In my
opinion, I feel that students with exceptional learning needs are consistently
prejudged before they get the opportunity to integrate into the general
classroom. I think this is a problem among children as well as teachers. When a
student has been in the district for many years, students, as well as teachers,
collaborate among themselves and that child develops a sort of reputation. If
such a reputation is perceived as negative, other children do not want to
befriend this child based on a judgment made by other kids. Teachers are guilty
of this as well. They hear that a student might be challenging in some way, and
they judge the child before they even step foot in their classroom. I think as
educators it is our job to avoid negative conversation about a child and their
needs and give every student a fair shot, just like we are asking their peers
to do.
I think
that solving this issue of social acceptance and integration of children with
disabilities needs to begin with the educators themselves. They need to create
a comfortable environment for the child and foster relationships between them
and other children, like they would with a traditional student. Although most
schools promote as much inclusion as possible, I do think there are ways we can
be more effective.
Inclusion, as defined in the textbook, refers to
the education of students with disabilities with their nondisabled peers (Education
for All 71). Although children are being educated in the classroom with their
nondisabled peers, it does not necessarily mean they are being included. As
their educator, it is our job to make sure we promote their acceptance and
integration. We need to change the cultural view of disabilities so that there
is no longer a stigma associated with disabled students (Education for all 72).
The teacher controls the environment in the classroom and dictates what
behaviors are acceptable and unacceptable. If they do not encourage inclusion,
or if they allow students to leave those with disabilities out, it is an
injustice to the children in their room. The teacher needs to give the students
opportunities to work with one another. Often, in my inclusion classes, I pair
the students up to ensure that students with disabilities are given the
opportunity to collaborate with students who don’t have disabilities. This
helps the students create bonds and increases the likeliness that the students
will form friendships.
Although you cannot control the
friendships that are made, and you cannot force kids to be friends, you can control what you promote and what you do
and do not tolerate in your classroom.
Believe it or not, not all schools are doing inclusion yet! I completely agree with you that successfully implementing inclusion is up to the educators. I believe creating a school culture of acceptance is very important into successfully integrating students with disabilities. Teachers and administrators need more education and experience with inclusion. Once schools can successfully do this it will eventually flow into the the community.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that the teacher sets the tone of the classroom. From the beginning a teacher can support the differences we all have as learners. Embrace the fact that we all learn differently. We all have "issues." Some may be visible to their peers, while some are not.
ReplyDeleteI also get upset when teachers of the grade before pass on knowledge of the students. This prejudgment is disturbing to me. When teachers start talking negatively, I try to interrupt and ask what can I do to help the student. I try to switch the tone and direction of the conversation. Each year is a new start. Your year together can be one that truly matters to the them!
I absolutely agree as educators we must not go into a classroom with pre-conceived notions. These children have their own personalities and will act and react to teachers differently. We must go into our classrooms with open minds and give each an every student the chance to impress us. Each one of us have strengths and weaknesses and have the right to display those. I have a lot of respect that you communicate your dismay to these practices.
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