The purpose of this study was to suggest the acceptance attitudes of general students who experienced integrated education with disabled classmates in regular elementary school.
The survey of questionnaires was carried out at general students of the ...
The purpose of this study was to suggest the acceptance attitudes of general students who experienced integrated education with disabled classmates in regular elementary school.
The survey of questionnaires was carried out at general students of the public elementary school in Gyeongsang-bukdo area which has a special class. Attitudes of general students in different grades, sexes, experience with disabled classmates were evaluated by analyzing and comparing the results of questionnaires.
The questionnaires, used as a tool of this study, was modified to fit the subject of this study. It was originally designed by Chang Kyeong-mi (2004), and So Beom-ryeol(2000) for the attitudes of general students toward the special class children and the attitudes of general students toward special class children with developmental delay, respectively.
Collected data were statistically processed through the SPSS(Statistical Package for the Social Science) program, and t-test or two-way ANOVA was used to determine the significance of the results.
The results of this study are as follows; First, Female students who have shared the integrated learning with disabled students in the same class previously show more positive attitudes in accepting the disabled students regarding all regional factors of school life and studying activity, playing activity than those of male students. This represents the characteristics of female students are more emotional and sympathetic.
Second, acceptance attitudes of general students who experienced integrated education with disabled classmates are more positive in lower grades, in respect to the regional factors of school life and studying activity and playing activity toward the disabled students. This can be interpreted that the lower grades students have less antipathy to the disabled. Therefore, it will be good to execute the integrated education starting from the lower grades.
Third, there is no significant difference in their attitudes according to their interaction effect with sex and years of the integrated education experience. But, the acceptability of experienced group with more than 3years is highest in school life and learning and activities field among the experimental groups. It appears that there is a tendency for the integrated education experience changed positively their understanding and attitudes toward the disabled students.
After considering the above findings, it will be necessary for advanced studies to improve the integrated education efficiently through executing the understanding program of disabled students to general students. Also more studies about acceptance attitudes along with the types and severity of disabilities are necessary. Because this studies limited to Gyeong-buk province, the need of mutual comparison with other regional groups and nationwide is suggested.