Should students with Special Needs be in the Regular Classroom?

Since I am a mother of a special needs child. Plus an aunt to special needs children. I see all to well the intergatation of adding a special needs child into a regualr classroom. I don't think they should. The child can't learn like the other students. They tend to fall behind and be held back way to often and their special needs get pushed aside. They need extra help and extra attention. Also normal children tend to make fun of and pick on the special needs children. The special needs children then tend to become a loner and not learn how to deal with their anger or how to assocaite properly with their peers. I think special needs children need to be in a classroom with other special needs children. The classroom can be at a regular school. I have no problem with that. But special needs children need to know they are okay the way they are. That they learn different or at a different pace than normal children. They are special needs for a reason and need to be with children like them. They than learn tolerance of other people that are different because not all special needs children are the same. They also learn how to socialize better. Special needs children always seem to be the most loving and caring people in the world to me.

i think it should depend on the individual needs of the child and the scholl in question. if a child is dyslexic, then no they should not be separated from normal classes, as this can be fairly easily dealt with. but if a child is severely handicaped, and the school cannot afford a one to one helper, then surely they are better off in a place that can cater for them. i went to school (mainstream) with a girl who had cerible palsy, she had a one to one aide, and was able to do much the same things as i was, though she just needed help getting around. the school i was in was able to afford for her to have this help, not all schools have that.

i agree. it is very controversial topic. there are some distinct advantages as well as disadvantages of both the options...... i have read your blog on the subject and it was very informative..... thanks for posting such a subject.

I agree with you it depends on the student. I work for a school that has children with learnig disabilities and emotional issues and after a short time here some are able to go back to main stream schools, it just depends on the student and the severity of the problem.

I have mixed feelings on this. A part of me says yes they should because they need to mingle with the others to know that they are just like them, just need extra help. Putting them into another classroom is like classifying them as different and I think that is negative for both special needs students and the students who aren't. Now- putting them into a classroom just for special needs can also be helpful as they will get the one on one attention from a teacher to help them better and possibly wont be ignored by the teacher that is in a regular classroom. Does this make sense? Just my views.

I think it depends on the student and their needs. By going to a regular classroom setting they would learn different things from watching a child without special needs. However, it is hard on some kids with needs because the other kids tend to tease and pick on them because they are not like them. There are alot of pros and cons.

I think so students should with special needs in the regular class..

I agree that it should be based on the child's specific needs. If their needs can be met with reasonable assistance in a mainstreamed classroom, then they should be. If however the extent of their needs would disturb the rest of the classroom greatly, then a special class is appropriate.

I've seen mainstreaming work really well in our small public school. If it works,the benefits are great-kids with developmental delays improve by hanging out with kids who are on schedule. and the "normal" kids learn compassion and tolerance for those who don't have the same abilities. The reasons it works in our school: Small class sizes Floating aides in the lower grades-an assigned aide would be better, but not always feasible A culture of respect and concern for everyone. This is actively taught rather than just reprimanding kids who are "mean"

I must also agree with you. It should depend on the extent of their needs. some teachers truly aren't qualified to teach our special needs children and therefore, can actually make life harder than it need be for them. But, at the same time, I think every school district should be made to add the specials needs classes to their curriculum as I feel these children need to interact with the rest of the world and visa versa. How can they do that from different classrooms across town?