http://kimayres.blogspot.com/2011/05/prize-giving.html
The debate on whether to place special needs children in mainstream classes or to place them in special needs classes has brought very reasonable points from both sides of the argument. Mainstream education is a term referring to the practice of placing students with special needs in regular classes while combining it with time in special needs classes depending on their academic skills. This in studies, has been proven to be more beneficial in contrary to completely secluding from other students. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainstreaming_(education))
By placing the students with special needs in mainstream classes it allows them to advance more academically along with giving them a higher self-esteem and better social skills. Isolating them from other students only causes them to lose social skills over time, later leading them to a low self-esteem when faced in a social situation. Being in an environment surrounded by other students allows them to adapt to future circumstances. Placing students with special needs with other students also helps the other students understand that there are people with different needs than theirs and allows them to accept this, which over time lessens prejudice behavior. (http://www.helium.com/items/87132-mainstreaming-special-needs-students-understanding-the-debate)
By allowing students with special needs to interact with other students without secluding them, they will learn to be more comfortable around others and will help them in their future. Placing them in a few classes only for special needs children will help them to stay on track with their other classmates without being completely isolated from children their age. It is proven that over time it is more of an advantage to include children with special needs in mainstream classes rather than isolating them in a class where they don't get to experience what they will later have to face.
Article By: Raquel Galvan
