RUNNING HEAD: SPECIAL EDUCATION

Special Needs Education

Name:

Course:

Tutor:

18th April, 2011.

Introduction

The school is an inclusive setting, where all children learn together despite the observable differences that exist, for example, color, race, disability. Inclusive education has several advantages for example; the learners learn to break the barriers that exist for example, racism, stereotypes. They also learn to live side by side in harmonious manner, and earn opportunity to take part in the world of diversity. They also develop tolerance to each other, acceptance, and understanding CITATION Wil07 l 1033 (Hawley & Rollie, 2007).

There are several concerns that need to be addressed. There is acute shortage of special needs education teachers. Bearing in mind that Learners with special needs in education need individualized attention, and Individualized Education Program (I. E. P.), there are some delay as to how to actually go about implementing the various I. E. P. Programs.

Besides, there are apprehensions that one feel while in this school regarding inclusive education that is in practice. Parents of children without special needs are arguing that this approach of education consumes much of the time of learners without special need education. They say that the teachers are taking time concentrating on the learners with special education at the expense of those learner without special education CITATION Wil07 l 1033 (Hawley & Rollie, 2007).

With the enactment of the act No Child Left Behind (NCLB) in 2002 bring with it several challenges in our schools observed today. For example there is no connection between the curriculum and the job. The English only strategy which was a policy which requires that various state adapt the used of English only as a medium of instruction.

Stigmatization of children with special education can be felt and this is quite discouraging especially to children with special needs education. Besides, there is lack of professionalism among some the teachers. They may lack the current developments for example in the areas autistic spectrum disorders.

Inclusion which has been in practice for some time now, lacked an important ingredient. That is to attach value to the whole policy. For example, lack of sensitization of the society on the values of integration. Besides, inclusion has generally has positive aspect, which largely depends on the school procedure and culture, the quality of the curriculum that the students are subjected to CITATION Rit07 l 1033 (Rita, 2007).

English language Learners is a requirement that children be taught in English language. Actually, it causes major uneasiness to some parents who think that this is not fair to their children especially to those children who do not learn English as a first language. However, with the American diversity some parents do come annually to seek for a waiver; so that their children are instructed in their native languages. These categories of children are also considered as those under children with special needs in education CITATION Eug01 l 1033 (García, 2001) .

There are several recommendations that I can advance. First, there is a dire need to engage more teachers and several services and service providers such as psychologist, various therapists, among others. There should be deliberate efforts to alleviate the issue of stigmatization. This can be done by sensitization of the community with the aim of demystifying disability and disability issues .

Teachers need to be constantly in-serviced on matters pertaining special need education. New developments in terms of best practices need to be adopted. This will effectively help these children with special needs benefit maximally. Besides, teachers’ training need to focus on some elements of the American diversity this training will give teachers an insight of the American diversity. The teachers’ enhanced training will make more impact on inclusion to be felt CITATION Wil07 l 1033 (Hawley & Rollie, 2007)The role of school administration in responding to the multiplicity should be clearly defined with adequate training, the school administration can foster diversity positively. The school administration can therefore foster the same by adapting new meaning of diversity, promoting an inclusive setting in the institutions and enshrining the same within the school culture, and adopting instructional programs to suit and reflect the diversity of the learners CITATION Wil07 l 1033 (Hawley & Rollie, 2007).

References

García, E. E. (2001). Hispanic education in the United States. Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield.

Hawley, W. D., & Rollie, D. L. (2007). The keys to effective schools: educational reform as

continuous improvement. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press,.

Rita, R. (2007). Latino youths’ high school adjustment: The risk and protective factors of

perceived discrimination and ethnic identity. California: Stanford University.