inclusion

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Home : 2002 : October : 16

inclusion
By pat

First of all let me state up front I am not a supporter of inclusion. I feel we are doing a diservice to the special needs child and the reg. classroom by requiring these students to be taught in the same setting. I probably
could go one for hours but will try to stick to the survey.
1. Self contained second grade. I've been in this position for eight years. Four years in a strictly special ed environment and 7 years at various grade levels in regular classrooms
2. My undergrad degree is in elem. and special education. My master's program was in elementary education. This particular program focused

on many of the school reforms that are presently taking place in education with a heavy emphasis on inclusion. The district I am currently working for has provided a number of profesional development classes on inclusion/how to handle at-risk students/adapting in the classroom etc....
I feel I have the qualifications AND experience to handle just about any situation.
3. My definition of mainstreaming/inclusion (successfully) does not always agreee with what is is often common practice. You can not blanketly say what will work for one child will work for another. Frequently, what I see is the special needs child is given minimum support for success. (Many administrators version of least restrictive environment)Early intervention is most critical. These students should be given as much support as possible, as soon as possible to be succssful then slowly mainstreamed into the regular classroom environment. e.g. homeroom, specials, social studies, science, things that can be easily adapted. What I've experienced is the reverse, the least amount of support until the student is so far behind and so frustrated that you have now compounded social and behavioral problems on top of academics.
4. Yes. Educationallly I know what the child needs but a regular classroom with 23 other students generally does not allow for customized educational plan. Administrators, consultants and "experts" that have not seen the inside of a class room for years, providing you with all kinds of idealistic, text-book theory advice.
5. If done right, you will have a child that is
confident and happy, learning at his/her own pace, that is socially accepted in spite of any perceived differences.
6. Problems...compromise the needs of the special needs child with the needs of the rest of the classroom. In a regular classroom you can not provide the individual 1 to 1 attention frequently needed with out neglecting the class. Many students need environment that are at extremes i.e very stimulating vs. minimal stimulation.
I deal with these situations on any individual basis, depending on the needs ofd all children I am responsible for.
7. Build a good repoire with the parents, and the Special ed. teacher in your building. AND DOCUMENT EVERYTHING YOU DO. COVER YOUR ....