Blog Post #3/ Inclusion Tim Calhoun

The debate between whether or not inclusion should take place is a battle that has been going on for many years.  As stated, it is an emotionally charged battle that can result in anger, or happiness. Many different factors contribute to why inclusion is a good program choice as well as a bad one.

When looking at the pros and cons of inclusion many of them stem from lack of knowledge as to whether or not inclusion as a practice is successful.   When looking at why inclusion shouldn't be apart of the educational system, there are several concerns according to Jimenez and Graf (2008), "about academic achievement, peer acceptance, students' self-concept, and the preparation of general education teachers to accommodate students with disabilities...". When including students with disabilities into mainstream classrooms many of the general education teachers are afraid that they are not properly trained to teach students with disabilities. The teachers then have problems reaching students with disabilities while trying to teach the normal curriculum, and often have to stop and focus their attention on the students with disabilities.  This is one of the major problems with inclusion because teachers feel like they are not able to teach how they want to and it causes other children to suffer.  Another argument that stems from inclusion, is not only from the classroom perspective but also a parent perspective, is that the students with disabilities will not be truly included into the classroom on a social level.  Parents fear that their child will be made fun of or bullied if they are integrated into a mainstream classroom, so they prefer to shelter their children and keep them in classrooms where there are with other disabled students.  Another con to inclusion is "self-concept"of children with disability.  The fear is that students with disabilities will feel as if they don't belong in the classroom with the other students because their work does not match the standards of their classmates.  So often times this leads to withdraw, and lack of participation from the student with disabilities.  Another major factor that contributes to the doubts of inclusion is that it is much more expensive for schools to have segregated classrooms. So often times students with disabilities are just thrown into general education classrooms to save money, and their specific needs are not met.
On the flip side of the argument pros to inclusion are beneficial to students with disabilities. According to Stainback, Stainback, and Bunch, and others (National Association of State Boards of Education), "suggest that this dual system does not adequately prepare students with disabilities for the real world because the real world is not divided into regular and special".  This argument is very true and supports that full inclusion for disabled persons into a mainstream education is a positive because in the "real world" there is no segregation.  Also it improves social interaction between disabled and non disabled students. According to Jimenez and Graf (2008), "if you integrate the schools, you integrate society,and thats how a generation grows up making change."  This is an vital to the growth of society moving forward and being more accepting of people that are different than themselves.  Much like the youtube videos "Including Samuel, and Story of Morgan Warren, the students that were in the classroom with these students were able to learn that Samuel and Morgan were not any different than them and made friends.  This shows that inclusion helps non disabled students to look past their disabilities and see whats on the inside.
My perspective on inclusion in the classroom as well as extracurricular activities is that it is beneficial for all parties involved.  As I've stated before coaching several students with disabilities, it has showed me that these kids benefit greatly from being apart of the team.  I think that the best part of inclusion is allowing non disabled students to be apart of enhancing the disabled students experience, and accepting them as one of their own.  Also it teaches the non disabled students to be accepting and learn about different disabilities.  That is the foundation of the next generation and if everyone is accepting of each other the world will be a better place.  Although it is not is to fully included students, it will take great effort from parents, teachers, coaches, and administrators I think, disabled students should be given the access to the same things all other students are.