The Cost of Learning

The Cost of Learning

The controversy of whether students with special needs should be included in the general education classroom has been ongoing for many years. It has been an ongoing debate on the cost of education, service, and the speculation that special need students would hinder the learning of the general education students. Some students with special needs, depending on the child's individual needs should be placed in the general education classroom, but be pulled for selected instructions or given assistance within the classroom by a Paraprofessional. The concern is that students with special needs should receive the same opportunity to learn among their peers regardless to the cost. Grouping all students with special needs into the general education classroom without modification ignores the concept of individualized instruction. Full inclusion in the general education classroom is not the best environment for all students with special needs.

Per the federal law students with special needs are to be included into general education classrooms with general education students whenever possible. This should only take place if the needs of the student are not of a disruptive manner. The article states that by included the special needs student in the general education classroom; it would cause the whole class to be slowed down. In fact, the article poses the question as to whether or not including special needs students in a general education classroom with assistance would be replacing special schools or programs for the parents sake.

It cost to educate all children, but the article mentions there is a large cost for special needs students to be included in the classroom with assistance. It goes on to explain that it should be collaboration between the school- board and parent not the government. In addition the article suggest taking the money that is being used to support special need students in the general education classroom with assistance, could be used to supply the special needs student with a separate classroom with teachers grouped together.

In conclusion, placing special needs students in a general education classroom with assistance can be costly, but the benefits can out way the cost. For instance, when students with special needs are placed in a general education classroom they not only can learn for their teacher, but also from their classmates.