The general field of education manifests to be an important aspect in the personal development of each individual wherein enveloped in this curricular system are the numerous subjects and field aimed towards the effective growth of the person involved in every aspect of his or her individuality and personality. In this ideal pursuit, institutions and professional practitioners involved in the educational system must constantly aimed to achieve the most effective application means for the benefit of their student and likewise the collective social population they are engaged within.
As the application of this ideal concept, the field of formal education seeks to develop their midst through developing their strategies, techniques, approaches, and structural system for the effective learning of the students. Included in this pursuit are the considerations with the personal characteristics of each student particularly their physical and psychological condition, the concrete elements of their institutions, the correlation with the concept of motivation and behavior and others.
In particular, the element of the personal characteristics of each student manifests to be an important factor in the aspect of their educational development and growth. Their physical characteristics, cognitive abilities, limitations and dysfunctions are indeed significant factor influencing the learning process of the student as such, it is important to incorporate these elements in their learning curriculum of students with special needs.
In the broad student population, there are several students who have special needs and concerns due to their certain mental retardation in which, they have cognitive and psychological dysfunction delimiting their capacities similar to their normative group. Due to their characteristics , these students require special attention in which, the institution, curriculum, and special strategy must be develop to cater to their certain characteristics, needs, and qualities to have a significant influence in their learning development (WEAC, 2001).
In this concern that the Special Education system is developed specifically targeting the group of student with mental retardation wherein the said subjects are given specific attention in terms of their formal learning. Through this critical strategy of focusing on the special needs and characteristics of students with mental retardation, the teaching faculty will be able to transcend beyond these boundaries and aid out the student in learning and developing him/herself towards becoming an educated, normal, and matured individual.
In the aspect of implementing special education curriculum, the personal philosophy and dedication of the involved practitioner is significant to the success of the matter. It is important in this concern that the practitioner must understand the importance and value of this special approach in reaching out and promoting personal development in every student including those with conditions of mental retardation. On personal opinion, the author of this paper wishes to express his own outlook in engaging in this learning pursuit.
In particular, this author believes on the importance of special education in transcending circumstantial barriers to promote learning development in the said subject. Among the specific population that this author express much interest with are the student with physical disabilities and cognitive mental retardation particularly those who are already affected and hindered in their learning pursuit. Looking through their cases, these students have already been delayed due to their condition yet, they still possess the right to learn and the determination to proceed with this matter.
In general, every person has the right to learn and that no person or physical condition has the value to hinder the said pursuit. In this view that the author of this paper expressed much interest in aiding the said special students and impart in them knowledge and learning through the special education approach. Significant also in the effectiveness of this pursuit is the instructional strategies and techniques to be applied in the learning process. This includes how the practitioner will accommodate and include the special characteristics and condition of the student in his or her learning process to achieve effective results.
On this particular view, the author of this paper believe that developing an approach that highlights the particular strengths and incorporate the weaknesses of the student is effective in developing good behavioral motivation and learning attitude in the latter’s part. In addition, applying an approach that has normative values and strategies based on the skills and capabilities of the special student is also important to culture positivism in the student’s part.
Through this, the student can develop and learn normally by a special systematic process enabling him or her to adapt and furnish his or her normal characteristics and overcome his or her retardation condition. Included also in this pursuit is shifting focus towards the development of the professional skills needed for the said special education treatment. In realization of the practical value, acquiring formal training is indeed significant for the effectiveness of this aim.
In this aspect, the author of this paper expresses personal views towards the importance of formal training wherein important formal approaches, strategies, and teaching knowledge can be acquired. For this concept, this author created the plan for pushing through with formal training acquired through institutionalized curriculum to acquire the professional knowledge and develop the needed characteristics and values within this author. Indeed, this plan is important for the effective pursuit of becoming a special education teacher for students requiring the said service due to the condition of mental retardation.
However, considering the situation and benefits of the said students, people tend to ask whether giving special attention and exclusion them from the student society is indeed the best approach in handling their condition. Indeed, in the broad professional and social academic community, much debate has been going due to the contrasting views towards handling special education cases. One party argues that exclusion is the best approach as this system enables the teaching faculty to specifically focus and give attention towards the critical needs of students with mental retardation.
On the other hand, others argue that inclusion would negate social problems of discrimination and that streamlining students with mental retardation with the population will enable them to develop and mature as normal individual (Pearpoint, 1990). For this author, the case of inclusion or exclusion for the pursuit of education mainly relies on the specific characteristics involved in the situation wherein the approach should be based on the analysis of the circumstance.
For this author who is viewing the situation as a professional teacher, the approach that should be taken based mainly on the needs and characteristics of the involved student and his or her condition wherein decisions must be correlated for the best interest. Indeed, in the case of special education, the main priority that should be considered in the decision is the benefit of the involved student namely his or her learning development and growth towards becoming a mature individual in all aspect regardless of their condition of mental retardation.
In this aim, it is significantly important to cater to the special needs and condition of the student to realize this holistic growth through learning important knowledge and education.
Bibliography
Pearpoint, Jack (1990). Inclusion vs. Exclusion: Society is at a Turning Point. Inclusion News. Centre for Integrated Education and Community. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. WEAC Online Services ( November 5, 2001). Special Education Inclusion.