What are the pros and cons of self-contained classrooms? Check out this guide to find out.
In America, 95% of children with disabilities are educated in regular schools. Among students with special education needs, the majority spend 80% or more time in general education classrooms.
Is this statistic positive or negative? The best way to educate students with special needs is the subject of some controversy. And there is no clear-cut answer.
However, roughly 10% of American students have been diagnosed with some form of learning disability. So it’s important to understand the different types of classrooms and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
There are two main types of classrooms. Inclusion classrooms (the general or “mainstream” classroom) and self-contained classrooms.
Read on for the pros and cons of each type of learning environment. And for some advice on how to decide which scenario is best for your child.
Self-Contained Classrooms
Self-contained classrooms are usually smaller classrooms led by special education teachers. Often, there is one teacher and one or more assistants, depending on the class size.
The typical size of a self-contained classroom is ten students or less, but this, of course, depends on the individual school’s demand.
Public schools in America are obligated to provide additional support for special needs students. Self-contained classrooms are often the go-to option to meet these requirements.
Their main function is to provide a positive learning environment for students with special needs. They provide specialized help for students with developmental, learning, or behavioral disabilities.
No Child Left Behind
A federal statute called No Child Left Behind requires all students to take standardized testing. Test scores reflect on the teacher’s and the school’s overall performance.
Self-contained classrooms have always been used as a strategy to offer enhanced help for students with special needs. And this statute has made these types of classrooms even more popular. But maybe for the wrong reasons.
Because of struggling students’ low scores on standardized tests, it’s common now for teachers to place lower functioning students in self-contained classrooms so as not to bring down the testing average of the general classroom.
Self-contained classrooms can work well for students with disabilities. They allow for more one-on-one instruction. And more direct support for their strengths and weaknesses.
But the reason for placing a student in a self-contained classroom should be entirely based on their needs. Not the school’s worry about how test scores might reflect badly on them.
Least Restrictive Environment
One mandate of the Individuals with Disability Act (IDEA) states that all children should be placed in the least restrictive environment (LRE) possible.
This means that students with disabilities should be included in general education classrooms whenever possible.
And that students should only be placed in self-contained classrooms when their disability is so severe that they cannot receive an effective education otherwise.
Most experts agree that students with special needs should be placed in general classrooms whenever possible. But most also agree that it’s never as simple as that.
Pros & Cons of Self-Contained Classrooms
Regarding such a complicated and sensitive subject, there is no cut and dry answer about whether a student should be placed in a self-contained classroom or not.
There are many variables to be considered. Such as the nature and severity of the child’s disability. The possibility of disrupting other students in a general classroom. And the likelihood of them falling behind a curriculum that is above their level.
The main purpose of the education system is to set children up to succeed in their studies and life. Each situation is unique and requires a different approach. In some cases, self-contained classrooms can be a very positive experience.
Pros
The main advantage of a self-contained classroom is that the students will receive a much more personalized, tailored approach to their education.
Teachers are specifically trained in special education. And due to smaller class sizes, this individualized attention can foster a positive, encouraging learning environment.
The teacher-to-student ratio is much lower. This allows each student to develop a sincere bond with their teacher. Which has been proven to improve their sense of trust, comfort, and belonging?
Smaller class sizes give the teacher more time to identify and work with each students’ strengths and weaknesses.
Cons
Individualized attention is great. But students who spend the majority of their time in self-contained classrooms have an increased risk of struggling socially.
Segregation from the general student population can cause problems with self-esteem. And it can also, in some cases, cause increased behavioral problems.
Some experts think that students who are confined only to self-contained classrooms end up stuck on that path. And that their chance of effectively integrating into general classrooms will diminish over time.
Also, teachers with special education training don’t often have the skills, knowledge, or ability to constructively deal with every single type of disability.
One might be well-versed in helping children with autism, but have no idea where to start to help a child with ADD.
Another problem facing the self-contained classroom is the high turnover rate of special education teachers. It’s an emotionally demanding and draining job.
And unfortunately, there are many cases where a special education teacher leaves their job just as progress is being made.
In this case, teachers are encouraged to pursue continuing education and entrepreneurship instead of burning out on a specific job.
Pros & Cons of Inclusion Classrooms
The other option for special needs students is the inclusion classroom. This is when students with and without disabilities are educated together, in one big classroom.
The Least Restrictive Environment mandate, mentioned above, encourages special needs students to spend as much time as possible in inclusive classrooms.
Special needs students in inclusion classrooms are often provided with supplementary aids or services. While they might have less focused attention, they’re not completely left to fend for themselves.
If resources permit, they will be assigned a special education tutor or in-class assistant. This person ensures their learning requirements are met. While staying within the general education framework.
Pros
Being included in general education can have a positive impact on a special needs student’s self-worth. It comes down to just that: being included.
The feeling of exclusion or left out is never fun. And the feeling of isolation only gets exacerbated when a student is segregated from his or her peers.
Peer-to-peer interaction within an inclusion classroom benefits not only the student with the disability. It increases acceptance and tolerance among the other students as well.
Students in a general education classroom are more likely to learn patience, compassion, and the value of diversity when sharing their education with students of all levels of learning.
The curriculum in general education classes will place higher expectations on all students. This pushes them and challenges them to learn more. And learn differently than they normally would.
Cons
Larger class sizes mean less individualized attention. And this can harm every student, not just the ones with disabilities. Time management in the inclusion classroom can be a real challenge for teachers.
Some students with learning or developmental disabilities can be disruptive to their classmates. This not only results in wasted class time but can lead to embarrassment and damage to the disruptive student’s self-esteem.
While a challenging learning environment is in most cases a positive, students with severe disabilities may not be able to keep up with the curriculum. And this can result in feelings of discouragement and frustration.
General education teachers are not necessarily trained in helping students with special needs. Because of this, they might not have the support they need both in and out of the classroom.
The average class score of the nationally required standardized testing can decrease when special education students are placed within general education classes.
Gifted Students
Sometimes, the pendulum swings the other way. The talented and gifted (TAG), often get more out of their education when placed with other students on their advanced level of learning.
But this poses the same social drawbacks as it does on the other end of the spectrum. Any student segregated or isolated from their peers, whether it’s for their educational good or not, runs the risk of feeling excluded.
The Answer
There is no clear-cut answer to this complicated question. But many experts believe that the best way to approach education for students at either the high or low end of learning abilities is to mix it up.
No circumstance is completely black and white. A flexible approach based on a student’s unique needs will be the most effective way.
For example, consider a special needs student who struggles with reading comprehension but is proficient at math.
Why not place them in a self-contained classroom for reading lessons, and a general education classroom for math lessons? This provides the student with the best of both worlds. They get both the help and the challenge they need to thrive.
The truth is, disability or not, every student learns differently. Unfortunately, due to the lack of resources, it’s not always possible to provide customized education for every student.
But whenever possible, teachers and schools should consider this third option. And do their best to offer the best possible learning environment for all of their students. Contact me for more tips and advice on teaching strategies.
