Should Exceptional Children Be Taken Under Full Inclusion?

Exceptional children are among the greatest children I have ever met and love all of them, but putting them into a classroom full of normal students would not be in their best interest. Every week I spend time with these children knowing how they act, learn, and communicate with others. Being a leader for Friends for Change has not only shown me how special these children, but also how extra measures, attention, and care must be taken in order for these children to be successful. Despite popular beliefs, exceptional children (EC) should not be taken under full inclusion due to greater education support, bullying, and lack of attention to other students in the classroom. Full inclusion can be defined as means that all students, regardless

No one likes to be left out, not even exceptional children. As these children are in these separate classes designed just for them they are lacking characteristics and educational achievements they would have accomplished in a regular style classroom. The American Institutes for Research states that 43% of students in special needs do not graduate and a move towards full inclusion can help these children gain the knowledge and maturity needed to graduate. (Meyers) If more of these children were allowed to obtain a high school diploma it would allow the kids to easily acquire a job for them to be able to make a living for themselves. This would help with the several expenses that come with special needs such as medicine, treatments, and therapy. Not only benefiting the exceptional children it could help traditional students as well. As special therapists come in the regular classroom to help the exceptional children it could help the other children that are not

A prevalence rate ranging from 24.5% in elementary school to 34.1% in middle school of special needs children exists. (Blake) Most of those children having an emotional disability. According to the foundation "Stop Bullying," children with disabilities—such as physical, developmental, intellectual, emotional, and sensory disabilities—are at an increased risk of being bullied. Any number of factors— physical vulnerability, social skill challenges, or intolerant environments—may increase the risk. Research suggests that some children with disabilities may bully others as well. (Bullying) This bullying can put an extreme strain and toll on the children's lives. They have trouble enough knowing they are not normal and putting these children into rooms full of traditional students I can see having negative effects on their lives. In a study conducted by Michael Hartley he had discovered that "students in special education reported more physical and emotional harm as well as more psychological distress as a result of their victimization. Self-reported rates of verbal and relational victimization were similar, but physical victimization was more often reported among students in special education." (Hartley) Everyone knows the saying "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me," but is this entirely true? I interpret that words do hurt