Big Ideas in Education

Welcome to the first blog post in this series of 6 blog posts on Equitable and Inclusive Schools. This post will dive into the meaning of inclusion and inclusive classrooms by examining inclusion in schools, identifying common barriers and obstacles, and exploring the roles of school teams in building inclusive classrooms.

First, I want to share this article, Inclusion: It’s about change. In this article, the authors describe experiences with inclusion and how they believe the real topic is usually fear of change. They argue that people fear losing their jobs, gaining new responsibilities, not understanding and being held accountable. They also talk about deeper fears of imperfection. They believe that the key to overcoming these fears is to face them and do it anyway and that the support people need to get through the change is supportive relationships. Finally, they conclude that inclusion is about change, which is frightening but necessary for the human rights of all individuals. Policymakers who continue to cut support structures for educators and human service workers are the villains in this issue. Those who cannot support inclusion have the right to their own opinion but not the right to stand in the way of the rights of other citizens.

Change can be difficult for many teachers, particularly regarding inclusion. Fear of the unknown can be very overwhelming, and this fear poses significant obstacles to positive change that supports inclusive classrooms. Educators must receive ongoing support to get through the change process, which can be quite traumatic for many.

Surprisingly, this support does not necessarily have to come from increased budgets but from supportive relationships. Despite the efforts of key stakeholders to help make changes toward inclusion in education, the crisis period of change continues. This can be seen as an argument for more financial support, but it may also result from our society and system’s ableism and racism. The bottom line is the same, however. We need to support students better and prevent them from suffering the effects of those who are unwilling or struggling to change. The system as a whole must change.

Next, the article ” The Evolution Towards Inclusion” summarizes the evolution of inclusion in Canadian schools and society from the early 1800s to the present day. It covers major social, cultural, and political events impacting exceptional learners’ education. It also highlights some critical educational developments over the past two centuries, such as integrating exceptional children and instruction based on individual learning needs, deinstitutionalization, and the right to vote for people with mental disabilities. Finally, it mentions recent challenges in the field of inclusion, such as government funding cuts and the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This is important because the introduction of inclusive education began in the 1990s, around the same time as government funding cuts. This raises many questions about the motivations of the government. While the original goal was to support inclusion and provide equal opportunities for all students, over time, the focus has undoubtedly shifted to accommodate more and more needs in our schools with minimal resources.

Sadly, this trend of cutbacks in funding for education has continued, and teachers are now expected to handle increasing responsibilities and support an increasingly diverse range of students. This has put a significant strain on the education system and its teachers. It’s important to acknowledge and address these challenges, as they directly impact students’ quality of education – and, ironically, their ability to support meaningful inclusion.

The Pros and Cons of Inclusion/Mainstreaming is another article that discusses the pros and cons of inclusion. Some of the pros are considered to be improved test scores and social skills for students with disabilities, the opportunity to learn human differences, access the same curriculum, avoid stigma, and protect the legal rights of disabled students. Some cons include the potential for overburdening the education system, added stress for students with special needs, and support stemming from cost savings rather than effectiveness.

Shelley Moore: What is inclusion? It is an excellent video to shed more light on the importance of inclusive education. Stay tuned for the next blog post in this series about addressing diversity considerations among students in an inclusive classroom.