Free Essays on Mainstreaming

Mainstreaming is the process of placing disabled children into a non-disabled environment, such as a classroom. This has become a very controversial subject because there are so many sides. Parents are pushing for there children to be placed into a normal classroom and teachers are pushing them away. To be successful in life everyone must learn to get along with a varied of different people. Going to school is a good way to learn this. This allows everyone to work and get to know many different types of people. Mainstreaming can be one way that students can learn about different people and interact with them. Inclusion and mainstreaming are around the same thing but can be confused with each other. The biggest difference between the two is that mainstreaming means that the students only receives a portion of his or her education in a normal education setting while spending the rest of the time in a special ed classroom. Some positive effects mainstreaming have non-disabled children are they tend to be more sensitive towards the disabled. They also have more self-esteem after being in a classroom with a disabled child. When a disabled child is placed into a regular classroom the teacher works more with group work so that the kids are all interacting together. Studies have shown that on standardized tests, disabled children in regular classrooms perform as well as those in special education classes and their classroom behavior is improved (Carrington 1). Studies have also shown that parents have benefited as well. Teachers concerns play a huge part in deciding weather a parent wants to have their child in a regular classroom. If the teacher isn’t optimistic about the outcome of the student then why should a parent place their child with him or her? Many teachers are worried that they don’t have the technology or the knowledge for the disabled children being placed in there classrooms. Every Special Ed teacher wants to se... Free Essays on Mainstreaming Free Essays on Mainstreaming It is crucial to recognize that the need for higher education is implied for all students, including those with special needs. â€Å" The term mainstreaming was first used in the 1970’s and describes classrooms where students with disabilities and students who do not have disabilities are together (Mainstreaming in Classrooms, 2002. p. 1)†. Within special education the question of mainstreaming often arises as a solution for superior learning. Mainstream and inclusion programs have proven beneficial to all students, teachers and communities as a whole. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was reformed in 1997 and calls for free and suitable education for special needs students. The IDEA emphasizes a least restrictive environment, in which children with special needs are educated to the highest of their ability. For many special needs children the highest level of appropriate education lies within mainstreaming. Participation in mainstream programs depends heavily upon the academic ability and social skills of each individual child. The Individual Education Plan is used to monitor the ability, progress and future goals of each student. â€Å" Not only must the IEP contain a statement of how the child’s disability will affect participation in the general curriculum, but it must explain why any student will not be participating in the general classroom...â€Å" (Moore, Gilbreath, Maiuri, 1998, P.3). There are many levels of special education, including mainstreaming. Exceptional children may be placed in a special education school or they may be given the opportunity to excel through mainstreaming or inclusion programs. If these types of programs are deemed most appropriate, a student may face two options. Students may be placed into a mainstream program where the student attends a regular school with non-disabled peers. These programs focus on life skill and functional learning that takes place in a special education setting... Free Essays on Mainstreaming Mainstreaming is the process of placing disabled children into a non-disabled environment, such as a classroom. This has become a very controversial subject because there are so many sides. Parents are pushing for there children to be placed into a normal classroom and teachers are pushing them away. To be successful in life everyone must learn to get along with a varied of different people. Going to school is a good way to learn this. This allows everyone to work and get to know many different types of people. Mainstreaming can be one way that students can learn about different people and interact with them. Inclusion and mainstreaming are around the same thing but can be confused with each other. The biggest difference between the two is that mainstreaming means that the students only receives a portion of his or her education in a normal education setting while spending the rest of the time in a special ed classroom. Some positive effects mainstreaming have non-disabled children are they tend to be more sensitive towards the disabled. They also have more self-esteem after being in a classroom with a disabled child. When a disabled child is placed into a regular classroom the teacher works more with group work so that the kids are all interacting together. Studies have shown that on standardized tests, disabled children in regular classrooms perform as well as those in special education classes and their classroom behavior is improved (Carrington 1). Studies have also shown that parents have benefited as well. Teachers concerns play a huge part in deciding weather a parent wants to have their child in a regular classroom. If the teacher isn’t optimistic about the outcome of the student then why should a parent place their child with him or her? Many teachers are worried that they don’t have the technology or the knowledge for the disabled children being placed in there classrooms. Every Special Ed teacher wants to se...