Inclusion Classrooms, Pros and Cons for Students of special

Inclusion Classrooms, Pros and Cons for Students of Special Needs and Students Without

By: Morgan Rappaport

I have to narrow my research topic to a more specific thesis so I am considering looking into

Students perceptions of inclusion classrooms

Teaching benefits and consequences

Special education budget cuts and its effect on the progressive movement of inclusive classrooms

Public Schools vs. Secondary/Boarding/Charter/Private schools and their view on inclusion

How do inclusion classrooms affect other students without special needs

Question #3- Who is examining the issue?

Question #1 - Historical Background

• Mostly college professors specialized in education
• The government and society around us
• Schools examining the issues personally, coming up with a choice
• Families and students making choices and examining the right option.

• What is inclusion?
• Inclusive Education means that all students are full expected members of their school community, in which their educational setting is the same as their nondisabled peers, whenever appropriate.
• "For over 30 years, the philosophy and practice of inclusive schools has grown from minimal awareness to a recognized bedrock component of schools around the globe that demands dual standards of excellence and equity for all students". (Inclusion Schools Network).
• Still confusion about meaning of "inclusion" today, and this leads to the lack of understanding its importance for students, teachers, parents, and families.
• Important Basics:
• Inclusive education decisions must be based soley on the needs of the student
• Available space and administrative convenience are not relevant to decisions regarding a student's appropriate educational setting.
• Disabled students have an IEP and an academic plan laid out for them

Question #2- How is it connected to social justice? Who is affected? In what ways?

Source #2

Primary Source

• Inclusive classrooms can teach us important lessons that go far beyond individual students and special settings and help us create the inclusive, democratic society that we envision for our students and society
• "By embracing inclusion as a model of social justice, we can create a world fit for all of us" (Mara Sapon-Shevin)
• It not only effects families, students, teachers, and parents, but also the whole world because inclusion itself teaches an important lesson
• Everyone in classroom is effected both in positive ways and bad ways

• Salend, Spencer J., and Laurel M. Garrick Duhaney. "The Impact of Inclusion on Students with and Without Disabilities and Their Educators." Remedial and special education 20. (1999): 114-126. Web. 9 Oct. 2014.
• The study’s findings were that the impact of inclusion programs on the academic performance and social development with disabilities has been mixed, the placement of students without disabilities in inclusion programs does not appear to interfere with their academic performance and has several social benefits for these students, and also that teachers responses to inclusion programs are complex and change over time.

• Klingner, Janette K., and Sharon Vaughn. "Students' Perceptions of Instruction in Inclusion Classrooms: Implications for Students with Learning Disabilities." Exceptional Children 66.1 (1999): 23-37. Web. 9 Oct. 2014.
• Actually a synthesis of 20 studies that investigates the perceptions of a total of 4659 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The findings revealed that students with learning disabilities actually want the same criteria, work, books, and homework to be the same as the rest of their classmates. It also revealed that at the same time, the students’ peers also felt the same way. But, it also shows how everyone is aware and recognizes that not all students are alike or learn in the same way. Both students with and without disabilities feel that teaching should be slowed down and teachers should come up with new teaching strategies. They feel that this is the success to everyone learning.

Question #4 - What angle do I plan on addressing the topic? How is it being addressed? Organizations?

Multimedia Source #1

Question #5 - How do I see my project impacting this issue? Maximum impact?

Multimedia Source #2

• This Youtube video is about one child’s choice and progress in a normal classroom. It starts off by talking about the parents’ choice to put their child with down syndrome into a general education classroom. It shows his day to day activities and how he is included as well as getting special help and accommodations. This video helps me with my research because it gives me an inside look at one student’s experience with an inclusive classroom.

• I plan on addressing my topic from an unbiased point of view since I am a special education major and have my own personal feelings of the subject.
• I plan on addressing this topic because I want to know if inclusion is the right or wrong choice for students with special needs.
• Organizations all over the world are addressing the issue of inclusive classrooms
• Anna Foundation
• Inclusive Schools Network

• This video from Youtube explains what inclusion is. The maker of the video believes that inclusion is belonging. He goes into great detail about what he believes inclusion is

• My topic will bring awareness to the issue and debate over inclusive classrooms
• It will bring up all points, good and bad, to come to a final conclusion
• Educate and bring awareness to my classmates on inclusion and overall how it effects many peoples lives and future.
• Not a very talked about social justice issue, but actually is important for the next generations and education