Megan Matthews
Mr. Block
Draft 1
February 11, 2008
Inclusion is a Must
Throughout history, students with disabilities have not always been included into the public education system. Along with the public education system, students have not been included into the classroom. Today, laws mandate that every student be integrated into the general education classroom with the least restrictive environment as much as possible. Including students with disabilities in the general education classroom enables all students better learning opportunities. Certain teachers may find that the least restrictive environment for a student with disabilities cannot be found in the general education classroom.
In 1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed; it gave students with disabilities the opportunity to participate in the public school system. Throughout the years and after many revisions, the EAHCA is now named the Individuals with Disabilities Act 2004. IDEA 2004 guarantees that every student with a disability is given a free and equal education. IDEA 2004 mandates that general and special education teachers include students with special needs into the general education classroom as much as possible.
Students with disabilities learn best when they are in their least restrictive environment which can be defined as the place that does not limit their ability to receive the best education possible. In the field of education, it is essential that all students receive accommodations and modifications to make the best learning opportunities possible. Integrating students as much as possible into the general education classroom as much as possible is one of the best ways for students with disabilities to learn. It is one of the most important aspects of a child’s education.
Some educators may find that including students in the general education classroom is not teaching them in their least restrictive environment. Students with special needs may need to be placed in a special education classroom to fulfill achievement and success in education. Also, some teachers may find that even the special education classroom is not the least restrictive environment and may push to have those students placed in settings outside of the public school setting. Each student learns differently and it is important to learn from each student to enable his or her learning and what is being taught. Certain educators find the definition of success can vary between educators and it is important to define success. For example, one teacher may feel a student is achieving success in the general education classroom, but according to another teacher’s standard, that same student is failing in the general education setting.
It is important to evaluate every students needs. Students often learn from each other and whether a student portrays a disability or not, it is essential that each student receive the same education. A student that does not have a disability can learn from a student who does, and vice versa. It is important that every student is held accountable for his or her education which means providing certain accommodations and modifications for students with disabilities. With accommodations and modifications, student success can be achieved in the general education classroom.
1 comment:
Megan,
You have a good start here. Much of the feels to be quite close to the previous essay. What I would like to see happen here is that the issue of inclusion being moved a bit to the background, we understand the issue of inclusion, and the argument about why students must be included brought more to the fore. i.e. four of five points detailing why students need to be included coupled with four of five points that the opposition provides as reasons to segregate these students. If you want to meet to go over ways that this can be done, stop by my office.
P
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