The Importance Of Inclusion And Diversity In The Classroom

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INTRODUCTION In this day and age, we now have students with special needs in a regular general education classroom. But, did you know that before inclusion, most students who had disabilities, learning difficulties, and special needs were uneducated? That before they were accepted in regular classrooms, they were placed in schools that were designed especially for their needs and disabilities? That these students with special needs were segregated and put in separate classrooms to learn?

Although as time passes, more schools have been integrating special education as part of their curriculum design and are now accepting students with special needs in their schools. Some of schools now have a Special Programs Department that is in charge of the planning of the integration and accommodation of the students with special needs in the regular school system. Through these programs, they are able to provide equal opportunities for all the students to unlock and develop their full potential and talents, maximize their learning, and instill values to become an effective and responsible citizens of the community.

People may argue that these types of students may learn best in a school that is especially designed for their special needs and that including them in a regular class will only hinder the learning of the regular
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An environment that is inclusive and diverse teaches the students values like respect, fairness, acceptance, and understanding. It helps them realize that even if a person is different or has special needs, it does not make them any different from any other person. It also teaches them not to view the differences of another person as something negative. This type of environment provides all the students equal learning opportunities that they can share and experience with each other that they otherwise wouldn’t have access

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