Special school

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The neutrality of this article is disputed.
Please see the discussion on the talk page.

The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject.
Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page.

This article or section may need a complete rewrite.
Please discuss this issue on the talk page.

For the Independent Dutch School system see Special school (Netherlands)

A special school is a school catering to students who have special educational needs (SEN), for example, because of learning difficulties or physical disabilities.

The Camphill special schools provide education for children with singular needs or disabilities in a community setting.

[edit] United States

Although special schools still exist and serve important functions, many students today attend regular schools under a practice called mainstreaming. Special education is mandated in regular schools when mainstreaming started. The idea behind mainstreaming is to bring students out of the isolation of special schools and into the "mainstream" of student life. Contrary to popular belief, students are not fully into the "mainstream" of student life because they are secluded to special education. On a happier note, inclusive education includes all individuals in all aspects of school-life. However, the concept of an inclusive education is not universally accepted. Activism by disabled veterans, especially from the Vietnam War, drew increased attention to the needs of people with disabilities. Celebrities have also taken up the cause of working for increased congressional funding of medical research. Some examples include Elizabeth Taylor for AIDS research, Christopher Reeve for spinal cord injuries research, and Michael J. Fox for Parkinson's disease. Schools began to mainstream students into regular classrooms. Students who previously might have attended special schools with other students with similar needs or disabilities have begun to attend regular public schools in a major attempt at deinstitutionalization. These efforts are known as programs of inclusion. Today, special schools generally serve students whose special educational needs are too intensive to be addressed appropriately in the regular schools. Students are placed in one of the following, listed from more to the most restrictive environment:

A program, such as BOCES
An approved Private School (day)
State Operated school
An approved Residential Placement

[edit] United Kingdom

While many still argue that those with SEN's receive a better education at special schools, they are falling out of favour in the UK and instead the pupils with SEN's are being integrated into mainstream schools. Many suspect that underlying reason for this is that it is lot cheaper to place pupils with SEN's in a mainstream school rather than maintain separate establishments. However some studies have shown that special-education students who are integrated have higher academic achievement, higher self-esteem, a greater probability of attending college, and better physical health. It is claimed that they are more likely to graduate and find employment. The theory is that they are not labeled, pupils who are integrated do not feel the hopelessness that hinders their potential. Another advantage often citied is that integration promotes diversity and acceptance whilst also allowing opportunity for all students to advance. For those with SEN's, they are motivated through competition to improve and that the general education students have the ability to rise up to leadership roles.

See also: List of schools in the United Kingdom