PEDS 293

Allyson Furman
DEBATE
Children with Disabilities Should Be Integrated Into The Regular School System

Despite your argument that children with disabilities should be integrated into the
regular physical education setting there are a lot of alternative benefits to specialized
education for children with disabilities. Special education is a type of instruction that's designed
to access the needs of students with disabilities in order to learn the same skills and information
as other children in school. The term 'special education' is used interchangeably with special
needs, and the disabilities may be physical, emotional or behavioral. Major benefits include
smaller classes, more focus on the students weak areas, a more supportive environment that is
free of discrimination and more one-on-one time with the teacher. Also provides less
embarrassment for the student, and an appropriate teaching method.
Even though inclusive physical education classes are beneficial to both parties in certain
aspects it can potentially hold back the other students development. Those who believe in full
inclusive physical education are urged to put the specific needs of individual children first and
to compromise with general education (Fuchs, 1993). Also as the disabled child grows older
he/she may experience less participation due to lack of capability in a skill or self-consciousness.
Depending on the severity of the childs disability they may be excluded from the group as
they require constant supervision or assistant. Even though visual impairments can be
attended to in physical education programs of inclusive classes it is best that the visually
impaired be in a specialized education setting. Due to the fact that the child could incur
possible injury by other students accidently and is unable to participate because he/she could
harm another student as well.
Most physical education teachers are pressured to follow core curriculum and resent
slowing the class pace for the few special needs students as they feel it may be detrimental to
the majority of students in the class. Teachers also rarely receive the proper training to foster
the needs of students with disabilities. Gym classes tend to teach to the appropriate

developmental stage and it can be difficult for the disabled student to keep up with the pace
of the rest of the class. Analyse revealed that higher performing students gained more from
integrated classes, whereas lower performing students gained more from segregated classes.
The data suggest careful monitoring of lower functioning students to ensure appropriate
academic and social stimulation (Lindsay, 2007).
Special education teachers are specially trained to comprehend the strengths and
weakness of disabled students. Therefore, lesson plan quality can be better suited for disabled
children in a special education gym class. Inclusive classes would have greater merit if they
could afford funding for teacher aids to assist with disabled students as extra time is needed to
address and help them. Teachers in inclusive classrooms have a full plate, due to the
preparation and distribution of modifications necessary for the special needs students.
Also contradictory to your argument students can receive equal if not greater physical
fitness levels in special education classes as they do not feel pressured to perform beyond their
capabilities and are interacting with peers that share the same disabilities or developmental
constraints. Therefore receiving adequate physical activity in order to maintain a healthy
lifestyle and lower the risk of obesity.
For reasons I have explained and exemplified above it appears more beneficial for
special needs students and regular students to be educated separately when it comes to
physical education.
Douglas, K. (2010, May 24). The Disadvantages of Inclusive Education. Retrieved November 19,
2014, from http://www.ehow.com/list_6549309_disadvantages-inclusive-education.html
Fuchs, D. (1993, July 1). Inclusive Schools Movement and the Radicalization of Special Education
Reform. Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED364046
Lindsay, G. (2007, January 1). Europe PubMed Central. Retrieved November 18, 2014, from
http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/1720097