Disability by Jeremy and Zi jun

Question: It is essential for children with disabilities to be integrated into our mainstream education system. DYA

We disagree with the statement. We feel that it is not essential for them to be integrated. Many people may argue as they feel that we should allow children with disabilities to be integrated into the mainstream education system because despite having disabilities, the children are still valuable assets to the society. Having disabilities does not mean that a person is less incompetent to someone who does not have disabilities. For example, many people are willing to hire people with disabilities as they are generally more focused and hardworking when doing their tasks. It would also actually be very mean of people to segregate people with disabilities away from those who do not and isolate them by not allowing them to be integrated into our mainstream education. There are many people with disabilities out there who despite them having disabilities, do not wanted to be seen and treated as someone special who needs special attention. Therefore, many people feel that we should not be treating the handicapped as such. One such example is Mr Low Quan Jing. Despite having autism, he still works at professor brawn cafe. Everyday, he arrives punctually to work and will not leave and kitchen until all his assigned tasks are completed. Despite having disabilities, Mr Low did not see himself as a handicapped. Instead, he had a positive attitude and did all his work diligently as he felt that he was not special. Therefore, people with disabilities are valuable assets to the society and should be treated as one by allowing them to be integrated into our mainstream education system so that they can be educated to get a decent job in the future.
 
However, we disagree. There are many problems that will eventually arise by allowing people with disabilities to integrate into our mainstream education system. One of the major problems is that to accommodate the handicapped, much money would be needed to train the people to become professionals so that they know the right way to handle and teach the students. There would be many considerations that one has to take note of when planning to allow the students with disabilities to mix with the normal students. The handicapped may also be mocked at by both teachers and students simply because they learn slower than the rest of his peers. They may also isolate the people with disabilities, causing them to feel depressed because of the lack of friends and they may grow to hate school and the world. They may also hate themselves as well. One example is in the case of Ms Tan, whose 12 year old son has auditory processing order. Teachers try to help him but they do not understand his condition and they will complain the parents. This shows that there are many challenges present if the people with disabilities are integrated into the mainstream education system. This would not be very useful and it would be better to have a separate school for the handicapped.

Disability by Amalyn and Adon

  In my opinion, I think that it is essential for children with disabilities to be integrated into our mainstream education system. Some people think that children with disabilities should be excluded because they are not able to keep up with the normal curriculum. With special schools, teachers would be able to focus on them and help them when they are in need. However, is this really necessary?
  By integrating special needs students into the mainstream education system, other students would be affected as well. With the addition of these students that are most likely slower in their thinking as compared to others, teachers would have to cater their time to help them to make sure that those students can cope , if not they would end up not knowing what to do. However, because of this, the other students will not be able to get the best studying environment, as the entire lesson is slowed down just to make sure everyone is as the same pace. In fact, is it right to expect a student that can learn faster to go at the same pace as those that cannot cope as well? In fact, over time, if this is the case, they might really end up having a lower standard of understanding then they should have. Some of these special needs students are also disruptive during lessons and they might disturb their classmates which would mean that they cannot pay attention in class and their learning is affected. This might result in the displeasure from other parents who might complain to the school of their ineffectiveness in teaching their kids, and the dislike towards special needs students might increase as parents, or even students find them a burden to their studies. This is why there are schools that are specially set up for these students in Singapore, such as Delta Senior School, where there are specially trained teachers that can teach and guide these students wholeheartedly without having to worry that other students will be affected by a slower pace of learning. In fact, these schools also teach students different types of skills which are useful for the service industry, if the students are really not suited for academics.

  Even so, we should consider their feelings and not exclude them from the 'normal' society. Imagine being a child who is disabled. Now not only do you look different, you are catogerised with others that are like you. You would feel very left out and unwanted. Excluding them from the mainstream education system means that you are preventing them from interacting with other people of their age. You are depriving them of the opportunities that mainstream education system provides. Does this mean that when they enter the workforce, they will also be excluded? That would not be possible. When disabled people enter the workforce, they are expected to be able to do the same amount of workload as the others. If this is so, why separate them from the normal education curriculum? There are around 3,000 teachers in MOE that are specially trained to help children with disabilities. They should be situated in each school, this way if the children with disabilities need special help, they can go to these teachers and get guidance.

Disability by Keefe&WeiNing

I agree that students with disabilities should be integrated to the mainstream student education. This is because in the society, adults with disabilities are still required to learn to adapt, no one will be there to offer a helping hand to them and thus it is essential for students to learn to be independent from a young age, in order to pursue excellence in the future. These students however, require special attention and in some cases have special needs. These students with learning disorders are at a high of 2.7%, this shows that with 2.7% of the students having learning disorders being integrated, there would also be an increase in the number of teachers needed therefore there would be a lack in the number of teachers available.

Although many argue that students with disabilities should not be streamed into normal academies due to safety issues for both the student with disability and the remaining cohort. However MOE has taken the initiative to train more teachers and better prepare these teachers to help these special students in learning to the best of their ability. With the help of MOE training more specialised teachers, the pack in manpower would be solved and parents could play a big part in ensuring that their child receives the proper education from trained teachers.

Disability by Royston and George

  In many workplaces nowadays, disabled people are not given the same opportunities as compared to someone who is more fortunate and blessed. At times, when they work, their employers, or customers disapprove of the way they carry out their tasks, thus lesser and lesser of them would actually be employed. For example, a person with autism would not be aware of his/her surroundings and may ignore social cues. Even if the customer does want it, they may still do it anyway, much to their frustration. Yet, I find that they should be integrated into our society, starting with mainstream education since young. 

They are misunderstood, and just like what the president of Society for the Physically Disabled, Ms Chia said "A disability is not caused by a medical condition per se . A person is disabled because there are external and internal barriers that impede his development and participation in the community, " We should embrace them, and seek to empathize and accept them, and we can all start by integrating them into our Mainstream Education. Just because of the fact that they are disabled does not mean that they are not as good as the other "normal" students. In fact, based on many news reports, the disabled seem to be more passionate and determined to study and excel in their various areas, be it work or play. That itself is enough. If the students are willing to learn and have an insatiable hunger for knowledge, it is up to the teacher to "feed" them. Everybody should be given an equal chance and opportunity in education, and whether they succeed is up to themselves. So I strongly believe and agree that disabled people should be integrated into our mainstream education, as we are all equal, and they definitely should be treated as so. 

Disability by Jayme and Rong Yan

Many argue that children with disability should be intergrated into our mainstream education system so that they would be taught together with students without disability and would not be left out. Although they have some disability, they do not have to be left out and should be taught in the same environment as the other students. For example, Ansel, who was

diagnosed with duchenne muscular dystrophy at seven, also has mild autism and dyspraxia — a developmental coordination disorder. He studied at Montfort Secondary School and has a allied educator for learning and behavioral support. He was still integrated into our mainstream education system although he had a disability. However, it may also be better if children with disabilities are not integrated into the mainstream education systems, as their individual progress will be closely supervised by teachers. Students with disabilities will definitely understand concepts and lessons slower and the rate of their productivity will be lower. With closer supervision from teachers, the students would be able to learn more efficiently, as the teacher will guide the students along the way and give them feedback  according to their individual performance in class. As mentioned in the article, teachers in mainstream school try to help the students, but they do not understand their condition and would blame them, saying that they do not pay attention. However, in specialized schools, the teachers are trained to understand and emphasize with the children and will be able to provide them with maximum care and help, in terms in studies and also mentally.

Disability by Hongyi & Matthew

I agree that it is essential for students with disabilities to be integrated into our mainstream education system. Some might argue that by doing so, students with no learning disabilities are learning together with students without disabilities, and they are forced to learn at the same pace as them, and this might affect their learning. There could be smarter students that wish to learn at a faster rate, but this is hindered by the students with learning disabilities. By segregating disabled children from the rest of their counterparts in schools, it would inevitably cause them to feel that they are different and 'abnormal' from their peers, and in worse cases feel that they are of less importance to the society. Severe emotional distress is brought unto the disabled children, and ought not to feel this way. Integrating them into our mainstream education system would no doubt rectify their already traumatized emotions, with the help of their peers in school. Knowing that they can be learning alongside with other children would be a great emotional aid and support to the disabled children.

Disability by Xin Yan & Mei Xuan

T2W8 Read the 3 articles & write 1 para (counterargument & rebuttal) to address this Qn: It is essential for children with disabilities to be integrated into our mainstream education system. DYA?

Stand: Agree

Some people may argue that these children with special needs and disabilities are not as developed in their abilities, making it harder for them to learn in a normal setting such as in our mainstream education system. If they were to be in our mainstream education system, they would not be able to catch up or understand at the same pace as the other students. This would then affect them in the long run. Thus, it is essential for them to be placed in a school specially suited for them, with trained personnel who know the best way to stretch their learning. Furthermore, with them socialising with people of about the same ability as them, they would not feel any discrimination as compared to if they were to be in the mainstr an education system. A 45-year-old homemaker, who wished to be known as Ms Hui, spoke of the challenges she had faced since her son, now 14, was diagnosed with dyslexia seven years ago. He was labelled as “slow and stupid” by classmates and teachers, she said. This shows that if children with special needs are integrated into our mainstream education system, they would be criticised by other children, thus it is better for them to be in a education system that would suit them more.

However, I believe that this may not be a problem as most of them are hardworking students. Even though they may study at a slower pace, maybe due to their disabilities, they are not mentally weak. As long as they have the right attitude to study, they can pay attention during lesson and be detailed in their work, which will allow them to catch up with the other students and become part of their whole. They will not be shunned and this could change their lives forever, when they realize that they have the ability to learn like any other child. Not only that, other students who are faster than them can aim to help them out with their work, pushing them forward to greater success. In fact, aesthetics products distributor Dione International director Clara Chng said that based on her own experience, she enjoys working with foreign workers because of their focus, loyalty and can-do attitude. This shows that despite their differences, people can still get along well, and also their appearance do not matter as long as they have the moral values and motivation to strive for a better future. It is the power of their own to control the future they have, no matter the school they go to. As long as they are hardworking, they can always catch up to their studies. Hence, I agree that it is essential for children with disabilities to be integrated into our mainstream education system.