The Other Side Of Inclusion In Schools

In the world today, people are trying to understand the people around them and open their minds to new ideas and concepts. They believe that this is something that should be done at an early age with children. If children have exposure to different kinds of people when they are young, then when they are older they will be more open. By mixing classes of students with and without disabilities, we hope to achieve this goal. This act of mixing classes is called ‘Inclusion’ and it is currently being practiced in schools around the world, but it has yet to be fully accepted in the educational community. Supporters of inclusion describe it as a type of social justice, giving all students a chance, and treating them all equally. While others, who

As stated earlier, in some schools, inclusion is gained by modifying content, instructions, and assignments to enable their students to engage in core academic experiences (Koonce: pg 188). This works for students who have physical disabilities, but for students with mental disabilities it could lead to a split classroom. In the article ‘The Other Side of Inclusion’ by Wade Carpenter, Carpenter points out the flaws of inclusion. Carpenter talks about conversations he has with teachers. He writes that teachers show frustration and sadness, usually without prompting of any sort, over students questionably included or included in large classes with inadequate support. He also writes about students in inclusive classrooms, saying they look bored, and don’t seem challenged by their work (Carpenter: pg 193). When addressed with the argument that inclusion allows students to gain life experiences firsthand, Carpenter replies with “Most children are perfectly capable of learning about a sewer without having to roll around in one, so it stands to reason that they can also learn about felons without having to sit beside them eight hours per day, one hundred eighty days per year, for twelve (or more) years” (Carpenter: pg 194). Carpenter point argues perfectly, why would you force students together in the sake of a learning experiences. They already come to school to learn, if you add more

It’s an idea with nothing but good intentions, but it has many flaws. In the end, I believe that it’s time to bring inclusion into the classroom. Students need to see the world the way it is, and the world has different people, with different problems. Students need exposure to this so they know how real life is. With this, they can go out and be more educated and more understanding. We have to remember not to forget about the other students though. Having kids with disabilities is fine, but simplifying work and assignments just hurts everyone in the end, but getting these kids in the classroom is the first