Mainstream Schools: Pros and Cons

A Mainstream School is any school that principally meets the needs of pupils who do not have special educational needs, an ordinary school and any school which is not a special school. A mainstream school is always defined in contrast to a special school or a school for children with special needs.

Mainstreaming, in the context of education, is the practice of educating students with special needs in regular classes during specific time periods based on their skills. This means regular education classes are combined with special education classes. Schools that practice mainstreaming believe that students with special needs who cannot function (at all) in a regular classroom to a certain extent "belong" to the special education environment.

Access to a ‘resource room’ or a ‘self-contained classroom’ is very valuable to a student with a disability. These students have the opportunity to work one-on-one with special education teachers, addressing any need for remediation during the school day. A plan is drawn up for each pupil highlighting the current position and the areas that require special attention through remediation. Researchers, educators and parents advocate the importance of these classrooms despite political environments favoring their elimination.

Proponents of the philosophy of educational inclusion assert that educating children with disabilities alongside their non-disabled peers fosters understanding and tolerance, better preparing students of all abilities to function in the world beyond school. Yet every coin has its flip side. The children with special needs may face social stigma as a result of being mainstreamed, though it may also help them develop socially.

Pros:

1. Benefits to students with disabilities:

It facilitates access to the general curriculum. It brings about a higher academic achievement. Access to a resource room increases students’ academic skills. It promotes a higher self - esteem. It leads to confidence and a display of raised self – efficacy. Students feel equal and do not want to be treated differently. It helps in the development of social skills. They learn social skills through observation. They develop a better understanding of the world around them. Helps them become part of the regular community. It makes them more likely to engage in social relations and to communicate with others.

2. Benefits to non – disabled students:

It creates an atmosphere of understanding and tolerance that better prepares students of all abilities to function in the world beyond school. It increases self-concept, tolerance, self-worth, and a better understanding of other people. It prepares them to deal with disability in their own lives. Contact theory asserts that frequent, meaningful, and pleasant interactions between people with differences tend to produce changes in attitude.

Cons:

1. Disadvantages to non – disabled students’ academic education

A mainstreamed student may require much more attention from the teacher than non-disabled students in a general class. Time and attention may be taken away from the rest of the class. What has to be taken into consideration are the disabilities in question and the resources available for support.

2. Disadvantages to the academic education of students with disabilities

General education teachers do not have the training and skills to accommodate special needs students in a general education classroom setting. Professional training and supportive services can usually address these concerns. Unaware/ unprepared teachers are also more resistant to having these students in class which can lead to regression of the students with disabilities and decreased classroom productivity.

Social Issues: Those who are mainstreamed for only certain classes or certain times may feel conspicuous or socially rejected by their classmates. They may become targets for bullying. They may feel embarrassed by the additional services they receive. Some students with disabilities may feel more comfortable in an environment where most students are working at the same level or with the same supports.

Conclusion:

The student’s needs are the driving force behind selecting a mainstream school or any other style of education. Mainstreaming does not involve putting a child full-time in a special school. (Separation) Mainstreaming does not involve placing a child full-time in a regular classroom. (Inclusion) Mainstreaming does not involve teaching the child outside of school. (Exclusion)

Yet mainstream schools need to do much more to be able to support disabled and special needs students.  Whether that means more awareness among teachers and students or more money being allocated on budgets, not in every case, but in many the school system does let disabled students down, and this is unacceptable.

After having looked at so many aspects of mainstream schools, it is evident that though they give the young a wonderful opportunity, they must keep the needs of the young at the centre and reinvent themselves to be relevant in the education of both students with and without disabilities.