In 1975 the ‘Education for all Handicaped Children Act’, initialised the mandatory requirements that all students between the ages of 3 and 21 shall be given the same education in the same public system as all other students (Special Education: Definition from Answers.com pg 2). In this, special education, students must be screened and tested to provide academic and behavioural goals. This is to come up with an ‘Individualized Education Plan'(Special Education: Definition from Answers.com pg2). This process is also to include parents.
In 1997, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) expanded on the previous to include children with all sorts of disabilities regardless of severity to be educated in the least restrictive environment. This means to be educated with nondisabled students to maximise potential (Special Education: Definition from Answers.com pg 2).
These policies are created to enhance equality in the education system, however in my opinion, mainstreaming these students may have a detromental effect on nondisabled students. The lack of teacher support in the class can take away attention from the other students. The teachers need to consider which subjects canbe taught alltogether and which can’t. Some subjects are easier to teach with the whole class while some need to have groups, determinig ability. The IDEA stipulates that children with disabilities are to be mainstreamed as much as possible and using resource rooms for tutoring, review and instruction (Special Education: Definition from Answers.com pg 2).
A policy for gifted students does not exist, therefore they are put into mainstream classes as well. This is an advantage and disadvantage for those that are gifted and talented. As I have suggested earlier the teacher needs to pick the subjects that they can be taught together and those where the gifted students need to be set extra or harder work. It requires the teacher to determine these abilities while they are teaching through observation and student history. I believe there needs to be subjects set aside for these students, just like there are for the special needs students. They also need to be able to reach their full potential, and sometimes in mainstream this can’t happen.
IDEA are the policies in America, however are very similar to the policies in Australia. Australian Association of Special Education Inc (AASE)’s require students with disabilities to be treated the same as other students in regard to education( Special Education: Definition from Answers.com pg 12).
The education system according to students with disabilities and gifted and talented students needs to be reviewed. To give teachers leadway in educating students they need to be aware of what the requirements are and to be given extra resources and aides to help with educating the students to their full potential. Gifted students, mainstream students and special needs students require full attention of teachers in the environments that are best suited to their learning. While I don’ t wish to see the students fully segregated from mainstream, thay do need their own space and have their own learning requiremnets.
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