Inclusive Education: Main Principles - Essay Example

INCLUSIVE EDUCATION Inclusive education is a necessity in today's time. Why are some people, who although need special attention are completely ignored by the society rather than doing their extra bit in helping them grow and groom as a person and evolve as a better human being. Teachers do need to take the necessary measures to understand such students better and provide them required support so that they don't shy away from bringing their problems to the teacher rather they should find a friend, an ally in the teacher. Government, people and we as teachers need to do a paradigm shift in our attitude towards this thing so that world is really a better place to live in. Inclusive education Inclusive education means that all students in a school, regardless of their strengths or weaknesses in any area, become part of the school community. They are included in the feeling of belonging among other students, teachers, and support staff. Traditional schooling is exclusive, it's designed to identify the "best" and weed out the "worst". The best go on to university, the mediocre go to technical schools and the worst drop out. Success for the teacher and the student is frequently judged by these categories. Now if we go by the way of exclusive education only then people who are in some how physically lagging behind are always left out. Does this mean that they don't have any right to learn and grow and develop as a normal individual If the people who are in every way leading a perfect life and are very successful in their pursuits of excellence categorize things like this then what good has education done to them On the contrary they should be the ones encouraging the trend of inclusive education .We as teachers should understand our moral responsibility and understand that these individuals have every right to live in mainstream, there is no law in the world which bars them from being a part of mainstream. If we understand this very basic thing and do the needful in the proper direction then we definitely can make this world a better place to live. Now if consider the case of normal classroom where majority are normal students and some are physically challenged ones. When teacher is teaching the class then the normal students are definitely going to grasp the things normally as it may seem pretty normal to them but those who are in some way challenged physically are going to face certain problems for sure. It's the moral responsibility of the teacher to cater to their needs, he/she as an individual should understand the psychology of that group of students and without demoralizing them in any way should rather help them and encourage them further so that the try their level best and can grasp as do other normal students. As an example we can say in a class if there are twenty students and out of them two are dyslexic now when other students are making notes of lectures and grasp every thing taught by the teacher very normally these two children will be unable to relate to the topic being taught as words will be more like being bombarded upon them rather being taught, and if teacher follows his normal practice in class regarding his teaching then for sure at the time of exams these two are going to have a difficult time and when results come out and they will be scolded by the teacher and parents. This is going to have a negative impact on these children and in a sense will discourage them and initiate a feeling in them that education is not their cup of tea. If same practice is followed then obviously this is going to discourage them and every time they will feel shy in raising their problems for the fear of being thrashed in front of other students. This is a part of human psychology that they always fear public disgrace rather they would prefer remaining silent and living with their problem. This fear of disgrace will always hinder them from coming forward and telling others their problem, so being a responsible teacher one should take a serious note of this problem rather than bashing the students' right on final day. If daily small hard work is done this problem can be terminated by root itself. If god has made us perfect then is this what we are supposed to do, bash such an individual to the extent that next time he fears even talking to us. Teachers should try to analyze their behavior and give special attention to them rather than discouraging them. It becomes moral duty of parents to take care of their wards and if they are in any way suffering from any kind of disorder for which they need special attention, then parents should understand that, they need to help their children in every possible way and help them groom as a successful and responsible individual. Being week in literal education doesn't mean that they are facing similar problems in every other aspect also. We have so many individuals in various streams today that were not that good in education because of some disorders are today successful in some other fields like theatre etc. Like people who were early school leavers because they were discouraged to the extent that they were fed up with their school lives and this barred them from grooming their talents in which they were good at, just because their teachers, society and their own families never helped them, never supported them, they never got that encouragement for which they always yearned for, they couldn't see in anyone their support so they finally gave up at the hands of circumstances. On the other hand if some good vocational schools are started and these individuals are helped in whatever sense they need they would very much lead a normal life as we all do.( Thomas Gary & Vaughan, Mark (204).) Teachers should try to give an extra bit of effort and understand other abilities of these children, it the teacher only who can analyze a student in all respects and then decide which particular line a student should pursue or which is the weak area of that particular student so that he can focus on his weaknesses and magnify his strengths. Teachers should boost their morale so that they don't feel let down in any way and feel free whenever they need any kind of assistance. A teacher should be a perfect guide and should adept himself for various kinds of roles like a good teacher, a councilor when required and a perfect ally in which student can confide in. Some teachers believe that work with students with disabilities will always be of lower quality and would have a negative impact on their career growth and they don't recognize the opportunities that inclusion affords for teachers to teach in innovative ways that challenge all members of the class.( MITTLER Peter, Vol. 7 No. 2) Teachers rather than taking it in a negative stride should understand the challenges and opportunities in it and even the fact that this practice gives them vast experience of understanding child psychology and helps them deeply understand the need of every individual and how they should cater to that. Teacher needs to realize the fact that it is the teacher only who nourishes the future of society; it is he only who helps these caterpillars to groom personally and socially in their process of chrysalis. (Lehmann. Kay Johnson. (2004)) It has been long time since these people with extra needs have suffered at the hands of society now it the time we as responsible individual of the society should come forward and help these people in every possible manner so that they can very well survive in this society. Government should take necessary initiative in this direction like starting the schools where children with special needs are included in the mainstream rather than putting them in some separate schools. But this only will not end the problem there needs to a reformation of mainstream schools in such a way that these schools are more responsive to the individual difference of students with in them. And the successful achievement of this reform depends on the paradigmatic shifts, not simply at the levels of policy and structure but also at the levels of construction of special needs undertaken by particular teachers in particular schools. If government takes the required steps then schools won't anymore discourage these students. (Harry Daniels, Philip Garner.1999) Once such initiatives are started by the government teachers are going to get encouraged in a way that the places where they work will provide them optimum facilities to cater to the needs of individuals with special needs. Teachers in a sense will be better equipped to tackle the situation and will thus help such students to learn efficiently and effectively. Now as far as teacher's point of view is concerned they need to understand the importance of inclusion. As far as my understanding I feel that inclusive education is an important concept and every teacher should understand it with following reasons in mind: 1. All children have the right to learn together. 2. Children should not be devalued or discriminated against by being excluded or sent away because of their disability or learning difficulty. 3. Given commitment and support, inclusive education is a more efficient use of educational resources. 4. l children need an education that will help them develop relationships and prepare them for life in the mainstream. 5. Only inclusion has the potential to reduce fear and build friendship, respect and understanding With these points in mind every teacher should take the necessary effort in their teaching practices to cater to the needs of every individual. Teachers need to understand that every child is special and has every right to live in mainstream. A teacher who is considered as the boon in, every child growth as a responsible citizen of nation, should help every individual and encourage him/her at every step so that they can achieve their dreams and should become a proud factor in their families rather than a burden. A teacher should mould his teaching practice such that during the needy times an Individual doesn't fear from the teacher but should feel free in discussing their problems and seeking solution i.e. they should look up to their teachers in their times of need rather than shying away from them. I'll as a teacher try to give individual attention in class rather than considering blindly that every student is at the same level, this will help me recognize their problem areas and thus will help me in designing a person specific solution rather than a general teaching. I'll at every step encourage students to come up with their problems and will to my optimum give them best possible solution. References: 1. Pijl S. J., Cor Meijer .J. W., Seamus HegartyDoe, "Inclusive education-a global agenda" 2. MITTLER Peter, Vol. 7 No. 2, Pages 134 - 140, 1998, "Towards Inclusive Education" 3. Harry Daniels, Philip Garner.1999, "Inclusive Education" 4. Brenda Scheuermann|Jo Webber, "Autism: Teaching Does Make a Difference",1st Edition 5. Deanna J. Sands|Elizabeth B. Kozleski|Nancy French, "Inclusive Education for the 21st Century": A New Introduction to Special Education,1st Edition 6. J. David Smith, "Inclusion: Schools for All Students",1st Edition 7. Thomas Gary & Vaughan, Mark (204). Inclusive education: readings and reflections. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Part One: "The context - rights. Participation. 8. Figgis, Jane; Butorac, Anne; Clayton, Berwyn; Meyers, Dave, Dickie, Mary; Malley, Jeff & McDonald, Rod. (2007) Advancing equity: merging 'bottom up' initiatives with 'top down' strategies. Adelaide: National Centre for Vocational Education Research. "Context", pp. 12-16. 9. Kenneth W. Howell|Victor Nolet, "Curriculum-Based Evaluation: Teaching and Decision Making",3rd Edition 10. Loreman, Timothy J: Deppeler, Joanne & Harvey, David. (2005) Inclusive education: a practical guide to supporting diversity In the classroom. London; New York: RoutledgeFalmer. Ch. 7. "Inclusive instructional design", pp. 134-153. 11. Lehmann. Kay Johnson. (2004) Surviving inclusion. Lanham. Md.: ScarecrowEducation. Ch. 3. "The importance of scaffolding". Pp. 23-28. 12. Giangreco. Michael F. & Erickson. Karen A. (2002) Quick-guides to inclusion 3 : ideas for educating students with disabilities. Baltimore. Md.: P.H. Brookes. Kronberg. Robi M. "Reaching and teaching diverse learners through differentiated instruction". pp. 5-25. 27. 13. Wong, Bernice Y.L.(2004) Learning about learning disabilities,3rd edition. San Diego: Elsevier academic press. Ch 14. 14. Palincsar,Annemarie Sullivan;Jane N. & Magnusson,Shirley J. "A community of practice: implications for learning disabilities",pp.485-510. 15. Searle. Jean; Bevan. Fred; Roebuck. Dick & International Conference on Post-compulsory Education and Training. (2005) Vocational learning: Transitions. Interrelationships. partnerships and sustainable futures; pp. 233-239. CRITICAL REFLECTION This assignment has helped me a lot to evolve as a teacher. It has broadened my spectrum about the problems faced by students and the ways a teacher should use to tackle them. It has helped me to understand that every child is special and we as teachers being responsible for their mental and personal growth as an individual should understand their psychology and help them by doing the needful. We need to do that extra bit required so that teacher is not considered as monster by them but a friend, a support which they always needed. I read a lot of text regarding this matter and researched a lot but I personally feel that if I could have managed to pay a visit to a child with special needs, it would have given me practical understanding of the situation and thus would have helped me to frame my strategies better in more optimum manner. I personally feel that this assignment was very interesting and a real eye opener for me. I won't regard its one part as difficult and other as easy I would rather say this was a great lesson for me and I learned very well from it and it has helped me a lot to better myself as a teacher. Read More