 |
Mainstream or Special Schools for Asperger Children?
by Jo Divljak
http://www.fyiaspergers.com
There has been a lot of emphasis over recent years on
"inclusion". The idea is that integrating children into
mainstream schools rather than placing them in special
schools is a "Good Thing". But is it?
A key feature of Asperger children is their poor social
skills. This means they have difficulty coping with normal
social interactions, such as with their peers. Furthermore,
they often have pedantic, obsessional and concrete ideas.
They may be acutely interested in particular subjects - to
the boredom of their associates - and remarkably
uninterested in "normal" childhood or teenage things.
The end result of all of this is that, to their peers they
often are perceived as "weird" or peculiar. Since children
are cruel, this marks them out as prime targets for teasing
and bullying. And, because of their difficulties with
negotiating social interactions, they often respond to this
inappropriately and, at times, aggressively.
At the same time they have great difficulties with their
teachers who are just trying to teach a subject. With their
pedantic interest in micro-topics they can be very tiresome
to teach. Not only that, but if the teacher seems to handle
situations in any way unfairly, this too will be challenged
by the Asperger child.
Being perceived as oddballs by their peers, and having to
cope with teachers who do not understand their ways of
thinking, how to these children fare in mainstream school?
Unfortunately, often they go badly. Their poor social
skills often result in them getting into arguments or
confrontations with peers or staff, both of whom they feel
pick on them unfairly.
Over time these problems compound into more and more
complications until the child is either failing dismally, or
being kicked out for "bad behavior".
In contrast, many special schools can be tremendously
beneficial for these children. The teachers have both
special training and experience, and so a better
understanding of how to help, support and encourage the
Aspergers child in his learning and social development.
Even the teasing is often better. Since the other children
have themselves experience rejection and bullying, they can
be much more tolerant than their mainstream peers. Again,
this can result in less conflict, and a better outcome.
Blanket solutions based on ideological theories rarely work.
The unique child needs a unique solution. One size does not
always fit all. Whether you are a parent, teacher, or
politician, please be vary careful before you assume that
the right place for the Aspergers child is the local
mainstream school. It might be. But then again, it might
not.
Submit An Article
|
|  |
