There are many types of exceptionality and each comes with its own challenges and stereotypes. Students placed in special education programs around the country are labeled with learning inabilities that will follow them throughout their educational career. Students can also be placed in GT programs and receive special instruction to suit their specific learning styles. Of the two programs previously mentioned, which do you think carries a negative connotation?
This label of special education remains in the student's record and affects their education path. Inclusion is one way to provide the special education that students might need, while also giving them the general education environment that can be so beneficial. Inclusion teachers are provided to support the student and the general education teacher during their time in that classroom. This extra support maintains consistency for all students and a high level of productivity.
Students with Asperger's syndrome or mild mental retardation can still function well in a general education, but it takes more work and patients on the part of the teacher. This is the factor that is unappealing to many educators and the reason many shy away from taking on the special needs students. All students need to be in the environment that is least restrictive, but it is the extra work this brings that causes these students to be placed in restrictive environments where their learning needs are not being met. I agree that it can be a struggle to teach students with such a broad spectrum of learning needs, but that is the job, to educate and not discriminate.
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