Interview: Reading specialist at a local elementary school
Question: What was your general view of inclusion? Do you feel inclusion benefits all children?
Response:
I believe inclusion for the most part is a good thing. All children should be given the opportunity to learn with each other. Physical disabilities should not be an excuse for a student to not be included in the general education setting. Certain cognitive disabilities, when severe enough, may affect including that child if it is not their least restrictive environment.
Interview Three (Parent of a Typical Student)
Interview: Parent of a typical ten year old child.
Question(s): Has your child ever been in a fully inclusive classroom? What is your personal opinion of inclusion in the school environment? Do you feel inclusion benefits all students?
Parent’s Response: My child has never been in a classroom where full inclusion has taken place. She currently is in a fifth grade classroom that is made up of 18 typical students and two students who are English language learners. A few of those 20 students in the class get pulled out for learning support services during certain parts of the school day. In the school building there are separate classrooms for those students with severe or multiple disabilities and those students who have a severe emotional or behavioral disorder. In my opinion, inclusion is not always the best choice for every special needs student. Inclusion should be considered on a case-by-case basis. Some students in my opinion would not best be served in a general education classroom for a whole school day. I also believe that there are not enough supports and staff available in most general education classrooms to support the needs of those students with severe or multiple disabilities. I believe that inclusion would not benefit all students in my daughter’s classroom, because there is only one adult currently in the classroom, which is the general classroom teacher. Inclusion may work in some school environments and for some students, but in my opinion is does not benefit all students.
Question(s): Has your child ever been in a fully inclusive classroom? What is your personal opinion of inclusion in the school environment? Do you feel inclusion benefits all students?
Parent’s Response: My child has never been in a classroom where full inclusion has taken place. She currently is in a fifth grade classroom that is made up of 18 typical students and two students who are English language learners. A few of those 20 students in the class get pulled out for learning support services during certain parts of the school day. In the school building there are separate classrooms for those students with severe or multiple disabilities and those students who have a severe emotional or behavioral disorder. In my opinion, inclusion is not always the best choice for every special needs student. Inclusion should be considered on a case-by-case basis. Some students in my opinion would not best be served in a general education classroom for a whole school day. I also believe that there are not enough supports and staff available in most general education classrooms to support the needs of those students with severe or multiple disabilities. I believe that inclusion would not benefit all students in my daughter’s classroom, because there is only one adult currently in the classroom, which is the general classroom teacher. Inclusion may work in some school environments and for some students, but in my opinion is does not benefit all students.
Interview Four (Learning Support English Teacher and General Education English Co-teacher)
Interview: High school learning support English teacher and general education English co-teacher
Question: What are your feelings on inclusion?
Response: I love the idea of inclusion, when it is the least restrictive environment. I teach the same students for both learning support and general education, and I find that they definitely benefit from being pulled out, but also benefit from being included. I think this type of set up is great, because I can focus on what they need help on and provide the individualized attention during learning support English, and then they receive the whole group instruction during general education English. During learning support English I only have five students, so providing them with the attention they need is a lot easier. I know they would not receive the same amount of support if they were only taking general education English. I have seen such improvements with my students during their time spend in learning support. I also see such great peer interaction in both classroom settings. I feel like there is such a push for inclusion, and the system that our school has is a great way to include students while providing support.
Question: What are your feelings on inclusion?
Response: I love the idea of inclusion, when it is the least restrictive environment. I teach the same students for both learning support and general education, and I find that they definitely benefit from being pulled out, but also benefit from being included. I think this type of set up is great, because I can focus on what they need help on and provide the individualized attention during learning support English, and then they receive the whole group instruction during general education English. During learning support English I only have five students, so providing them with the attention they need is a lot easier. I know they would not receive the same amount of support if they were only taking general education English. I have seen such improvements with my students during their time spend in learning support. I also see such great peer interaction in both classroom settings. I feel like there is such a push for inclusion, and the system that our school has is a great way to include students while providing support.
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