainstream schools. They are either inclusive schools or special schools. Why can't elementary and high schools be more like college?

Answer 1

I disagree. I think as long as it isn't distracting to the other children in the classroom, then mainstream. It teaches lessons to both the "normal" children and the special needs child. Mainstreaming is great because the special needs child sees what he/she should be doing instead of sitting in a room with 10 other special needs children.

Would you want to sit in a room 8 hours a day with people that have the same personality, hair color, likes/dislikes as you? I'd rather be mixed in with people my own age dispite what simliarities we might share.

Answer 2

I don't know much about the actual topic, but I do have quite a few experiences through people around me.  I know that special needs (not physical handicaps here) do better in special environments with people of thier SAME level of needs.  Mixing these students in with the general population in schools is detremental.  The standards of learning for the main population would have to be lowered (which is aweful) or thier standards raised significantly (which is not helpful)  There are many of these children that can function very well after school is over and may go on to some type of higher learning.  The important thing is to nurture these children and teach them in a way that they comprehend.  My younger brother was a less extreme example of a special needs child, they kept forcing him through grades because the teachers did not want to take the time with him.  I remember that he was in eighth grade before he could read complete sentences when it was very realistic for him to have done it earlier.  I know that some of the issues lie at home with the parents, but some parents don't know what to do or how to teach a child that doesn't relate the world the way an average child would.  These parents look for guidance from the professionals, such as teachers.  There are many other cases around me with friends and family.  Everyone has a place and a way to contribute and sticking these children in school and ignoring them isn't the way to teach them they are valuable and they can play important roles also later in life.  I know when my brother was in a special needs school he did better until he came of the limits of the rescources of that school, the people left there had more needs than he.  Aren't we all placed according to ability throughout life including school???

Answer 3

I think that in theory inclusion sounds good.  Everyone working together.  In reality, it does not work.  No one benefits. Children with special needs aren't getting the time and resources they need.  Gifted children are losing out big time too.

Answer 4

i believe mainstreaming has a two fold purpose:  to avoid isolation of special needs students from the rest of the population as well as to educate children in the reality of life and the diversity of people.

there are bad apples in the barrel. there will be kids who ridicule or stare at special needs children. but thats life and when you appear in public with a special needs child its the same reaction from those who are not sensitive to the fact that beneath the surface of the disability, that person has feelings and emotions that can be impacted by their response or rejection.

life can be painful, but life happens. we can only be there as a support and advocate for those we love-especially special needs children. because in the long run...its how you're treated at home that really counts the most.

Answer 5

why do you ask the questions on the same topic over and over  this person I wouldnt say is a troll because i dont think her intent is to be anoying  and overload the forum but never the less that is what is happening

Answer 6

I agree, Inclusion is being included, not mainstreamed in in dribs and drabs. Everyonetogether.org or www.iput.org has a lot of great Inclusion universal education links, all means all, and it means planning, and cooperation but t can happen!

Answer 7

We live in a country (New Zealand) that wholly believes in mainstreaming to the point that there are not schools available for special needs kids. Does it work? For us no! My son has Aspergers Syndrome, he also has Anxiety. Teachers are not taught to work with disabilities. the aim is to have the whole class work as one, in the case of a child on the Autistic spectrum that is not going to happen.

What ends up happening is your child is very much at the mercy of the teacher, if the teacher is prepared to put in the extra effort to teach your child then great. If not then you can land up with one almighty mess and huge amounts of emotional damage inflicted on your child.

Answer 8

Once upon a time children with additional needs would be incuded if the specialist teacher felt that it was appropriate for that child. I believe that at present  these children are being placed in mainsteam when it is far from appropriate.  I speak up mainly for children on the autistic spectrum  who do not have a voice of their own. I know of many children who are sat for hours listening to verbal instructions, none of which they understand. I know of many children who are sat in corridors all day with a support assistant. There are many teachers and support assistants who have no experience or training in this field. I know that both of these qualities are vital if inclusion is to be succesful. Instead I feel that many children  are being set up to fail. Who cares though as long as the child is not sceaming and shouting in protest. I am in favour of inclusion and have seen many children progress educationally and socially in this environment. The government in the UK are at present saving money by closing down special schools but I feel strongly that we are letting down a generation of children. Children go to school to learn, some children cannot learn in this environment and they find the whole experience very stresful.  The comment about being in a room with eight children who are all the same tells me that this person has never been in one of these rooms and if they have, they certainly did not stay there very long.  All these children are individuals and they can build wonderful relationships with each other. They also have a natural empathy for each other which would put their mainstream peers to shame. These children deserve the best and I believe at present for many this is not happening. This is inclusion the second time around and nobody appears to have learnt from the previous mistakes. No extra money, no extra training of any worth. Is it really any wonder that many mainstream teachers still have such negative attitudes towards inclusion. Even with all the training in the world and a huge pot of money 'attitudes' is still the biggest barrier to inclusion.