why should slow students be separated from bright students?

Answer 1

Why not? Why should someone who is at one level have to be slowed down by someone who is not ready to be there yet? Why should a teacher have to manage a class full of 30 or more kids who are at all different levels? What on earth is a kid who is at a 3rd grade reading level doing in a 5th grade class (for example -- and that's a real example -- I've taught that class)?

There is something to be said for grouping students so that the bright ones can help the slower ones, but that should not be the case all the time -- only for certain projects/activities. Each student deserves to have his/her education on his/her terms. I would HATE having to always go slow and help a slower person if I were ready to move on, and I would hate slowing someone down if I needed more time and they didn't.

Answer 2

In the "ideal" setting, the special education teacher is suppose to be in the regular classroom to team teach with the regular teacher. Of course this never happens because of several reasons. Certain students do better in a classroom full of "normal" developing peers, but some do not. It just depends on the student, whether they should be separated. As a teacher, it is a hassle to deal with such a huge range of intelligence. But, even if you get rid of the "slow" students you can still never have everyone in your class on the same level. It's just not possible.

Plus, having more involved students mixed in with regular classes helps the other students to realize that there are people who are different from them and they should have respect for them. Which, obviously some of you don't have, since you are saying such negative things about slower students. They have a right, according to LAW to be educated in the the least restrictive envrionment which means the environment which helps them to learn the best. If that means that we have to teach the other children tolerance, so be it!! The world could use a little more.

Answer 3

I think the question should be why doesn't the school system set up a program to let all students progress at their own level whether slow or bright.

The school system assumes that slow students will keep the attention of the teacher longer answering questions and not allow those considered brighter to move at a faster pace.

Answer 4

I think the more pertinent question is why school systems insist on grouping children by age rather than by developmental/learning readiness levels? When I was still teaching I worked in a private school that used the open education theory. Children were placed in classes by their abilities. More often than not, all the kids in the group would be within a 2 yr. age radius. Kids could switch groups...moving to the more advanced groups when in subjects they were ready to advance in and working at their own pace in subjects they needed more time to assimilate. Three times a week, the entire school took part in a "center visit" morning where all the classes intermixed and visited one another's rooms for activities designed around a set theme. We had everything from a Kindergarden student who taught himself advanced algebra over a long weekend to a 6th grader with severe learning disabilities. No one was teased or left behind, everyone was able to succeed. It was the best school I have ever worked at.

Answer 5

I can tell you that I have a neice and a son in the same 3rd grade class, and it's a disaster. My son is the brighter of the two. When I was working last night with my niece on her assignment I just wanted to scream. My son did the same assignment in 7 min. She was going on 3 hrs! She is extremely easily distracted. She cannot sit still for more than a minute, and does not use her own ideas when writing sentences about a book that SHE read. We have to go through the book and try to find out about it because she has poor comprehension. Her teacher has suggested she isn't ready for grade three but my neices mom refuses to listen. It's hard when you have one classroom, and several different kids at different stages of learning. I am all for screening these kids and getting them the services they need.

Answer 6

I am a special ed/regular ed certified teacher. The purpose of having separate classes for the learning disabled or "slower" students is to allow for special instruction as stated in their IEP. The IEP objectives for the most part can not be met in a regular setting, it requires to much one on one time. Special Education is taught for the most part in a different manner called direct instruction. Direct instruction is slower paced, reviews more and the teaching technique is different. Most schools have programs will students are in a regular classroom room for their strong subjects and pull out for their weak subjects. This is to the mutual benefit of everyone. The average students are not held back, and the special needs students are allowed to progress at their own speed. It also allows for students who for example have a math difficulty but excel in all other subjects to be at grade level but take a lower level of math. If you have a student in rolled in Special Education, I am sure that the teacher would be glad to explain your school district inclusion policy and your childs IEP.

Answer 7

I think it is because it's good for all. The slow students hold the others back. If they are separated the teachers can set the correct pace for the lessons to suit the individual groups.

Answer 8

some students learn faster than others and it slows down the othe children. Special ED can really help these slower children to pin point the problem and get it worked out and go back to normal classes. it is really for the best

Answer 9

As a parent to "brighter" students and neighbor to "slower" students, and having spent considerable time in the classroom where the learning levels were mixed, I believe it does a disservice to both sets of kids as well as the teacher when they are grouped together. The teacher is forced to spend more time with the slower kids, which means the brighter kids don't have the opportunity to learn as much as they could. The slower kids, while they get more of the teacher's attention, don't get all of it and therefore don't learn as much as they could. All the kids are frustrated. The teacher has to modify his/her teaching to accommodate both groups. I think it would be more beneficial to have a "study period" during the day in which brighter kids could help tutor slower kids, but otherwise teach them separately.

Answer 10

Because the slow learners cannot keep pace with the brighter kids and the brighter kids get bored having to wait for the slow learners. It causes less friction in the classroom and the teacher can concentrate on teaching at one level not two or three. Put the special ed kids in one class so they can work with their peers not against the brighter ones.