Inclusion Debate

Inclusion continues to be a very heated debate as to whether it is beneficial for student learning; including those with and without disabilities. There is much research that supports and also opposes the practice of inclusion. Educational psychology provides us with the ability to examine inclusion based on the theories of learning and behavior and the continued research that aims to either validate or abandon this notion of inclusion.

For this discussion, your instructor will divide you into two different debate groups based on support and opposition on the topic of inclusion. Read Chapter 4 to gain an understanding of how legislation mandates that, whenever possible, children with exceptionalities be educated in the mainstream education classroom with other students. You want to get a deep understanding of LRE (Least Restrictive Environment). Review the additional links to review the controversy over inclusion to assist in formulating your defense with support from the literature:

• Center for Parent Information and Resources (n.d.).School inclusion. Retrieved from http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/inclusion/

• Kids Together, Inc. (n.d.). What is inclusion? Retrieved from http://www.kidstogether.org/inclusion.htm

• Thompkins, R. & Deloney, P. (1995). Inclusion: The pros and cons. Issues..about Change, 4(3). Retrieved from http://www.sedl.org/change/issues/issues43.html
Feel free to read additional texts about the topic and be sure to cite.

Based on your assigned position, formulate a defense statement that includes the following:

1. What is inclusion and how does the legislative mandate of IDEIA (Individual with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, formerly known as IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) support its efforts.

2. Based on your research, provide at least three reasons for your position that is supported by the texts. You also want to provide solid examples to support each reason.

Guided Response: Respond to at least one classmate that has been assigned a different position from you and offer a rebuttal. Be sure to provide evidence from the literature to support your opposition. Also, respond to your original post and provide your own opinion of inclusion based on the evidence from the research and the responses of your classmates. Did your thinking change after reading your classmates' viewpoints? Share your concerns about working with students with special needs in the regular classroom. Be sure to respond to any queries or comments posted by your instructor.

Carefully review the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate this Discussion Thread.