When I was in elementary school we all knew that the students taken out of the class each day were special education students. We knew that the students were going to receive extra help from the special teachers. We knew that those students were falling behind in class and did not do the “normal” work that we did. This was the assumption among the majority of the class.
The children taken from my class were not necessarily physically or mentally handicapped. Some did not even have a learning disability. Some of the children simply struggled academically. However, all children “labeled” as special education were removed from the class regardless of severity.
Today special education programs are ran differently. Fewer and fewer students are being taken out of the regular classroom setting to receive extra help. More schools are putting special education teachers into the regular classroom rather than taking the students out. In fact, many children can benefit from having an extra teacher in the room, not just the special education students. While special education students receive the help that they need, special education teachers can also help other students.
The movement of inclusion in general education classrooms has swept across many of America’s public schools. With some schools, the move has come too quickly. Simply placing a special education teacher in the classroom does not call for effect inclusion.
Before a school begins an inclusion program, the teachers should be trained and well informed on how to work together to provide the best education for the students. I have seen many cases where the extra teacher was simply “extra”, an observer. This is not the intention of inclusion.
Inclusion teachers and special education teachers should be allowed a common plan period where discussion can take place. Together, they need to evaluate the children and plan their next step. However due to scheduling this plan period rarely occurs.
I believe that the introduction of inclusion into education is positive. However, like most new movements, it should be well planned and thought out before put into action.
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