An analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the educational system that impact teacherattitudes toward mainstreaming special needs children into the general education classroom.
Abstract This paper discusses teacherattitudes toward mainstreaming special needs children into the general education classroom. It discusses the need to create collaborative and supportive systems where teachers do not feel isolated and unsupported in the classroom so that they can effectively overcome barriers to learning that may exist, as well as overcome the largest barrier - the resistance to change. The paper also looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the system.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Perception is Key
Strengths and Weaknesses
Theory and Practice
Action Learning
Action Research
Conclusion
From the Paper "Learning in the workplace has increased in both efficacy and application with regard to the teaching classroom. This is in part in response to mandates that forced the system to reevaluate the preparedness of teachers in the filed, with regard to mainstreaming students. Different schools and districts of course vary in effectiveness, both by self and outside evaluation in both instructing special needs children and in supporting teachers to do so. Creating collaborative and supported system where teachers do not feel isolated an unsupported in the classroom is essential to overcoming barriers to learning that may exist as well as to overcome the largest barrier the resistance to change. The strengths and weaknesses of the system as it stands are therefore variable to place and time but the classroom itself, if supported is one of the best learning environments for teachers that exists as the experience of teaching cannot be explained in theory as well as it can be lived in the classroom."
Abstract This paper reviews an extensive amount of literature regarding the achievement of culturally diverse students and the impact on this achievement of the attitudes of teachers toward these students, or specifically, the expectations that teachers hold in relation to the achievement potential of these students. The paper further looks at how failure to properly educate and prepare teachers for the multicultural education classroom leaves too many unanswered questions in the instructional provision relating to attitudes based on myth or falsehoods, misconceptions or misrepresentations. Additionally, the paper contends that it is critical that teachers be effectively educated with regard to their attitude prior to their entry into the multicultural classroom.
Outline:
Objective
Multicultural Education Defined
Cultural Differences and the Construction of Meaning
Overview of Current State of Affairs
Identified Barriers to Student Achievement
Summary and Conclusion
From the Paper "The research conducted by Padilla and Lindholm has purported three: "major identifiable assumptions" relating to the education of ethnic minorities identified as follows: (1) The white middle-class American is the standard used for comparison of other groups to (typically this is the male); (2) Instruments used for assessment of differences are universally applicable "across groups, with perhaps only minimal adjustments for culturally diverse populations; and (3) Although a need exists for recognition of the sources of potential variance such as social class, educational attainment, gender, cultural orientation, and proficiency in English, these are nuisances that can later be discarded (1995, p. 97)." (McCue, nd) "
Abstract This paper explores past studies and analyzes the results of those studies to determine how teachers feel about inclusion for the purpose of special education. The writer concludes that study of literature overwhelmingly supports indicates that teachers believe in the concept of inclusion. The studies all indicate that teachers like what inclusion classrooms do for their students and they would not give up the classroom. It points out that studies also indicate however, that teachers do not believe they are receiving enough training in how to teach an inclusion classroom and that this lack of support and training prevents them from being the most effective inclusion teachers that they can be. The writer further concludes that additional study is needed to determine exactly what areas of support and training the teachers believe are missing and how they feel this can be best remedied.
From the Paper "More than four decades ago in the Brown vs. Board of Education decision of the Supreme Court the face of special education changed forever. With the sound of the gavel and one voting panel special education students were ordered out of the secret classrooms down the hall and into the classrooms and cafeterias with their regular education counterparts. Later, legislation was passed that mandated equality even more specifically. IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) provide mandates that special education students receive their education in the least restrictive environment possible. For millions of special education students across the nation this meant allowing them into the regular classroom, either for part of the day or the entire school day. The concept of inclusion was met with excitement by some and trepidation by others. More than four decades later inclusion is a way of life for special education and regular education departments. The success or failure of inclusion programs is significantly dependant on the teachers who implement it. Regular education teachers work with special education teachers to incorporate the special education students into the regular education classrooms as often as possible. If a student believes that a teacher is supportive of his or her needs and education efforts the student will feel more comfortable and put forth effort. Because the success or failure of inclusion is largely dependent on those who are charged with its delivery, it becomes important to measure teacher attitudes about inclusion."
Abstract Examines the public school setting, the importance of study, and a review of the literature on effects, causes, and expression of teacherattitudes and expectations. Discusses the impact on academic achievement.
From the Paper "Proposal: Teachers' Attitudes Toward Black Males' Behavior
Overview of the Research Area
The increasing cultural diversity in American public school classrooms requires teachers to understand the effects of race ad gender discrimination since both ..."
Abstract This paper examines the role of the Roman Catholic school teacher in the life of the young gay student by reviewing three books on this topic: "Educating for Life - a Spiritual Vision for Every Teacher and Parent" by Thomas Groome, "Fully Alive - a Family Life Education Program" by Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops and " The Courage to Teach - Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life" by Parker Palmer. The paper discusses how a teacher needs to appreciate a gay student as someone who may struggle with a sense of being different, help the child to speak openly about worries, and be able to answer questions a child may have concerning this special status and Church teachings. The writer notes that many teachers do not know that the Roman Catholic schools accept gay or lesbian students as people to be helped in their adjustments, understood for what may be greater depression or confusion as part of adolescence, and given the same message as other students to do with sexuality and chastity. The writer points out that there are prejudices about homosexuality in the minds of various people who believe they are good Catholics. The writer concludes that teachers and parents need to be educated about the Roman Catholic stand on homosexuality and be able to interpret this to the child.
From the Paper "Parker J. Palmer's volume, The Courage to Teach - Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life, directs an open heart as the way to effective teaching. (1998) Particularly interesting has been Palmer's view of the teacher as a person who must learn from others, the heart gaining from what may not conform with one's views. This seems important in a parochial school setting if one is to respond to students who do not fit with Roman Catholic ideas of normal childhood. For instance, the Roman Catholic view of homosexuality involves awareness of gay students that will be met in parochial schools. This issue will challenge some teachers to examine their opinions and biases to do with homosexuality, at large, because the teacher must be able to provide what a gay student needs within school settings."
Abstract This paper examines how research shows that teachers' attitudes toward, and understanding of, gifted students play a pivotal role in turning gifts into talent. It looks at how although earlier research found that most Australian teachers shared the wider community belief that gifted students would succeed with little assistance, more recent studies reveal that there is widespread cause for concern because of the ignorance and negativity that exists in both pre-service and in-service teachersattitudes right across Australia.
Outline:
Bad Teacher Year = Underachiever
The Most Disadvantaged of Special Needs Groups
Smart Kids Will Work it Out For Themselves
Change Your Attitude Conclusions
From the Paper "Whilst many agree that the recognition and nurturing of gifted students should fall to teachers (Braggett 1994; Collins 2001; Clark 2002 cited in Lassig 2003; Gross MacLeod, Drummond and Merrick 2001), alarmingly, research reveals both preservice and inservice teachers prefer "average" students over gifted ones (Carrington and Bailey 2000; Lassig 2003). This though contradicts teachers' claims, in some studies (Gallagher 2007), that their motivation to teach was the pleasure of teaching students who want to learn. With such disparity, gifted students may experience "bad teacher years" which contribute to underachievement (Lewis and Milton 2005; Davis and Rimm 1998; Gross 2001a; Whitmore 1980)."
Abstract This paper discuses issues relevant to the identification and counseling of gay and lesbian high school students. It looks at the importance of counselors and teachers understanding the unique stressors of gay and lesbian students and an often unsupportive, unacccepting, hostile school environment. The paper conducts a research study of high school gay or lesbian students who have been subject to harassment, violence and verbal abuse.
Abstract This paper reviews Robert Fried's article "The Heart of the Matter". It looks at his plea for passion in teaching and his definition of and requirements for a teacher. It explores Fried's claim that students take their cues from the teacher and so reflect back the attitude of the teacher, and the idea of concentration on one area of knowledge. The paper concludes with criticisms on the article.
From the Paper "Robert Fried's article "The Heart of the Matter" might be seen as a reaction to concerns raised in recent years that education is not effective and that teachers are not reaching their students. Fried would agree that many teachers do not, and he suggests that one reason might be that they are not passionate about teaching. Fried himself is clearly passionate about teaching and about getting teachers to see the need to be more passionate and so to encourage students to learn, or more specifically to get students to participate in their own learning. Fried makes a good case for the value of passion in teaching, a term he defines and explains, though his argument is not as clearly presented as it could be because he tends to be too indirect in the way he develops that argument. He is also less effective in telling teachers how to be passionate. Indeed, his idea of passionate teaching is in many ways too general to be of help. A teacher who was already passionate would recognize him or herself in what Fried writes, but a teacher who was not already passionate would not find a good guide on how to become passionate in these pages."
Abstract This paper presents a study conducted by the Center of Adolescent Studies that looked at "caring teachers" by interviewing sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. The author reports students defined a ?caring teacher? as a teacher who listens and helps them with personal problems and as a teacher who helps with homework, gives students individual attention, sets goals for students and talks to students about their behavior. The paper concludes that students learn better with a caring teacher and develop skills that allow them to continue to learn effectively once they are out of the classroom.
Table of Contents
Impact of a Caring Teacher Teaching Styles Used by Caring Teachers Attitudes of Teachers Success of Students
From the Paper "The focus is on how the student can be helped. This is also important as it shows how the student is able to avoid ridicule and embarrassment. This would be important in maintaining a students interest and self-esteem. The fourth response shows us how caring teachers are attentive to their students, which is important in making the student feel they are supported and noticed. The fourth response shows how a caring teacher also provides encouragement and praises students for good work. The final response shows how being caring actually creates a better environment where learning is interesting to students."
Abstract This paper discusses how this phenomenon has been around for centuries; however, only recently is public opinion warming to the idea. It looks at these changing attitudes by the government, the law makers, religious institutions, and society as a whole.
From the Paper 'However, many state and national agencies still have old-fashioned attitudes toward same-sex marriages. For example, the New Jersey Family Policy Council believes that the institution of marriage would be jeopardized if homosexuals were encouraged to wed. "States do have the right to set limits on who is allowed to marry," said Len Deo, the president of the council. The council ignores the fact that changing times always have brought changing attitudes about marriage."
Teachers' responses to the Teacher Attitude Toward Equal Education Opportunity For Exceptional Children can be divided into three categories: (1) Responses related to the actual special education services provided by their schools;
(2) Responses related to teachers' views of the traditional arguments provided to support mainstreaming; and (3) Responses related to actual attitudes toward the mainstreaming process. This section of the study presents the findings observed for each of these categories.
Characteristics of Special Education Services Provided by Schools
Teachers were required to respond to several items regarding school services for special education students. These data (crosstabulated by both level of school (elementary, junior high..."
Abstract This paper reports on a research study carried out to identify existing training evaluation activities in the educational department in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia; evaluate the new teacher training course in two levels, reaction and learning, and determine the effectiveness of the evaluation processes in relation to its contribution to the organisation's strategic objectives. Based on these findings, the study makes recommendations concerning further considerations and changes relating to training evaluation processes. To accomplish this, a critical review of the peer-reviewed and scholarly literature is combined with a survey of new teachers to determine their perspective of curriculum development and the effectiveness of their curriculum and faculty in preparing them to become educators. A summary of the research, salient conclusions
and recommendations for policymakers and educators alike are
presented in the concluding chapter.
Outline:
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of Study
Importance of Study
Scope of Study
Rationale of Study
Overview of Study
Review of Related Literature
Methodology
Description of the Study Approach
Data-gathering Method, Database of Study and Sample Selection
Data Access and Ethical Issues
Data Analysis
Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations
From the Paper "In the past decade, there has been a considerable growth and improvement in training as part of the human resource development in many organisations. To account for the worth in the investment of training, evaluation has often been part and parcel in the design of training programmes in organizations. Evaluation is said to help uncover the values of such training efforts. In fact, the importance of evaluation of training has been well documented in training literature. For example, in their book, Academic and Educational Development: Research, Evaluation and Changing Practice in Higher Education, McDonald and Wisdom (2002) emphasise the importance of having an evaluation strategy in place that can be sustained and which has a developmental role, in other words, one that does not just focus on the specific, possible narrow, aims of the curricula but deliberately explores the broader contexts involved. This approach is congruent with the views held by many educational researchers and teachers alike today. For example, according to McDonald and Wisdom (2002), "Most educators who are committed to the ongoing improvement of their practice engage in a cycle of critical reflection on that practice" (p. 45). While many educators remain committed to ensuring ongoing improvement in practice, there remains a paucity of timely research concerning how this can best be accomplished in some settings, which brings up the statement of the study problem discussed further below."
A paper examining the issue of gay marriages and whether they should be legalized because not doing so would deny homosexuals their basic civil rights.
Abstract This paper is a study for understanding whether there is a need to legalize gay marriages. The paper is divided into three sections arguing three thesis statements. The first thesis statement argues that marriage is a civil right of every individual, as it is essential for the emotional well-being of individuals and denying it to the gay community is discriminatory. Hence, the study begins with a discussion of the argument that denying the civil rights of marriage is discriminatory. The second thesis statement asserts that gays are denied the rights which are associated with marriage and that denying these rights is a violation of their civil rights and therefore a need exists to legalize gay marriages. By way of this thesis statement, the paper offers an understanding as to the rights which are associated with marriage but which are denied to gay couples and discusses whether there is a need to legalize gay marriages taking this perspective into consideration. The third thesis statement argues that legalizing gay marriage is necessary for the security and well-being of the children that gay couples are caring for. Herein, the paper attempts to analyze whether children of gay couples would entail the security required if gay marriages are legalized. Thus, on the basis of the above three thesis statements, the paper tries to formulate an understanding of whether denying marriage to homosexual couples leads to denial of civil rights to the gay community and whether there is a need to legalize gay marriages.
Table of Contents
Introduction
First Thesis Statement
Second Thesis Statement
Third Thesis Statement
Conclusion
From the Paper "Whether the US community is prepared to permit people to marry without the consideration of gender is gaining our notice daily. Religion and civil marriage are two clearly different entities. Certainly this is completely fitting. Certainly, the state must not have the right to order for whom religious organization might carry out marriage services --- akin to the fact that religions institutions must not set terms regarding who might get a license for civil marriage from the state. Latest census data show that the number of faithful same-sex couples in the US has been mounting, as also the number of same-sex couple's upbringing children. Accordingly recognition in the eyes of law is crucial to safeguarding the emotional and financial health of these families. Besides, legal approval should be on a same footing with that of heterosexual marriage ---'separate but equal' is by no means equal."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that in today's modern world, the issue of gay marriage has spawned a huge debate centering on whether or not gay couples should be legally allowed to become married. Those who oppose gay marriage contend that such an arrangement if made legal would destroy American society by changing the traditional family unit of a mother, father and children; others point out that gay marriage is not supported by the Christian religion. The writer discusses that in contrast, those who support gay marriage contend that such an arrangement between either two men or two women is factually not that different from traditional marriages and that all of the arguments against gay marriage are based on misinformation, rumor and outright lies by numerous national organizations seeking to make certain that gay marriage is never made legal nor recognized as a legitimate way of living. The writer concludes that it is quite clear that if gay marriage was legalized in the United States, our current social systems would not collapse nor become non-existent.
From the Paper "Not surprisingly, gay couples in today's America see this opposition to gay marriage as nothing less than an issue of civil rights. As outlined in the Bill of Rights, every American citizen is entitled to the same civil and legal protections regardless of race, national origin, religious beliefs and sexual gender. Thus, it is abundantly clear that gay marriage should be legal in the United States in the face of so much opposition which is mostly based on religious beliefs and unfounded cultural fears and phobias. For example, if the science of genetics does eventually determine beyond a shadow of a doubt that being gay is inborn, i.e. genetically predetermined, then what the Holy Bible says about homosexuality is hypocritical."
"In conclusion, it is quite clear that if gay marriage was legalized in the United States, our current social systems would not collapse nor become non-existent."
Abstract This paper proposes that a Constitutional amendment to protect gay rights is necessary in order to protect the diversity of the country. The paper argues that those who oppose gay rights are prejudiced and that their arguments against gay rights can be invalidated. The paper discusses why gay rights are important, why the arguments opposed to gay rights are wrong, and why people should care about gay rights.
From the Paper "America is a boldly hypocritical nation. We are "the land of the free" but actively prevent people from living lives free from discrimination, from persecution, and from the kind of hatred that drove people out of Europe. The Declaration of Independence, the legal and spiritual foundation upon which this nation is built, indicates that all men are created equal with certain inalienable rights. Those rights are being infringed upon by the same people that claim to protect them. It appears that gays must revolt to carve those rights out of the nation. African-Americans have been freed from slavery, women have been granted suffrage, racial discrimination laws have been passed, and the fight for gender equality in the workplace has begun. As each new triumph occurs other challenges present themselves."
