Inclusive Classrooms

Inclusive classrooms are a huge debate in the educational system of today.  An inclusive classroom means that students with disabilities or special educational needs are allowed to be in a classroom with students who do not have these disabilities or special needs.  The goal of inclusion is to allow students with disabilities to attend "regular" public and private schools.  However inclusion brings a lot of debate and there are many pros and cons to this subject.

The pros of inclusive classrooms show how beneficial these types of classrooms would be to both the disabled students and the students without disabilities.  One pro is that it gives students with disabilities to learn in a natural and stimulating classroom.  It also allows for both types of students to interact with one another and teach them how to deal with each others differences and develop friendships.  Not only are inclusive classrooms beneficial to the students but to the teachers too.  Inclusive classrooms allow teachers to appreciate the diversity of the classroom and challenge them to strive to make activities that are capable of being done by all types of students.  These types of classrooms also show students that no matter what anyone can succeed in what they do as long as they try their hardest and work at what they want to accomplish. 

While there are many pros of inclusive classrooms there are also cons of inclusive classrooms too.  While many schools are required to adapt to the needs of these disabled children sometimes the schools funding just can't meet the needs of these children to give them the best education that they need and deserve.  Because of these needs not being met the disabled students are then left to struggle.  Since inclusion is a philosophy about how children should be educated, sometimes it is recommended without thinking about the best situation and overall best opportunity for the child.  Another con is that while many teachers today have some sort of special education knowledge, not all teachers are fully trained to deal with special education students.  Schools can not expect all teachers and teacher's aides to be fully trained on how to handle these types of students. 

As a future teacher I have mixed feelings about this topic.  I feel that all students should have the right to be in a public, so called "normal", classroom no matter their disabilities or special needs.  On the other hand I feel it is up to the parents to decide if an inclusive classroom is the best choice for their child who has special needs and disabilities.  They need to decide which type of classroom is the best fit for the child and which one they will succeed to their best potential in.  I know it is their right to be in a "regular" classroom but everyone should look at what is in the child's best interest.  I don't think parents should put their children in an inclusive classroom just because it is their right to be in one.  As a future teacher I just want what is best for children and what will allow them to succeed to their full potential, whether it is in an inclusive classroom or not. :)

So here is some questions on this topic:

First, how do you feel about inclusive classrooms?

What should parents take into consideration when deciding if their child should be in an inclusive classroom or not?

Should all teachers be expected to have a Special Education degree?

How can inclusive classrooms be better equipped for disabled students?