Debating Special Education

ISBN-13: 9780415567299 / Angielski / Twarda / 2010 / 136 str.

Michael Farrell

Opis

Debating Special Education is a provocative yet timely book examining a range of criticisms made of special education in recent years. Michael Farrell analyses several key debates in special education giving balanced critical responses to inform policy and practice for the future of special education. The book identifies possible limitations to the current special education knowledge base and provision. Michael Farrell examines the value of labelling and classification, and asks if intelligence testing may have detrimental effects; and addresses a number of complex issues such as:

• how practitioners work within special education; and if, sometimes, professionals may be self-serving
• whether there is distinctive provision for different types of disabilities and disorders
• inclusion as mainstreaming offered as an alternative to special education, and the challenges this presents.

The author's conclusion is that in responding to these challenges, special education demonstrates its continuing relevance and strength. Presenting a range of international, cross-disciplinary perspectives and debates - which are vital to an understanding of special education today, and written in Farrell's typically accessible style - this book will be relevant for teachers of special children in ordinary and special schools; those on teacher training courses and anyone whose work relates to special education.

This provocative and timely book examines & responds to a range of criticisms made of special educational provision in recent years.

Michael Farrell analyses several key debates in special education giving balanced critical responses to inform policy and practice for the future of special educational needs.

Debating Special Education identifies possible limitations to current special education knowledge and provision. It examines whether intelligence testing has negative consequences and scrutinises the value of labelling and classification. The text considers further pertinent questions including:

• How practitioners work within special educational needs
• Whether there is distinctive provision for different types of disabilities and disorders
• The challenge of inclusion as mainstreaming offered as an alternative to special education

This fascinating text suggests a strengthening of special education and a declining influence of inclusion and shows how these are related. In responding to some of the main challenges in special needs today, this book shows that special education continues to grow in relevance and strength in the light of current criticisms.

This accessible text is essential reading for anyone studying or working in special educational needs.

Spis treści

1. Introduction 2. Sociological criticisms 3. Rights base criticisms and contested values 4. Postmodern and related criticisms 5. Limitations of the special education knowledge base 6. The unhelpfulness of classification 7. Problems with assessment 8. Negative effects of labelling 9. Professional limitations 10. Lack of distinctive provision 11. The alternative of inclusion as mainstreaming 12. Conclusion

O autorze

Michael Farrell is an independent consultant in special education. He has published extensively in the field; his books include The Special Education Handbook, Celebrating the Special School, Key Issues in Special Education and Educating Special Children along with a number of The Effective Teacher's Guides (all published by Routledge).