Briefly discuss how you believe policies and legislation related to Inclusive Education could influence attitudes towards the way society accepts difference.
In recent times I believe there has been a heightened awareness regarding the necessity to develop Inclusive Classrooms that celebrate difference and cater for a diverse range of learning styles and needs. My belief is reflected in the increasing amount of policies and legislation being developed at both state and Commonwealth levels. These approaches range from Anti-Discrimination Acts, Child Protection, Disability Services and Privacy Legislation. Examples of a few of the most recent approaches designed to promote and support Inclusive Education include:
• School Improvement and Accountability Framework – Destination 2010 Action Plan, 2006 – 2008
• Disability Standards for Education, 2005
• Framework for Gifted Education, 2009
All policies and legislation have been designed to ensure every child, regardless of difference, is included in the complete education system. Furthermore, all legislative policies developed by the Government must now take the rights of all students with disabilities into account (Ashman & Elkins, 2009). This reinforces the fact that policies and legislation are helping build a positive attitude towards Inclusive Education.
The Inclusive Education Statement (2005) is an ideal example of how catering for difference is being approached in modern day classrooms. This statement has the power to positively influence an entire school community’s values, attitudes and beliefs regarding the incorporation of an Inclusive Education. Specifically, Mintz (2007) found that when teachers have exposure to highly diverse classroom environments, positive ...
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Works Cited
Ashman, A., & Elkins, J. (2009). Education for Inclusion and Diversity – 3. Pearson
Education Australia: Australia.
Hattie, J. (2003). Teachers Make a Difference: What is the Research Evidence? Australian
Council for Eduational Research Conference, October.
Mintz, J. (2007). Attitudes of Primary Initial Teacher Training Students to Special
Educational Needs and Inclusion. Support for Learning, 22 (1), p.3.
Queensland Education (2010). CRP-PR-009: Inclusive Education. Retrieved from the World
Wide Web on 17th March, 2010 from:
http://education.qld.gov.au/strategic/eppr/curriculum/crppr009/
Queensland Education (2005). Inclusive Education Statement. Retrieved from the World
Wide Web on 5th March, 2010 from:
http://education.qld.gov.au/studentservices/learning/docs/inclusedstatement2005.pdf
Sands, D., Kozleski, E., & French, N. (2000). Inclusive education for the 21st century: A new
Sapon-Shevin, M. (2008). Learning in an inclusive community. In J. W. Noll (Ed.), Taking sides: Clashing views on educational issues (17th ed.) (pp.226-232). New York, NY:McGraw-Hill.
The movement for inclusion in education has advanced since the years of special schools for children with disabilities. Although there have been significant changes to the laws protecting the rights of children with disabilities there remains an underlying debate as to whether these children should be in main stream classes. Most states and territories in Australia practice inclusive education, however this remains a contentious topic with differing attitudes. It is evident whilst many challenges remain, schools should implement and deliver quality programs that reflect best practice policies. Positive teacher attitudes, promoting diversity, modelling inclusion in the classroom and developing a sense of community by working in partnerships
Peterson, J. Michael and Hittie, Marie Michael. Inclusive Teaching : Creating Effective Schools for All Learners. Pearson Publishing. (2003)
Retrieved Feb 6, 2010 from http://www.newsforparents.org/experts_. Inclusion_pros_cons.html Villa, Richard A., Thousand, Jacqueline S. (1995). Creating an inclusive school environment. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Card, Toby.
The main obstacle faced by students with disabilities in the attempt to achieve educational equality is the continuing debate over the In...
The implementation of policy and legislation related to inclusive education, thus being a focus on the diversity and difference in our society (Ashman & Elkins, 2009), would have vast implications on the way society views that which is different to the accepted “norm”.
In this essay I will reflect upon the inclusive learning environment, i intend on reflecting this by researching, reading, extending my own knowledge and a recent exemplar visit. The main issues i have chosen to cover throughout this essay are inclusion, children’s learning and the environment. Issues i will also cover are Special Educational Needs (SEN), Every Child Matters (EMC), Diversity and legislations. I intend on doing this by arguing, analyzing and discussing the inclusive learning environment. Inclusive learning environments can be varied from the school environment to the home environment. Both having a significant impact to a child’s learning. The environment within schools needs to be stimulating, creative and enjoyable for all children to learn in. Effective classroom organization, interaction between both staff and children are essential to the inclusive learning environment.
Inclusion is not a new idea, but has been rapidly gaining momentum within many disciplines internationally. Inclusive education is a term often associated with special education, and children with additional needs. However, inclusive education is about ensuring that educational settings allow for meaningful participation by all learners. Each child has their own unique identity, ways of doing things, strengths and weaknesses. Ministry of Education [MoE] (1998) states that teachers “should recognise that as all students are individuals, their learning may call for different approaches, different resourcing, and different goals” (p. 39, emphasis added).
Every child has the right to receive an education in a welcoming and inclusive environment where they are given the opportunity to grow emotionally, physically, socially, and intellectually regardless of their differences. I believe education is the foundation a child needs to grow and learn, and inclusion is a key ingredient in the makeup of the learning environment. Without the implementation of inclusion, students are deprived of the opportunity to learn acceptance, respect, and growth from their interaction with a variety of people with differing skills and perspectives.
Inclusion in classrooms is defined as combining students with disabilities and students without disabilities together in an educational environment. It provides all students with a better sense of belonging. They will enable friendships and evolve feelings of being a member of a diverse community (Bronson, 1999). Inclusion benefits students without disabilities by developing a sense of helping others and respecting other diverse people. By this, the students will build up an appreciation that everyone has unique yet wonderful abilities and personalities (Bronson, 1999). This will enhance their communication skills later in life. Inclusive classrooms provide students with disabilities a better education on the same level as their peers. Since all students would be in the same educational environment, they would follow the same curriculum and not separate ones based on their disability. The main element to a successful inclusive classroom, is the teachers effort to plan the curriculum to fit all students needs. Teachers must make sure that they are making the material challenging enough for students without special needs and understandable to students with special needs. Inclusive classrooms are beneficial to students with and without special needs.
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