Attitudes of Iowa educators toward alternative approaches to meeting the needs of students with mild learning or behavior problems within general education classrooms

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1987
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Curl, Shirley
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Education
Abstract

This study was designed to assess the attitudes of Iowa principals, superintendents, general education teachers, and special education resource teachers toward the concept of meeting the needs of students with mild learning or behavior problems within general education classrooms. Four alternative service delivery models were analyzed;The questionnaire used to collect the data contained forty-eight attitudinal statements, four rank order questions, and four questions requesting information concerning educational experience and training;Stratified random sampling was used to select administrators and teachers for the study. The sample included 184 superintendents, 689 principals, 1767 general education teachers, and 672 special education resource teachers. Of the 3312 questionnaires mailed, 2057 were returned for a return rate of 62.1 percent. An analysis of variance and the Duncan Multiple Range Test were applied to the data. The four groups were partitioned by district size and level served. A .05 level of significance was selected;Positive support was found for meeting the needs of students with mild learning or behavior problems within general education classrooms with superintendents most favorable and general education teachers least favorable. General education teachers believed that placement of students with mild learning or behavior problems would have an effect on the pupils in general education classrooms. Special education teachers were less favorable toward cooperative and team teaching than the other groups surveyed, and they were also less favorable toward the use of consultants;Overall, general education teachers, special education teachers, principals, and superintendents were supportive of educating students with mild learning or behavior problems in general education classrooms. All four groups strongly supported the use of consultants and cooperative planning and problem solving. However, if students with mild learning or behavior problems are placed in regular classrooms, specially trained personnel are needed for assistance.

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Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 1987