Do you think autistic children should be educated in mainstream or special schools?

Question

Do you have an autistic child or relative? What is the reason for your answer?

Do you have any academic source or evidence for this?

Answer 1

my step daughter is a special needs child ( cereble palsy ) and she is main stream school along with her most of her friends and some are autisic....some in my opinion should be attending Good Samaritan schools but the county feel they are not handicapped enough for that so they are main streamed

Answer 2

i worked with children with learning difficulties for a while, and although i am sure some could be taught in mainstream schools, there are many who would not do well in such an environment.
Autistic children in school are usually having to follow a schedule to help them get through the day, and some of these children may not thrive in an environment where theey stand out as so different to the others.
It is something that can only be decided on the individual merits of each case, at the end of the day what is best for the children is all that matters, and that also includes the classmates.
Social workers are often invaluable in helping in these areas, and either way, whether the child attends a mainstream or specialised school it does not matter as long as it is the best place for the child to be.

Answer 3

It depends on how the autism effects the child's learning, severely autistic child need constant attention within a mainstream school this might not be a viable option. However if the child can cope in mainstream then that is where he should be not secluded from his peers.
I have supported a child with autism in our school and he was fine as long as he knew what was going to happen each day he could adapt to it. I made him several tools such as a pictoral register which we changed each day, a pictoral list showing what he had to take home every day this was by his peg, he was a lovely boy to work with not as bad as some of the other children in his class that were supposed to be 'normal'.

Answer 4

My cousin is five and suffers with autism and finds it hard to communicate and interact with other children, however, he is a bright child and I think that ALL children should be given the right to be educated in mainstream schools or it should be up to the parents to decide. I think it is sad and arrogant for some schools to refuse entry to pupils with disablity problems of all kinds, and children should learn to resepct each other, however, saying that, its not always the case, but it should always be down to the parents or government, what right do other people have to take away these chances for children...

Just to clarify I know it is wrong to have favourites, but he most definatly is mine because he is the most affectionate little boy you would ever hope to meet and I am a big enough person to see beyond his disablities and love him for him, maybe if others took this attitude the world would be a better place...

As for academic evidence, I do not personally have any, but I do know that my cousin does go to a mainstream school and has a special helper to help him with his work, and I think if parents decide upon a mainstream school they should get one too, it helps him and I think at least a trial in possibly both environments should be carried out to determine the future of the child.

Hope this helps!!

Answer 5

What a crackingly good question.

When it comes to the majority of autistic children, and for the sake of the teachers more than anything, I'd put them in a specialist school. I think that it would be an easier and more adaptable environment for them to be educated in overall.

It may alienate them from everyday kids somewhat, but in the long run that may not be a bad thing. Although a system in which they get to spend odd days mixing with other kids may not be a bad thing either.

I'd agree with points made that individuals cases should be assesed as so, but overall the largest percentage should have special care IMO.

Answer 6

My brother is autistic and was taken out of mainstream school when he was 10 after years of trying to explain that he wasn't 'just naughty'. He was not pushed in the special school and my mother was told that he was going to sit 1 gcse. She immediately put him back into mainstream school and he passed 10 gcses, he has his a levles and a degree and is about to embark on a masters. I think that peolpe who assume they'll never achieve just push them to one side and it's no wonder people don't bacome anything. There are many ignorant people i'm afraid and if people took the time to learn about autism and other special educationsal needs a lot more children would achieve a lot more.
Sorry to rant :O)

Answer 7

There's an autistic child at my sons school, and although he doesn't cause problems to others as such, he's clearly not getting anywhere ! He's in a world of his own most of the time, and during school assemly he makes weird growiling noises..most of the kids are used to him, but I honestly believe that he should not be in mainstream school for his own sake ! The really sad thing is that his father is in complete denial, all he says is " there's nothing wrong with him " so this child will NEVER get the help he needs or deserves, I think the law should be changed, and kids with severe learning difficulties and/or behaviour problems should be in special schools .
Political correctness has no place here I'm afraid, not fair on anyone !

Answer 8

Special schools with specialist teachers.
My children are not autistic, thankfully. My condolences to those who have autistic children.
The class sizes these days average 30 or so. One teacher and one assistant per class. It's difficult enough to manage without additional needs even if the child has a one on one aide.
I prefer my children not to have the disruption and have the attention of the teacher doing their job - teaching. Not child-minding.
Might seem harsh, but you did ask!
My sister teaches special needs children. I know how hard it is. For the affected kids too, but usually they're blissfully unaware.
There was one autistic child in my daughter's class, she was very disruptive and all the teachers' energies went into trying to pacify and control this child, to the detriment of the rest of the class. Thankfully this child did get a place in a specialist school. She was also violent. I never want my children to endure this again.

Answer 9

In the whole yes.

It depends on their level of autism.

I have had an autistic child in my Beaver Scout Colony and it was hard work.

He sometimes goes off in a world of his own then snaps back.

He would also copy what some of the other boys would do, especially the naughty things. He doesn't know right from wrong and can be insular in his behaviour.

He has been violent to other children, which is not tolerated at all.

We try to include him in as many of the activities we can, but he doesn't like singing, or anyone singing around him, which means traditional scouting sing-alongs can be a problem.

He is now a Cub Scout and attended our summer camp last weekend. He didn't sleep over though. He did enjoy himself, but got a bit teazy towards the end of the camp.

Answer 10

My cousin has an autistic son.

At the moment he goes to the local/village mainstream primary school. My cousin is quiet happy for him to mix with the children their, as it is a small school, where they are know each other and how to deal with him when he is having one of his 'difficult' spells.

But in a few years he will be going to a large secondary school, that accepts children from lots of schools. And that worries my cousin, as she doesn't want her son to pick up 'bad' habits from 'regular' children.

Up to the age of 11 autistic children should be encouraged to go to mainstream primary schools where they can mix with other children. But when a autistic child reaches secondary age, it should depend on how well adjusted they are as to whether they should carry on in mainstream education or go to a special school.

Answer 11

Fortunately I don't have any autistic children, and I feel very sorry for those who do. I do think that - at least in the early years of education - they should have their own schools, if only to avoid other children 1] mocking them out of ignorance and 2] being held back.