Inclusion or exclusion: the opinions of selected special educators since 1900, 1985

Warrick, Ulysses J., Jr.

1980-1989

Problem: This study was designed to identify the opinions of a selected group of special educational leaders between the period of 1900 and 1970 concerning the inclusion or exclusion of handicapped children and the nature of their opinions and their affect, if any, on the enactment of Public Law 94-142. Summary of the Methodology: A historical research design was used in conducting this study. After the data were collected, an indepth investiga tion of the opinions of the selected special educational leaders as reflected in the professional journals, proceedings, and reports of educational organizations regarding the inclusion or exclusion of handicapped children into classes with their nonhandicapped peers was conducted. The content was analyzed to determine the relative emphasis and frequency of opinions concerning inclusion and exclusion. Summary of the Major Findings: The findings of this study indicated that there were twenty-four recorded opinions from 1900 to 1963 by the selected educational leaders studied which emphasized exclusion of handicapped children into classes with their nonhandicapped peers. The findings further indicated that there were four recorded opinions between the period 1962 and 1968 for inclusion of handicapped children into classes with their nonhandicapped peers by the selected educational leaders studied. The findings implied that historically these opinions did not affect the passage of the Public Law 94-142. Conclusions: Based on the literature reviewed and the findings of this study, the following conclusions were drawn: 1. Special educational leaders during the period 1900 to 1963 held the opinion that handicapped children should be excluded from the regular classroom with their nonhandicapped peers. 2. The education of the handicapped progressed from residential institutions to special schools, special classes to regular classes over a seventy year period. 3. Legislation for the handicapped was the result of public outcry of education for all. 4. No evidence was found that the opinions of the selected special educational leaders had an effect on the passage of Public Law 94-142.

text

application/pdf

1985-03-31

dissertation

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Atlanta University

School of Education

Clark Atlanta University

Georgia--Atlanta

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12322/cau.td:1985_warrick_ulysses_j_jr