Should Learning Disabled and Behavioral Challenged Students Be Excluded From Classes - Dissertation Example

In essence, the typical tasks that are begun upon entrance to the public school system are those the learning disabled are most challenged by. A true disability must be diagnosed with care; in past generations, so-called intelligence tests might simply measure cultural references, biasing them against other ethnicities and cultures. (Dove, 1971) An actual disability must include persistent difficulty in reading, writing, absorbing spoken instructions, and mathematical reasoning. (Medicinenet.com 2011)Given that the skills mentioned above are vital to education, an exclusionary policy, therefore, seems natural, but it is a tendency that must be seriously questioned on several levels to avert student impulses towards disruptive behavior.

There is a growing body of research that suggests that behavioral disruption in school may prove more important than any measurement of native intelligence as a predictor of academic success.An important correlation exists throughout nearly all age levels between behavior and academic achievement. It is not an issue whether better-behaved children are smarter or not. Popular fiction including movies is replete with examples of brilliant, misbehaving loners who sabotage their academic performance despite high intelligence due to internal conflicts.

In addition to popular culture, there is research that supports a conclusion of raw intellect as an incomplete predictor of success.A high intelligence quotient is always a blessing, but a report by the national research Council to identify the predictors of educational success has found cognitive ability to be only one of three vital attributes for success in school. Without a complete battery of social and cognitive skills even the highest genius still has the potential for failure. The other social factors for success being preparedness for the classroom/school environment, as well as the social skills that permit integration and operation within the classroom.