SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

Second Language Acquisition

Second Language Acquisition

The solution(s) chosen

Inclusion has become more popular in our schools today, however there are a lot of controversial issues surrounding this particular form of education. Classrooms are evolving more and more as technology and the world expands, (Meunier 2008) but at what costs and who is it really effecting? Children with special needs are often misunderstood and mistreated in the sense that they are constantly labeled and treated like outcast's or like they do not belong. One thing that causes a stir in the topic of education is inclusion. There are a lot of arguments involving inclusion and whether or not it is having a good impact on all involved or not. This article will further explain the definition of inclusion and explain the positive and negative effects. This article will also explain labeling and the problems that arise with it. (Perla 1986)

The reasons to select it

Inclusion is the placement of a student, regardless of the level of his or her disability, into an age appropriated general education classroom. Another popular definition of inclusion is described as bringing children who are disabled out of their special education classes and placing them into regular education classes and in the process reducing referrals and labels and strengthing the regular school programs. Inclusion is split into two types: Full inclusion - where all the child's needs are met within one classroom. Partial inclusion - where the child is in regular class for a period, and then placed in a special class for the remainder of the time. (Meunier 2008)

The theoretical basis that support it

The goals of inclusion include socialization skills, stimulating experiences, enhanced self esteem, and the opportunity to be normal, along with regular education goals. Inclusion has become a well discussed topic, many argue on whether it has good or bad effects and ways to improve. The American Federation of Teachers in West Virginia conducted a poll on how teachers felt about inclusion and whether or not anyone benefited from it. They found that 78% believed students would not benefit from inclusion, and 87% felt that regular education students would not benefit either. (Perla 1986)The ATF also cited, “When inclusion efforts fail, it is frequently due to a lack of appropriate training for teachers in mainstream classrooms, ignorance about inclusion among senior-level administrators, and a general lack of funding for resources and training.” (Thompkins ...